19, 12, 2022

Uterine Fibroids: what you need to know
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Uterine Fibroids: what you need to know

LJVascular2022-10-24T12:48:30-07:00

Millions of women around the world are affected by the development of uterine fibroids each year. While it is not a life-threatening condition in itself, the symptoms and potential complications that come with it make it such a pressing medical concern for affected individuals.

As only women will usually possess a uterus, it follows that only women are afflicted by this ailment, which is why gynecologists will often be the first ones to make a definite diagnosis. As with so many medical emergencies, knowing the problem early will greatly increase the chances of beating it, which is why the professionals at La Jolla Vein & Vascular are dedicated to administering reliable, accurate, and entirely effective diagnostics, therapies, and treatments to all clients coming through our doors.

Let’s take a closer look at what exactly we will be dealing with should uterine fibroids turn out to be the issue at hand.

What are uterine fibroids?

To understand what uterine fibroids are, the first thing one should do is separate the two terms making up the condition. A fibroid is a term to refer to a type of tumor that has ‘muscular’ characteristics. They are also referred to as a leiomyoma and can appear singularly or in formations or in lumps.

They are known as uterine fibroids since they will appear in the patient’s uterus. Although they are not cancerous in almost all instances, they will range in size from patient to patient, from as small as an apple seed to as large as a grapefruit and beyond, in some unusual instances.

It is important for all women to be aware of the dangers presented by uterine fibroids, not only owing to the potential harm that the condition might bring about but due to the high rate of prevalence among the female population affected in some way. By the time they are 50 years old, it is estimated between 20 to 80 percent of women will have developed uterine fibroids, with most cases affecting the 40’s to early 50’s.

Symptoms to look out for:

Fibroids go undiscovered in most patients due to the lack of symptoms accompanying them, but some patients will experience some symptoms, including:

Frequent urination due to pressure being exerted on the patient’s bladder

Lower back pain

Pain during sexual intercourse

Enlargement of the lower abdomen, with severe and extremely rare instances causing the appearance of apparent pregnancy in the patient where none exists

Heavy bleeding and/or painful bleeding during periods sometimes resulting in a medically significant depletion of blood in the patient (anemia)

Greatly increased risks of complication during pregnancy and delivery, with uterine fibroid patients requiring cesarean sections at six times the average rate.

Reproductive health problems such as infertility are very rare outcomes.

La Jolla Vein & Vascular (formerly La Jolla Vein Care) is committed to bringing experts together for unparalleled vein and vascular care.

Nisha Bunke, MD, Sarah Lucas, MD, and Elliot DeYoung, MD are specialists who combine their experience and expertise to offer world-class vascular care.

Our accredited center is also a nationally known teaching site and center of excellence.

For more information on treatments and to book a consultation, please give our office a call at 858-550-0330.

For a deeper dive into vein and vascular care, please check out our Youtube Channel at this link.

For more information on varicose veins and eliminating underlying venous insufficiency, check this link out full of resources.

Uterine Fibroids: what you need to knowLJVascular2022-10-24T12:48:30-07:00

Muscle Hernia or Varicose Veins
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Muscle Hernia or Varicose Veins

LJVascular2022-10-24T15:51:59-07:00

Is it a muscle hernia or varicose vein?

Muscle hernias of the legs frequently are confused with varicose veins. Patients may present with bulging along the outer part of the shin, that looks like a varicose vein. It may or may not be painful. It goes away with flexing the foot (pointing your toes to your head). But, to experienced vein care specialists, it is clearly a muscle herniation.

Varicose veins are the twisted, bulging veins just beneath the surface of the skin. Varicose veins are swollen, twisted veins that you can see just under the surface of the skin. These veins usually occur in the legs, but they also can form in other parts of the body. Varicose veins are a common condition.

Varicose veins are caused by leaky vein valves, which allow blood to pool within the veins causing them to stretch and become enlarged. Varicose veins can be an isolated finding, but the majority of the time, they are caused by underlying venous reflux disease. Venous reflux disease is also known as venous stasis, venous insufficiency or venous incompetence. Reflux may occur in the deep and/or superficial leg veins.

