pressure from pregnancy or obesity, or a reaction to certain medications. Patients with a family history of DVT and those with heart conditions may be at an increased risk of developing this condition as well. DVT tends to occur most often in patients over the age of 60, although it can occur at any age.
Treatment for deep vein thrombosis aims to keep the blood clot from getting bigger, breaking loose, and causing a pulmonary embolism, as well as reducing the risk of developing another blood clot. This can be accomplished through anticoagulant (blood thinning) medications, thrombolytics to break up the clot or filters to prevent it from traveling to the lungs. Compression stockings can help increase circulation and may be useful in both treating and preventing deep vein thrombosis.
Dr. Chideckel will determine which type of treatment is best for you after a thorough evaluation of your individual condition.
Venous Insufficiency Treatment
Venous Insufficiency Treatment Manhattan | New York City (NYC)Venous insufficiency is a chronic condition in which blood flows backwards through the leg veins as the result of a failed valve. Instead of returning to the heart, this blood builds up in the leg. If left untreated, venous insufficiency can cause painful symptoms and serious complications.
Symptoms of venous insufficiency typically include swollen ankles and tightness in the calves at its onset. As the blood builds up, patients may notice that their legs feel tired, heavy or restless. Since venous insufficiency can lead to varicose veins and other uncomfortable conditions, it is important that individuals with the aforementioned symptoms seek medical attention to receive the treatment they need.
Treatment for venous insufficiency varies, depending on the severity of the condition. Mild cases can often be managed by wearing compression stockings, which squeeze the veins and prevent excess blood from flowing backwards; some patients may need to wear compression stockings for the rest of their lives to manage their condition. Other, more severe cases of venous insufficiency may require advanced procedures such as sclerotherapy, ablation and vein stripping. By cutting off blood flow from damaged veins and redirecting it to healthier veins, these procedures ensure that blood can properly flow back to the heart. Only a qualified medical professional can determine which form of treatment is suitable for an individual after a full review of their medical history.
Venous Skin Ulcer Treatment
Aside from causing complications with blood flow, conditions of the vascular system can also affect the skin and other systems of the body. Also known as a stasis leg ulcer, a venous skin ulcer is a small wound that appears on the skin when the leg veins do not carry blood back to the heart, a condition known as venous insufficiency. Venous skin ulcers develop on the lower leg as a complication of long-term untreated venous insufficiency, and can cause pain, odor, pus, tenderness and redness. Treating venous skin ulcers is usually effective, but this condition can often be prevented by treating venous insufficiency as soon as it occurs.
Patients with untreated venous insufficiency have a high risk of ulcers forming in areas where blood is building up. Pregnant women, as well as those who suffer from deep vein thrombosis and/or obesity, have an increased risk of developing ulcers. Patients can help reduce their risk of developing ulcers by avoiding smoking and alcohol, exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet and taking frequent breaks from standing for long periods of time.
It is important to treat venous skin ulcers as soon as they appear to help facilitate the healing process and prevent infection. Most venous skin ulcers can be treated by improving circulation in the affected area. This can be done by elevating your legs above the level of your heart and by wearing compression stockings to prevent blood from building up in the legs. Skin grafting or vein surgery may be needed to treat ulcers that do not heal within six months or that become 