VeinInnovations

Show Some Summer Lovin' to Your Skin

Wed, 15 May 2013 10:08:45 -0400

A study in 2009 found that tanning salons were often as ubiquitous as Starbucks. Not surprisingly, there are more new cases of skin cancer every year than there are of breast, prostate, lung and colon cancers combined. In fact, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer at some point in life with more than two million people diagnosed with skin cancer annually. It will take an enormous effort to reverse this cultural affinity for tanning and reduce the significant number of individuals that develop skin cancer. However, the earlier skin cancer is caught the easier it is to treat. If you have been the type to be lax about covering up in the sun, make an appointment with a dermatologist. This summer, skip the tanning bed and learn about precautionary measures you can take while you’re outdoors to avoid skin cancer.

http://saportareport.com/leadership/healthcarepractice/2013/05/14/protect-your-skin-from-the-sun/

Good and Dirty

Tue, 07 May 2013 16:08:30 -0400

The Food and Drug Administration announced they would rule on the safety of triclosan, a chemical commonly used in antibacterial soaps. The chemical has been in use for more than 40 years and if the FDA rules it is harmful, it will have huge implications on an almost $1 billion industry. David Martin explains how the ruling serves as a reminder that while our cleaning supplies tout their germ-killing prowess, our immune systems actually need germs to challenge them to grow strong.

http://saportareport.com/leadership/healthcarepractice/2013/05/07/good-and-dirty/

Can Urgent Care Clinics Help Lower Health Care Costs?

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:49:00 -0400

On average, a trip to the emergency room costs $1,233. The use of emergency rooms is often fingered as one of the causes of ballooning health care costs – specifically, the use of emergency rooms by the uninsured that cannot be denied treatment regardless of their ability to pay. In recent years, an alternative model to the emergency room has expanded to fight these costs. David Martin discusses urgent care clinics and why they are touted as the most cost effective and time saving alternative to a hospital trip.

http://saportareport.com/leadership/healthcarepractice/2013/04/30/can-urgent-care-clinics-help-lower-health-care-costs/

Field and Foe: Spotting, Avoiding, and Treating Poison Ivy

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:32:16 -0400

Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac grow happily in Georgia – if you’re not careful, one brush with their leaves or vines could leave you itching, uncomfortable, and covered in a rash like more than half of all Americans this time of year. Learning to correctly identify the “poison three” can help you avoid these natural parts of our ecosystem. Should you still find yourself in their reach, there are some home remedies that can alleviate the uncomfortable symptoms.

http://saportareport.com/leadership/healthcarepractice/2013/04/23/treating-poison-ivy/

Venous Conditions and Pregnancy

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:53:56 -0400

During pregnancy, the amount of blood in a woman’s body increases by 25 to 40 percent. The extra blood is necessary to support two bodies, but does put extra pressure on blood vessels. The extra pressure can lead to varicose veins for many pregnant women. To help prevent varicose veins in pregnancy, David Martin provides several practices that can be incorporated into a pregnant woman’s daily routine. If varicose veins do develop, sclerotherapy is the most common treatment and is a virtually painless outpatient procedure.

http://saportareport.com/leadership/healthcarepractice/2013/04/16/venous-conditions-and-pregnancy/

Get Fit in Atlanta

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:31:22 -0400

Azaleas are blooming, parks are filling up with runners and the smell of food on the grill is in the air – it’s spring in Atlanta. If the warmer weather (and the health benefits) inspire you to get active, David Martin has suggestions for a few organizations that encourage community, fitness and a good time. Joining an organization connects you with people who can help you and provide encouragement along the way.

http://saportareport.com/leadership/healthcarepractice/2013/04/09/get-fit-in-atlanta/

VEININNOVATIONS GROWS WITH SECOND LOCATION IN JOHNS CREEK

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 16:33:00 -0400

The new office, located one mile from Emory at Johns Creek Hospital, will open April 1

ATLANTA (March 27, 2013) — VeinInnovations, a leader in venous healthcare, is pleased to announce its continued growth in Georgia with a new office opening April 1 in Suwanee, GA. Dr. Alexander Park and Dr. David Park, general surgeons who expanded their services to treat venous health issues three years ago, and maintain their practices with the North Atlanta Surgical Associates, will head the new location, located one mile from Emory at Johns Creek Hospital.