In our study, led by Dr. Nisha Bunke and published in the Journal of Vascular Ultrasound in 2018, we studied over 1,000 legs with varicose veins. Over 90% of the time, the source of the varicose veins were the great and small saphenous veins. The Great Saphenous Vein (GSV) courses up the middle of the thigh and calf and the small saphenous vein (SSV), which courses along the back of the calf. Normally, there are one-way valves within the leg veins, which help blood flow in one direction: toward the heart. This means blood is traveling against gravity. The calf muscle also helps move blood toward the heart. When vein valves are leaky, blood flows backward (reflux) towards the feet. Blood pools in the lower legs, causing bulging veins at the surface.

A Muscle herniation is a focal protrusion of muscle tissue through a defect in the deep fascial layer. Anterior tibial muscle is the most commonly affected muscle of the lower extremities because its fascia is the most vulnerable to trauma. Clinically it is characterized by asymptomatic or painful, skin-coloured, soft, subcutaneous nodules of various size depending on the position. The diagnosis is usually made clinically based on its typical manifestations, but ultrasonographic examination is useful for detecting the fascial defect and excluding other conditions caused by soft tissue tumors such as lipomas, angiolipomas, fibromas, schwannomas, or varicosities.

Usually, surgical treatment is not needed, but may be necessary for increasingly painful hernias.

At La Jolla Vein and Vascular, we frequently see muscle herniations that are confused with varicose veins. Using ultrasound technology and a clinical examination, we can make an accurate diagnosis.

La Jolla Vein & Vascular (formerly La Jolla Vein Care) is committed to bringing experts together for unparalleled vein and vascular care.

Nisha Bunke, MD, Sarah Lucas, MD, and Elliot DeYoung, MD are specialists who combine their experience and expertise to offer world-class vascular care.

Our accredited center is also a nationally known teaching site and center of excellence.

For more information on treatments and to book a consultation, please give our office a call at 858-550-0330.

For a deeper dive into vein and vascular care, please check out our Youtube Channel at this link.

For more information on varicose veins and eliminating underlying venous insufficiency, check this link out full of resources.

Muscle Hernia or Varicose VeinsLJVascular2022-10-24T15:51:59-07:00

Treatment for non healing ulcers and wounds
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Treatment for non healing ulcers and wounds

LJVascular2022-10-24T12:37:24-07:00

Treatment of Non-Healing Wounds & Ulcers

As we’ve seen, there is a very wide range of causes that may contribute to the formation and persistence of non healing ulcers and wounds. It follows that the methods or treatment options at the disposal of healthcare professionals will also be varied. Doctors will discuss the available options with their patients in order to arrive at the best possible options, but the type and severity of the wound will be the decisive point of consideration. These measures include:

Compression Wrapping

Specialized Dressings and Topical Medication

Patient Self-Care and Education

Negative Pressure Therapy (NPWT)

Surgery

Growth Factor Therapy

Debridement (removal of dead tissue)

Compression Wrapping

This involves the application of tightly bound wraps to the affected limbs or regions in order to provide support to the vascular system, which might be operating under lower pressure than it should due to the wearing out of the vascular walls and muscles that support the efficient flow of blood to and fro the tissues that need it.

The doctor will start by doing a thorough physical examination. The doctor will also want to learn about your signs, symptoms, personal health history, risk factors, and family health history. The doctor will ask you several questions regarding your medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease. They will also ask you whether you experience pain or cramps in your leg while walking or exercising.

The doctor will also ask about your family history of PAD and other heart diseases. You will also discuss your smoking habit, either current or in the past. After gathering the information, the doctor will proceed to perform a detailed physical examination. The process involves checking for weak pulses in your leg, listening for poor blood flow in the legs using a stethoscope. The physician will also check for any problems on your legs, such as sores, swelling, and pale skin.

