CW Notes

MID ILLINI SURGICAL ASSOCIATES TO HOST FREE SCREENINGS

FOR VARICOSE VEINS 

            Dr. Scott Reid and Dr. Brian Heywood, two vascular surgeons from Mid Illini Surgical Associates (MISA), will offer FREE screenings for varicose veins on Monday, June 16th and Monday, July 21st in the Methodist Atrium Building on Main Street in Peoria . Each event will run from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. Although appointments are preferred, walk-ins will be welcomed on a first-come, first-served basis.            

     “If you are one of the many who suffer from the discomfort of varicose veins,” Dr. Reid said, “then we encourage you to call us to schedule an appointment on one of these days to be sure to get your 15-minute screening.  It’s free, easy and painless, so you can’t lose!” He added that those who want to be screened should come in shorts or a dress so that their legs are exposed for the screening. 

Raising Awareness           

An estimated 25 million people in the United States have varicose veins.  A leading cause is attributed to venous reflux disease, often occurring from “incompetent” or “leaky” valves in the large vein running from the ankle to the groin in each leg. In addition to varicose veins, other symptoms may include leg pain, fatigue, swelling and skin ulceration.  This condition can be progressive if left untreated, and symptoms may worsen with time.           

· About 72% of women and 42% of men in America will experience varicose veins by the time they are in their 60s.

·  Peak incidence of venous insufficiency occurs in women aged 40-49 years and in men aged 70-79 years.           

·  Common risk factors include multiple pregnancies, family history, obesity and professions where long periods of standing are required. 

MISA is hosting the FREE screening events to help educate the community about the dangers of venous and vascular disease, along with risk factors, prevention and treatment options. As part of the program, they will introduce their newest treatment – the VNUS Closure® procedure by VNUS Medical Technologies, Inc. 

VNUS Closure® Procedure - “Patients with venous reflux disease can now be treated with the VNUS Closure procedure, a minimally invasive treatment alternative,” Dr. Reid, explained. “In fact, patients treated with this procedure can typically resume regular activities in a day. That’s significant because vein stripping surgery has been the most traditional treatment in the past, and it has often often resulted in a much longer recovery time. As many people who have varicose veins know, they can be quite painful, so VNUS Closure may be the best answer for many of those who have been putting off treatment.”           

Patient satisfaction with the VNUS procedure has been high, due both to shorter recovery and less pain. In fact, reports indicate 95% of VNUS Closure patients refer their friends for the procedure. VNUS Closure is also widely embraced by physicians and covered by most insurance companies.  

  For more information or to schedule an appointment for a FREE screening, contact MISA at 309-672-5975 or 800-706-MISA (6472). Additional details can be found on their website at www.misateam.com.