“We are so pleased to be expanding our practice into the Johns Creek area. The community has been very welcoming. Both of our locations – Johns Creek and our flagship office in Sandy Springs – offer every available minimally invasive treatment for venous disease. Our care is comprehensive, covering the full range of treatments, from the diagnosis and treatment of medical issues to cosmetic procedures.

“Our commitment to using the most advanced technologies to facilitate minimally invasive surgical techniques gives patients the most effective treatments with very little or no downtime. We hope to let people know that heavy, hurting, restless legs are not a natural part of aging, and, with our work, to educate people about the importance of venous health in both quality of life and overall health,” said President and CEO of VeinInnovations, David Martin, RN, CRNFA.

The new office, located at 4255 Johns Creek Pkwy, Suite D, Suwanee, GA 30024, is now taking appointments. For more information please contact Shelby Gutenberger at 706.202.2536 or Shelby@veininnovations.com. To make an appointment, please call 678.731.9815 or visit www.veininnovations.com.

About VeinInnovations:

In 2002, David Martin, RN, CRNFA, founded VEININNOVATIONS as the first facility of its kind in Atlanta to offer every available technique for the treatment of venous insufficiency and varicose/spider veins. Eleven years later, VeinInnovations is widely regarded as the leader in office-based, minimally invasive treatment of venous disease. Venous health experts at VeinInnovations – vascular, cardiothoracic and general surgeons – offer an unparalleled depth of experience and breadth of knowledge. They are committed to knowing and mastering the latest treatment modalities. Experience meets innovation at VeinInnovations.

Preventing Deep Vein Thrombosis

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 10:12:28 -0400

Deep vein thrombosis is a deadly disease and ends thousands of American lives every year - but it doesn’t have to. There are preventative measures that combat DVT as well as prevent other health problems. David Martin concludes his four-part series for Deep Vein Thrombosis Awareness Month with an explanation of these prevention methods.

http://saportareport.com/leadership/homemortgages/2013/03/25/the-housing-market-is-ready-to-bloom/

Diagnosis and Treatment of Deep Vein Thrombosis

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:09:54 -0400

This March marks the tenth annual DVT Awareness Month, a national effort to educate the public about DVT, its causes, complications, risk factors, treatment and prevention. In this week’s blog post, David Martin continues his discussion on the condition by explaining how it is diagnosed and various treatment options available.

http://saportareport.com/leadership/healthcarepractice/2013/03/19/diagnosis-and-treatment-of-deep-vein-thrombosis/

Causes, Risk Factors, and Complications of Deep Vein Thrombosis

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 12:14:35 -0400

NBC reporter David Bloom’s unexpected death while covering the war in Iraq wasn’t from enemy gunfire – it was from Deep Vein Thrombosis. The condition is responsible for more deaths each year than AIDS or breast cancer. In the second post of a series, David Martin details risk factors and complications for the condition.

http://saportareport.com/leadership/healthcarepractice/2013/03/12/causes-risk-factors-and-complications-of-deep-vein-thrombosis/

Deep Vein Thrombosis Awareness Month

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 16:22:22 -0500

March is Deep Vein Thrombosis awareness month, and VeinInnovations’ David Martin makes no hesitation diving right into the subject. Each year, more than 600,000 Americans are affected by blood clots. Many of these blood clots are detectable at hospitals, yet blood clot-related deaths account for more deaths in America than breast cancer or AIDS. Read the first of the four part DVT series in this week’s Thought Leadership at: http://saportareport.com/leadership/healthcarepractice/

Why hospitals are lobbying to expand Medicaid

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 09:04:00 -0500

When Arizona hospitals volunteered to finance the state’s Medicaid expansion by paying a new “bed tax,” Governor Jan Brewer was pushed to endorse part of the Affordable Care Act, a program she remains opposed to. Find out more about the current plans for Medicaid in our state and the debate over expanding Medicaid in David Martin’s Thought Leadership columns on Saporta Report at the links below.

http://saportareport.com/leadership/healthcarepractice/2013/02/19/why-hospitals-are-lobbying-to-expand-medicaid/

http://saportareport.com/leadership/healthcarepractice/

The State of Medicaid Expansion in Georgia

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 09:37:23 -0500

Six GOP Governors have expanded Medicaid, but Governor Deal is stalwart in his opposition to the Affordable Care Act, although he does have plans to improve the current Medicaid program. Read more about the current plans for Medicaid in our state and the debate over expanding Medicaid in David Martin’s Thought Leadership columns on Saporta Report at the links below.