Specialized Dressings and Topical Medication

Technological progress has made it possible to develop special dressing materials made out of smart polymers that work by adjusting their absorptive qualities depending on the hydration levels of the wound area, among other specialized positive actions. Antibiotics may also be employed topically to non-healing ulcers and these help by reducing the bacterial levels present in the wounds in question while maintaining the optimal levels of environmental moisture suitable for wound repair.

ose PAD. This test usually compares the blood pressure in your arm with the blood pressure in your ankle. The doctor usually uses a pressure cuff together with an ultrasound device. Sometimes, the physician may request you to walk on a treadmill and have the doctor take the readings before and immediately after the exercise. The procedure will help the doctor to capture the severity of the narrowed arteries.

Patient Self-Care and Education

There are plenty of measures that patients will be able to implement in the treatment and management if armed with the proper knowledge and aids where required. Regular cleaning and disinfecting of wounds, proper bandage care, manual repositioning of paralyzed limbs, and avoidance of habits that contribute to the incidence or severity of these types of ulcers will be of significant benefit to many.

Negative Pressure Therapy (NPWT)

This treatment method works by pulling away the fluid in the wound that nourishes bacteria by the application of negative pressure. It is also known as vacuum-assisted wound closure for this reason. This action will also reduce tissue swelling and bring up fresh blood and nutrients to the problem area, which assist in the healing processes.

Surgery

In many cases, surgical procedures may be called for to rectify any underlying conditions that might be remedied in this way. Patients with atherosclerosis or blood clots in their vascular system, for example, might undergo surgical procedures to remove these clots or clear built-up cholesterol plaques in their system, thus removing the condition that encourages the formation and persistence of non-healing ulcers.

Growth Factor Therapy

Growth factors refer to the biomaterials generated naturally in our bodies that play the role of replacing tissues as they are damaged or degraded, as in the case of wounds and infections. These factors include epidermal growth factor, insulin-like growth factor (IGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and more. What your medical practitioner will do is introduce or stimulate these factors directly onto the wound in order to speed up the healing and re-growing processes.

Skin Graft Therapy

Skin grafts taken from donors (cadaver, usually) are another option here referred to as allografts. These grafts provide a covering to the wound without integrating with the host body and work by encouraging and providing a structure for the growth of epithelial cells. Severe cases might not be suitable for this intervention, however, and will do better with grafts taken from elsewhere on the patient’s own body.

Debridement (removal of dead tissue)

Debridement more simply refers to the removal of dead or dying (necrotic) tissue from the site. The goal is to minimize the risk or opportunity for infection by eliminating the necessary medium for bacterial growth and proliferation, which such tissue provides. This is an especially relevant measure undertaken in the fight against diabetic non-healing ulcers, as amputation will usually be carried out in cases where infection has progressed past a certain limit.

This is the idea behind the rather outlandish yet scientifically sound application of maggot therapy in the management and treatment of chronic wounds. Here, live, disinfected maggots will be introduced to the wound by a medical professional. Maggots will happily devour necrotic tissue while not touching healthy tissue. This directly leads to a reduction in the bacterial presence in the wound, thus encouraging rapid healing as well as pain and odor mitigation.

La Jolla Vein & Vascular Treatments

The treatment for PAD has two main goals. One is to manage the symptoms, including leg pain, allowing you to resume your normal physical activities. The second one is to top the progression of atherosclerosis in the body

La Jolla Vein & Vascular (formerly La Jolla Vein Care) is committed to bringing experts together for unparalleled vein and vascular care.

Nisha Bunke, MD, Sarah Lucas, MD, and Elliot DeYoung, MD are specialists who combine their experience and expertise to offer world-class vascular care.

Our accredited center is also a nationally known teaching site and center of excellence.

For more information on treatments and to book a consultation, please give our office a call at 858-550-0330.

For a deeper dive into vein and vascular care, please check out our Youtube Channel at this link.

For more information on varicose veins and eliminating underlying venous insufficiency, check this link out full of resources.

