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  Vascular Disease Awareness Month: What Is Vascular Disease?

  September is Vascular Disease Awareness Month! By the age of 50, 50% of women and 30% of men are affected by a vein disorder.  What Is Vascular Disease? Vascular disease is a term used to describe numerous conditions affecting the veins, arteries and small vessels.  Here are just a few examples of vascular diseases: Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Varicose Veins Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Symptoms can vary depending on the blood vessels affected. Coronary Artery Disease may present symptoms like shortness of breath or chest pain while PAD can cause swelling, pain or weakness in the extremities. Unfortunately, a serious or even life-threatening event may occur before a patient even knows they have vascular disease as sometimes there are no symptoms. People are more at risk if they have a family history of vascular disease or have the following: Diabetes Obesity High cholesterol History of smoking Unhealthy diet How Does Vascular Associates of South Alabama Treat Vascular Disease? At Vascular Associates of South Alabama, their board-certified physicians are experts in treating patients with vascular disease. While some types can be treated with medications and changes in lifestyle, others may need surgery to ...
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  What Is a Vascular Surgeon and Why Do You Need One?

    A vascular surgeon is a highly-trained specialist who treats vascular diseases and provides comprehensive vascular care. Vascular disease is defined as “any condition that affects your circulatory system, or system of blood vessels” by Cleveland Clinic. Types of vascular disease include atherosclerosis, peripheral artery disease, carotid artery disease and pulmonary embolism. Do they always operate? While vascular surgeons do perform surgery, they also treat patients using only lifestyle changes and preventative health plans. Some conditions, like Peripheral Artery Disease, can be managed with exercise and a healthy diet.  Why would I need a vascular surgeon? Normally, a patient’s primary care doctor will refer them to a vascular surgeon if they’ve been recently diagnosed with vascular disease, present with pain in their legs or are at high risk. Patients with diabetes or who smoke may need to start a relationship and work on slowing the progression of vascular diseases. Some people may skip the general practitioner entirely after an unexpected trip to the hospital that’s related to vascular disease.  What should I look for in a vascular specialist? A patient needs a board-certified vascular surgeon who ...
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  What are Varicose Veins?

  Some of us have more prominent veins than others. But when your veins appear swollen, twisted, or darkly colored, you may be suffering from varicose veins. Varicose veins affect 1 in 4 adults and can range from merely unsightly to downright dangerous. But what exactly are varicose veins, and what can be done about them? What Causes Varicose Veins? In the simplest terms, varicose veins are veins that are swollen with blood. Your veins have valves that keep your blood flowing toward your heart. When those veins become damaged or weakened, blood can back-up behind them and pool in your veins, causing them to swell. When this happens, they protrude from the skin and appear twisted, enlarged, and bluish in color. They are often called “spider veins” when they are mild thanks to their webbed appearance. Varicose veins are most common in the legs, ankles and feet. That’s because the pressure in the veins of your lower body is increased when you stand or walk. Any vein can become varicose. For example, hemorrhoids are a form of varicose veins that ...
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  Navigating Vascular Ultrasounds: Your Top Questions Answered

  Vascular ultrasounds are a vital tool in diagnosing and managing vascular diseases, offering crucial insights into the health of veins and arteries. At Vascular Associates of South Alabama, we understand the importance of providing comprehensive care and information to our patients. Let’s address some of the top questions you may have about vascular ultrasounds. 1. What Is a Vascular Ultrasound? A vascular ultrasound is a non-invasive imaging technique used to evaluate blood vessels. By utilizing sound waves transmitted painlessly through the skin, vascular ultrasounds produce detailed images of blood flow, detecting issues such as narrowing, blockages, or abnormalities that could affect circulation. 2. How Is a Vascular Ultrasound Performed? During a vascular ultrasound evaluation, a special gel is applied to the skin over the area of interest. This gel facilitates the movement of a handheld transducer over the skin's surface, transmitting sound waves and capturing their reflections as they bounce off blood vessels. These reflections are then interpreted by a computer to generate real-time images displayed on a monitor. 3. What Conditions Can Vascular Ultrasounds Diagnose? Vascular ultrasounds are instrumental in diagnosing various vascular conditions, ...
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  What to Expect During Your Initial Vascular Appointment

  What to Expect During Your Initial Vascular Appointment Vascular health is integral to overall health, as it affects blood flow and the functioning of vital organs. Here are a few symptoms and conditions that might prompt you to book a vascular appointment: Leg Pain or Cramping Swelling in the Legs Non-Healing Wounds Cold or Numb Feet/Toes Varicose Veins Family History of Vascular Disease If you're currently under the care of specialists for conditions like diabetes or heart disease, incorporating a vascular practice into your healthcare routine can be a crucial step towards comprehensive well-being.  What to Expect at Your First Vascular Appointment At Vascular Associates of South Alabama, we make it easy for you to get the vascular care you need without the hassle of waiting for a referral or a long appointment wait time. In most cases, you can secure a same-day appointment. Here’s a step-by-step guide on what to expect during your first visit. Step 1: Preparing for Your Appointment First, you’ll need to fill out a new patient packet. This packet can be downloaded and printed from our website, or you can choose to complete it at our ...
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  Don't Rely on Luck! Why You Need a Vascular Screening

  When it comes to vascular health, patients should be proactive. Vascular screenings are a great way to detect problems early and prevent them from advancing.  What Is Vascular Screening? Vascular screenings are designed to identify problems with the blood vessels in the body. They’re often non-invasive, painless and can be performed in a doctor’s office. These screenings may involve tests such as an ankle-brachial index (ABI) test, which compares the blood pressure in the ankle to the blood pressure in the arm, or a vascular ultrasound, which uses sound waves to evaluate blood vessels and circulation. One of the main benefits of vascular screenings is that they can help detect and prevent serious vascular health conditions such as abdominal aortic aneurysm and peripheral artery disease (PAD), early on. Many vascular conditions like PAD do not have noticeable symptoms until they have progressed to an advanced stage.  By catching these conditions early, individuals can begin treatment before they become more serious and potentially irreversible. For example, a screening may uncover major risk factors for these conditions, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol. ...