• http://saportareport.com/leadership/healthcarepractice/2013/02/06/six-gop-governors-expand-medicaid-will-governor-deal-be-next/

•http://saportareport.com/leadership/healthcarepractice/2013/01/29/should_georgia_expand_medicaid/

Your Questions Answered: Saphenous Veins By David Martin

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 09:30:48 -0500

Annual "Best of" Issue

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 10:18:45 -0500

David Martin on Heartburn

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 14:48:06 -0500

Preventing Childhood Obesity

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 16:44:30 -0500

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of a cure.” Benjamin Franklin is famous for many sayings. Today, this one feels prescient.

Here are a few sobering facts on obesity:

In Georgia, we spend $2.4 billion dollars on obesity-related care. It’s a small but sizable portion of the additional $190 billion spent nationally every year on obesity-related health problems.
Americans use an extra billion gallons of gasoline as vehicles are weighted down by their extra-heavy passengers.
It is estimated that obesity absenteeism at work costs employers $6.4 billion a year.

Obesity costs are higher than costs associated with second-hand smoke, and the obese cost more to insure than smokers do. Everyone has a higher premium to cover rising costs. I could go on for a week reporting shocking statistics. But let’s not get pessimistic! Obesity is a crisis in this nation, and efforts to address it have just begun.

To really make a difference, we must emphasize prevention over treating the problem after it exists. Doctors aren’t paid very much for preventative services, like talking to their patients about nutrition, exercise and the consequences of obesity. Instead, we operate on a “fee for service” basis that pays doctors for performing services and ordering tests. The emphasis on ordering tests is changing. The Affordable Care Act mandates that preventative care is available without copays, including diet counseling for adults at higher risk of chronic disease and obesity screening and counseling for all adults. Organizations like Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta are working to train physicians to talk to children and their parents about better health. Obese individuals who do not participate in wellness programs will begin to pay 30 to 50 percent more in premiums (like smokers do already) as the Affordable Care Act’s provisions continue to go into effect.

This is the beginning of increased attention and efforts to curb and eventually stop obesity. As the economic and personal cost rises in our society, I hope we’ll all see the wisdom in “an ounce of prevention.”

Families Gaining (and Losing!) Weight Together

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 11:23:00 -0500

We begin teaching our children from almost the moment they’re born. Infants soak up our words to learn to speak, carrying on accents and dialects through what they hear. We teach our kids to share, to ride bicycles, to play nicely with others and brush their teeth. We also teach them about food, exercise and nutrition.

As parents, our habits good and bad are shared with our children. The food we provide for our families has an impact on each member, especially our kids. We decide for them when they’re small, and the food choices they make later are usually a reflection of what they’ve been raised with.

Obesity is sometimes considered a family disease. Behind obese children, there are obese parents. Family is a strong force in our lives, and when it comes to combating obesity, this can be a great thing. Just as families gain weight together, they lose it together!

Last March, National Public Radio reported on the ”halo effect” of weight loss. Individuals who lost weight saw their family, and even friends, lose weight, too. Making small changes to your family’s lifestyle and shopping cart can have a big effect on your collective waistlines.

Losing weight is a challenge. It requires us to make impactful changes in our lives. The convenience we enjoy in America comes at a cost. We could get through the day using very few steps. We don’t have to cook, surrounded by restaurants and fast food drive thrus. Most of us labor in front of a computer screen, seated at a desk for hours at a time.

Making time to move, educating ourselves about our health and our bodies, and making better choices are worth it, especially for our kids. Obese children, like obese adults, are becoming Type 2 diabetics and having trouble with their blood pressure. The rising generation may die before their parents do. We as families and individuals have the power to put the brakes on obesity, to help our loved ones and our communities.

For more information and to learn about stopping the cycle of childhood obesity, please visit Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Wellness section.

Keep Exercising During the Holidays

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 13:45:00 -0500

Weeks and weeks of indulging with family and friends means extra calories coupled with more relaxing. Studies once claimed that on average, most people gained five to seven pounds. The news isn’t that bad! In 2007, a new study revealed that the average weight gain was about one pound; however, people were unlikely to lose the weight they gained. Read the full article here

So, how can we set about maintaining our weight over the holidays? The temptation of finger foods, sweets from well-meaning relatives, rich dinners, and alcohol usually prove too difficult to resist.