Treatment for non healing ulcers and woundsLJVascular2022-10-24T12:37:24-07:00

How to know your venous reflux disease is worsening over time
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How to know your venous reflux disease is worsening over time

LJVascular2022-12-13T14:04:49-08:00

Venous reflux disease is also known as venous stasis, chronic venous insufficiency, or venous incompetence. Venous reflux disease refers to ‘leaky valves in the veins of the legs. Reflux may occur in the deep and/or superficial leg veins. The deep veins are those within the muscle; they bring at least 80-90% of the blood from the legs back to the heart. The superficial veins are outside of the muscle and under the skin. The main superficial veins are the Great Saphenous Vein that courses up the middle of the thigh and calf and the small saphenous vein, which courses up the back of the calf. Normally, there are one-way valves within the leg veins, which help blood flow in one direction: toward the heart. This means blood is traveling against gravity. The calf muscle also helps move blood toward the heart. When vein valves are leaky, blood flows backward (reflux) towards the feet. Blood pools in the lower legs, causing bulging veins at the surface. Symptoms include leg heaviness, leg fatigue, leg pain, ankle swelling, phlebitis (inflamed and painful veins) , restless legs at night, and night cramps. Venous reflux disease is progressive and worsens over time. Skin changes may also develop, including darkening of the skin around the ankles. The darkening of the skin is sometimes referred to as skin changes. The skin can become dry and itchy (venous eczema). Eventually, the skin can break down causing a wound, called a venous leg ulcer. See the image to better understand the 6 main stages of venous disease. Stage 6 is the open leg wound, known as a venous leg ulcer.

Stage 1. Healthy Veins

Stage 2. Spider Veins

Stage 3. Reticular Veins and Varicose Veins

Stage 4. Venous Nodes – Edema venous insufficiency

Stage 5. Chronic insufficiency

Stage 6. Venous eczema and venous leg ulcers

If you experience any vein disease symptoms, please call our office at (858)-550-0330 to schedule a consultation with one of our knowledgeable doctors at La Jolla Vein and Vascular.

For more information on vein health please check out our Youtube Channel or visit our helpful guide of resources.

How to know your venous reflux disease is worsening over timeLJVascular2022-12-13T14:04:49-08:00

Swelling from varicose veins
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Swelling from varicose veins

LJVascular2022-10-24T12:26:09-07:00

Varicose Veins and Swelling

Leg swelling (is also known as edema), is a common complaint related to varicose veins and underlying venous insufficiency. It can be present simply from underlying venous insufficiency without visible signs of varicose veins or spider veins. As a result, a venous insufficiency study by duplex ultrasound scanning is part of the recommended work-up for this undesirable symptom. The swelling usually affects the ankles. Most people with vein-related symptoms experience progressive swelling throughout the day, that is worse at night time and improves in the morning (they usually wake up with normal appearing legs in the morning but by night-time, shoes may feel tight.) When it is vein-related, it is worse at the end of the day, with prolonged standing, sitting or with air travel, heat and menstruation. The degree varies from one person to another.

Compression stockings and leg elevation will help reduce swelling. If the swelling can be attributed to the varicose veins or venous insufficiency, correction of the underlying vein problem will reduce it.

It is a common symptom of varicose veins and venous insufficiency. The legs often feel heavy. It is common to notice sock lines around the ankles by the end of the day.

Conservative management and lifestyle changes can ease the symptoms of varicose veins and swelling and help reduce complications such as thrombophlebitis (blood clots within veins) and vein rupture, but do not cause the veins to vanish. These measures are helpful if an individual is not a candidate for vein procedures or wishes to delay interventional treatment.

Varicose veins can cause swelling and at La Jolla Vein Care, we offer numerous treatments for our patients. Check out a few of our favorite treatments that help reduce the swelling and varicose veins. Please call our office to schedule a consultation with one of our vein specialists to help in reducing swelling and other varicose vein symptoms.

La Jolla Vein & Vascular (formerly La Jolla Vein Care) is committed to bringing experts together for unparalleled vein and vascular care.

Nisha Bunke, MD, Sarah Lucas, MD, and Elliot DeYoung, MD are specialists who combine their experience and expertise to offer world-class vascular care.

Our accredited center is also a nationally known teaching site and center of excellence.

For more information on treatments and to book a consultation, please give our office a call at 858-550-0330.

For a deeper dive into vein and vascular care, please check out our Youtube Channel at this link.

For more information on varicose veins and eliminating underlying venous insufficiency, check this link out full of resources.

Swelling from varicose veinsLJVascular2022-10-24T12:26:09-07:00

La Jolla Vein & Vascular treatments for varicoceles
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La Jolla Vein & Vascular treatments for varicoceles

LJVascular2022-10-24T12:20:15-07:00

La Jolla Vein and Vascular Treatments for Varicoceles

In most cases, varicoceles treatment is not necessary. Most men with varicoceles do not experience fertility issues. However, if the condition is causing pain, testicular atrophy, or infertility, you can benefit from varicoceles treatment. The treatment helps in sealing off the affected vein and redirecting the blood flow into normal veins. In case of infertility issues, varicoceles treatment helps in improving the quality of the sperm and sperm count. The procedure that we perform at LA Jolla Vein & Vascular on varicocele is percutaneous embolization of varicocele embolization.

The primary goal for varicocele treatment procedures is to help prevent the backflow of blood from the body to the scrotum, helping in cooling off the testes. Surgical procedures will help restrict the blood flow to the veins leading from the testis to the body. However, not all the veins are sealed off. The vassal vein, which is not subject to the same problems as the other varicose veins, is left open to allow blood to leave the testicles after the procedure.

Some of the clear indications that you need varicoceles repair during adolescence include pain, progressive testicular atrophy, and abnormal semen analysis results. While this treatment helps in improving sperm characteristics, it is not clear whether untreated varicoceles can lead to progressive sperm worsening. The common varicoceles treatment options include (La Jolla Vein & Vascular Only Performs Varicocele Embolization):

Percutaneous Embolization (Varicocele Embolization)

Percutaneous embolism is an advanced procedure performed by a radiologist. The specialist usually makes a small cut into a vein in the groin and inserts a tube. The doctor will use X-ray imaging to guide them to the affected veins and insert a coil or a balloon into it through the tube. The procedure helps in blocking the blood flow to the varicocele, shrinking it gradually. This procedure is also done with general anesthesia.

Catheter-directed Embolization

Catheter-directed embolization is a non-surgical, outpatient treatment performed by an interventional radiologist using imaging to guide catheters or other instruments inside the body. Through mild IV sedation and local anesthesia, patients are relaxed and pain-free during the approximately two-hour procedure.

For the procedure, an interventional radiologist makes a tiny nick in the skin at the groin using local anesthesia, through which a thin catheter (much like a piece of spaghetti) is passed into the femoral vein directly to the testicular vein. The physician then injects contrast dye to provide direct visualization of the veins so he/she can map out exactly where the problem is and where to embolize or block the vein, which reduces pressure on the varicocele. By embolizing the vein, blood flow is redirected to other healthy pathways. Essentially, the incompetent vein is shut off internally by preventing blood flow, accomplishing what the urologist does without surgery.

Efficacy of Embolization for Varicoceles

Embolization is equally effective in improving male infertility and costs about the same as surgical ligation. Pregnancy rates and recurrence rates are comparable to those following surgical varicocelectomy. In one study, sixty percent conceived were treated for infertility.

In another study, sperm concentration improved in 83 percent of patients undergoing embolization compared to 63 percent of those surgically ligated. Patients who underwent both procedures expressed a strong preference for embolization.

Varicocelectomy

Your doctor will make a small 1-inch incision into your scrotum and use a microscope or magnifying glass to see the veins better. The doctor might use local anesthesia to numb the area. General anesthesia can also help you sleep through the procedure.