It’s cold outside, but don’t let the cool temperature discourage you from exercise! Here are a few winter-weather tips while you’re out working off those holiday calories.

Layer your clothes.Your first impression walking out the door may have you running back inside for an extra coat, but resist. Think of the chill as extra motivation to get moving! For your first layer, avoid cotton fabric. As you sweat, cotton will get wet and cling to your skin. Remember that thin people need more layers than larger people, and insulate yourself accordingly.
Consider a scarf or face covering if the weather is extra chilly.You’ll protect your nose and face from damage in the cold, and it will warm the air before it enters your lungs. There are some studies to suggest that breathing in cold air makes you burn a few extra calories. That’s true, but the amount is negligible. I’d rather have a warm nose!
Remember your extremities. When we get cold, our bodies shift focus to our core. Hands and feet get left out in the cold – literally. To avoid frostbite, make sure you’re properly wrapped up. Wear gloves, and invest in a pair of thick socks. Atlantans probably won’t need to go this far, but if you trek up north you may want to buy shoes a half-size too large so you can wear an extra layer of socks. Finally, don’t forget about your ears!
Wear sunscreen. Just because it’s cold doesn’t mean the sun has stopped shining.
Exercise inside when the weather demands it. A summer run in the rain is exhilarating; a winter run in the rain could make you sick. If you get soaked, you’ll most likely get sick from the cold. Wind chill can cut through your layers and leave you without the warm air that surrounds your body.

No matter the weather, do exercise! You’ll start the new year off right if you are healthy.

Prevention and Treatment for Common Venous Conditions

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 09:26:26 -0500

My practice, VeinInnovations, specializes in treating venous conditions. This week, I’d like to discuss two common venous conditions, their causes, steps for prevention and treatment.

Varicose veins and spider veins will occur in about 50 to 55 percent of women and 40 to 45 percent of men in the United States. Half of people 50 years and over will be affected by varicose veins. Varicose veins and spider veins usually do not cause pain. Varicose veins are red, blue, or flesh-colored veins that often appear twisted and bulging. Spider veins are easily visible through the skin. They’re small (sometimes as fine as a hair) red, purple and blue vessels.

There are several factors outside of age that elevate your risk of developing varicose or spider veins, and I’ll explain them in a moment. First, let’s dispel a mistaken belief. Despite speculation in the past that crossing your legs would compress veins in the calf and result in greater vein pressure and varicose veins, no one has verified this theory scientifically.

Besides age, risk factors for varicose and spider veins include your medical history, hormonal changes, pregnancy, obesity, lack of movement and sun exposure. If you were born with weak veins or have family members with vein problems, you have a greater chance of developing vein problems. Hormonal changes that occur during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause are linked to varicose and spider veins.

In young women, pregnancy is the most frequent cause of varicose and spider veins. During pregnancy, blood volume expands 25 to 40 percent, and this can cause veins to enlarge. Additionally, the enlarging uterus presses on veins in the pelvis and increase pressure in veins that bring blood up from the legs. Late in pregnancy, the uterus can compress the vena cava, a major vein in the abdomen, resulting in varicose veins.

Obesity, and the extra pressure it puts on your veins can cause varicose veins. Lack of movement, from sitting at a desk all day or standing behind a counter, may force your veins to work harder to pump blood to your heart. Finally, sun exposure may cause spider veins on the cheeks or nose of a fair-skinned person.

Not all varicose and spider veins can be prevented, but there are many steps you can take to lower your chances of developing them.

Eat a healthy diet, low in sodium and high in fiber. High-fiber foods like fresh fruit, vegetables and whole grains reduce constipation. Constipation puts pressure on the veins in the body, which weakens them and can in turn cause swelling and the backflow of blood.

Exercise regularly. Improve your leg strength, circulation and vein strength by walking and running. Move throughout the day. Avoid sitting or standing for too long. If you must be on your feet all day, invest in a pair of compression stockings. The stockings steadily squeeze your legs, helping veins and leg muscles to move blood more efficiently.

Treatments include VNUS closure, EVLA, sclerotherapy and laser treatments. For a full description of all available treatments, please visit this page of the VeinInnovations website.