Laparoscopic Surgery

This procedure involves making a much smaller incision and inserting a tube that holds the surgical tools. The surgeon will also use a special camera to see inside you. The procedure is done under general anesthesia to help you sleep through the procedure. The results from the other treatments are similar, only that the incision is small with laparoscopic surgery.

Open Surgery

The open surgery treatment is usually done on an outpatient basis and using a local or general anesthetic. The surgeon will make a small incision below your groin or abdomen to access the affected vein. Your doctor uses advanced surgical tools such as Doppler ultrasound and a surgical microscope to help guide the procedure. The patient can return to a regular daily routine after two days.

Recovery

In most cases, you can go back to your routine after two days of varicose treatment. However, it is advisable to take it easy. Avoid strenuous activities and exercise for about two weeks.

People who have undergone percutaneous embolization tend to recover faster. While you may need a day or two off from work, you can return to your workout program in 7-10 days. If the treatment procedure is to help with fertility, your doctor will perform an additional test in 3-4 months. You will be able to see improved results in 6-12 months. It is important to note that more than 50 percent of men who have undergone the procedure have restored their fertility. Additionally, these surgical procedures are also crucial for teens as they help in slowing testicular growth.

La Jolla Vein & Vascular (formerly La Jolla Vein Care) is committed to bringing experts together for unparalleled vein and vascular care.

Nisha Bunke, MD, Sarah Lucas, MD, and Elliot DeYoung, MD are specialists who combine their experience and expertise to offer world-class vascular care.

Our accredited center is also a nationally known teaching site and center of excellence.

For more information on treatments and to book a consultation, please give our office a call at 858-550-0330.

For a deeper dive into vein and vascular care, please check out our Youtube Channel at this link.

For more information on varicose veins and eliminating underlying venous insufficiency, check this link out full of resources.

La Jolla Vein & Vascular treatments for varicocelesLJVascular2022-10-24T12:20:15-07:00

Diagnosis of Varicoceles
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Diagnosis of Varicoceles

LJVascular2022-10-24T12:14:36-07:00

Varicocele Diagnosis

Your doctor will perform a thorough physical examination, which might reveal a non-tender mass above the testicles to diagnose varicoceles. When the mass is large enough, it feels like a bag of worms. When the varicocele is small, the doctor might request you to stand, take a deep breath and hold it while you bear down. This technique will help the doctor to detect any abnormal veins enlargement. Your doctor may also order a scrotal ultrasound. The test uses high-frequency sound waves to create a precise image of the structure of the scrotum. The test is also helpful in helping the doctor rule out other reasons that could be causing the problem in the scrotum.

Treatments for Varicocele

The primary goal for treatment procedures is to help prevent the backflow of blood from the body to the scrotum, helping in cooling off the testes. Surgical procedures will help restrict the blood flow to the veins leading from the testis to the body. However, not all the veins are sealed off. The vassal vein, which is not subject to the same problems as the other varicose veins, is left open to allow blood to leave the testicles after the procedure.

The common varicoceles treatment options include (La Jolla Vein & Vascular Only Performs Varicocele Embolization):

Percutaneous Embolization (Varicocele Embolization)

Varicocelectomy

Laparoscopic Surgery

Open Surgery

Recovery

In most cases, you can go back to your routine after two days of varicose treatment. However, it is advisable to take it easy. Avoid strenuous activities and exercise for about two weeks.People who have undergone percutaneous embolization tend to recover faster. While you may need a day or two off from work, you can return to your workout program in 7-10 days. If the treatment procedure is to help with fertility, your doctor will perform an additional test in 3-4 months. You will be able to see improved results in 6-12 months. It is important to note that more than 50 percent of men who have undergone the procedure have restored their fertility. Additionally, these surgical procedures are also crucial for teens as they help in slowing testicular growth.

La Jolla Vein & Vascular (formerly La Jolla Vein Care) is committed to bringing experts together for unparalleled vein and vascular care.

Nisha Bunke, MD, Sarah Lucas, MD, and Elliot DeYoung, MD are specialists who combine their experience and expertise to offer world-class vascular care.

Our accredited center is also a nationally known teaching site and center of excellence.

For more information on treatments and to book a consultation, please give our office a call at 858-550-0330.

For a deeper dive into vein and vascular care, please check out our Youtube Channel at this link.

For more information on varicose veins and eliminating underlying venous insufficiency, check this link out full of resources.

Diagnosis of VaricocelesLJVascular2022-10-24T12:14:36-07:00

Complications of varicoceles
Gallery

Complications of varicoceles

LJVascular2022-10-24T12:12:11-07:00

What are Varicoceles?

Varicoceles is a term used to describe abnormal enlargement of the veins within the scrotum. The veins carry blood from the various body organs back to the heart. Typically, veins have valves that prevent blood backflow. When the valves in the veins within the scrotum don’t work as they should, blood tends to collect in the scrotum, leading to varicoceles.

While varicocele is very common, it is not life-threatening. In fact, research shows that about 15 percent of all adult men have varicocele. For most men, the condition will go unnoticed throughout their life or does not cause any complications. Although the condition is not dangerous, varicocele is a common cause of low sperm production and reduced sperm quality, leading to infertility. Varicoceles can also lead to reduced testosterone production and scrotal discomfort. The condition often does not need treatment until there is a reason for concern about the associated problems. Fortunately, varicocele is easy to diagnose and treat.

Complications and Causes of Varicoceles

Unfortunately, although the condition is not life-threatening, it can also lead to several unpleasant complications.

Atrophy (shrinking of the affected testicles)

The testicles are made of sperm-producing tubules. Varicoceles damage these tubules, making the testicles soften and shrink.

Infertility

The condition also causes the local temperature around or in the testicles to be too high, affecting sperm formation

Causes

Medical practitioners are not sure of the leading cause of varicoceles. However, doctors agree that the condition forms when there is a problem with blood flow in the spermatic cord. The problem develops when the valves in the veins do not function properly and allows blood to flow back. As a result, blood pools in the veins causing them to dilate. When the condition is common in adults, it can also develop in teens during puberty. The testicles usually require more blood than usual during this growth cycle. This condition can lead to problems in the veins, preventing the blood from flowing where it should.

La Jolla Vein & Vascular (formerly La Jolla Vein Care) is committed to bringing experts together for unparalleled vein and vascular care.

Nisha Bunke, MD, Sarah Lucas, MD, and Elliot DeYoung, MD are specialists who combine their experience and expertise to offer world-class vascular care.

Our accredited center is also a nationally known teaching site and center of excellence.

For more information on treatments and to book a consultation, please give our office a call at 858-550-0330.

For a deeper dive into vein and vascular care, please check out our Youtube Channel at this link.

For more information on varicose veins and eliminating underlying venous insufficiency, check this link out full of resources.

Complications of varicocelesLJVascular2022-10-24T12:12:11-07:00

30, 11, 2022

Your height & varicose veins
Gallery

Your height & varicose veins

LJVascular2022-10-24T11:41:31-07:00

Does height play a role in developing varicose veins? Yes. We initially presented this information in 2018, after a study at Stanford University School of Medicine found a person’s height to be a significant risk factor for developing varicose veins. “We not only found an association between height and varicose veins, but the genetic studies we did showed a causal link,” said cardiologist and study author Dr. Nicholas Leeper, an associate professor of surgery and cardiovascular medicine at Stanford. “That suggests that the genes and pathways that drive human height are also likely to be causing varicose veins.” The study originally published in 2018, found a significant link between above-average height and vein health. In this population-based study of ~500,00 individuals, greater height appeared as a novel predictor of varicose vein disease in machine learning analyses, and was independently associated in multivariable-adjusted Cox regression.

Other known influences such as age, excess weight, being female, and genetics also play a role in the development of them. This study reveals that taller individuals, the study concluded, have a greater chance of developing them and possibly even blood clots in the legs.

The reason has to do with gravity — blood from the legs of taller people must travel a greater distance to the heart, which forces the veins to work harder. But it also has to do with genetics. The study’s authors found above-average height was not only associated with varicose veins, but could be the underlying cause of the swollen veins that rise to the surface of the legs and feet as well.

Lifestyle modifications to reduce the risk of developing them by including use of compression stockings when traveling and sitting or standing for longer periods of time, exercise, weight loss (if indicated), and leg elevation. Read about measures to reduce symptoms related to varicose veins.

Original Study Published in Circulation.

Clinical and Genetic Determinants of Varicose Veins: A Prospective, Community-Based Study of ~500,000 IndividualsEri Fukaya, Alyssa M. Flores, Daniel Lindholm, Stefan Gustafsson, Daniela Zanetti, Erik Ingelsson, Nicholas J. LeeperCirculation.

La Jolla Vein & Vascular (formerly La Jolla Vein Care) is committed to bringing experts together for unparalleled vein and vascular care.

Nisha Bunke, MD, Sarah Lucas, MD, and Elliot DeYoung, MD are specialists who combine their experience and expertise to offer world-class vascular care.

Our accredited center is also a nationally known teaching site and center of excellence.

For more information on treatments and to book a consultation, please give our office a call at 858-550-0330.

For a deeper dive into vein and vascular care, please check out our Youtube Channel at this link.

For more information on varicose veins and eliminating underlying venous insufficiency, check this link out full of resources.

Your height & varicose veinsLJVascular2022-10-24T11:41:31-07:00

What you need to know about venous insufficiency
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What you need to know about venous insufficiency

LJVascular2022-10-24T11:36:50-07:00

When you become a patient with La Jolla Vein and Vascular, you will go through a screening process, and a vascular evaluation using ultrasound technology to diagnose your venous reflux disease. Chronic venous insufficiency is a disease affecting at least 50 million Americans. It is very common, but unfortunately undiagnosed. Through our venous insufficiency Duplex Ultrasound test, our vein specialists can determine exactly what is going on in the patient’s veins.

The anatomy and process of venous insufficiency or venous reflux disease:

One of the major veins that takes the blood to the heart is deep inside the muscles of the thigh and calf called the deep veins. Parallel to this lies the superficial veins inside the legs. Superficial veins dump the blood into the deep vein in the groin area and collectively they take the blood back to the heart.

The direction of the blood flow begins from the ground up towards the heart. Both deep and superficial have a structure system known as the valves. They function as a safety unit directional valve system. Where the blood can flow upward and not downward and be open or closed off. Similarly the same type of structure is found in your heart with heart valves.

Over the course of the years, depending on your occupation, family history, pregnancy, surgeries, any trauma or injury to your legs, and any kind of underlying muscular or skeletal problem will contribute to problems with the valves in your legs. The valves, over the course of the years may get farther apart from one another. They will still be able to open and close, but the main problem will be the blood flow will not be able to go in one direction. This causes the veins to become enlarged. As a result, the valves remain open and the blood to flow upward and also downward. This is known as venous reflux disease or venous insufficiency.

A consultation with one of our vein specialists for chronic venous insufficiency involves taking a detailed history and physical examination in combination with a venous reflux ultrasound study. Based on your personal findings, a customized treatment plan will be discussed which may include doing nothing, conservative management, or various treatment options based on your individual needs.

La Jolla Vein & Vascular (formerly La Jolla Vein Care) is committed to bringing experts together for unparalleled vein and vascular care.

Nisha Bunke, MD, Sarah Lucas, MD, and Elliot DeYoung, MD are specialists who combine their experience and expertise to offer world-class vascular care.

Our accredited center is also a nationally known teaching site and center of excellence.

For more information on treatments and to book a consultation, please give our office a call at 858-550-0330.

For a deeper dive into vein and vascular care, please check out our Youtube Channel at this link.

For more information on varicose veins and eliminating underlying venous insufficiency, check this link out full of resources.

What you need to know about venous insufficiencyLJVascular2022-10-24T11:36:50-07:00

19, 12, 2022

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