Health

Comprehensive Varicose Vein Treatment in Bakersfield, CA

Published

2 years ago

January 7, 2022

A significant percentage of people in the US experience varicose veins. The condition often caused reduced self-esteem and discomfort. If not treated, varicose veins can cause severe medical issues. The board-certified cardiologist Vinod Kumar MD, FACC, at Heart Vascular and Leg Center provides comprehensive treatment for varicose veins in Bakersfield. Dr. Kumar and his team offer a wide range of varicose vein solutions to relieve your symptoms and prevent complications. Call or book an appointment online to get started today!

What Exactly Are Varicose Veins?

Varicose veins refer to the enlarged, visible and twisted veins that commonly happen in your legs. Varicose veins occur due to malfunctioning valves. This makes them unable to function appropriately or push the blood from the legs back to the heart to get replenished with oxygen. This results in blood pooling in your legs, leading to debilitating pain, non-healing wounds, and amputation. The team at Heart Vascular and Leg Center provides several effective varicose vein treatment options.

What Are the Common Varicose Veins Symptoms?

Varicose veins can cause numerous signs and symptoms. these include;

Muscle cramping
Itchy veins
Cold-like veins
Twisted or bulging veins
Visible dark blue or purple veins
Skin discoloration
Leg pain after sitting or standing for long
Burning, throbbing, or swelling

Spider veins are smaller than varicose veins and are found on your face and legs. The possible complications linked to varicose veins include blood clots and painful ulcers.

What Are the Possible Risk Factors for Varicose Veins?

Anyone can get varicose veins, including men and women. However, numerous factors increase the risk of developing varicose veins. These include; being overweight, having a family or personal history of varicose veins, old age, lack of enough exercise, and sitting or standing for a longer time. Women are also more likely to get varicose veins than men.

What Are the Treatments for Varicose Veins?

When you schedule an appointment with Heart Vascular and Leg Center to treat your varicose veins, you will be diagnosed and given individualized treatment plans best for your condition. They have innovative minimally invasive technology that needs no surgery or downtime. The various treatments available include;

Making lifestyle changes

The doctor might recommend making simple lifestyle changes such as exercising regularly, avoiding standing or sitting for long, and maintaining a healthy weight. This will help prevent or reduce varicose veins.

Compression stockings

You might be required to wear compression stockings for weeks or months. The socks help the veins to move blood more conveniently, reducing the severity of varicose veins.

Sclerotherapy

This involves the injection of a unique solution into the varicose veins causing scarring and closing of the veins. These veins fade away in some weeks.

Radiofrequency and laser treatment

As the name implies, it uses radiofrequency energy to damage the varicose veins, fading away.

VenaSeal

Here, the doctor uses a medical adhesive and catheter to seal the varicose veins non-surgically.

Do not live with debilitating or embarrassing varicose veins while there are effective nonsurgical treatments. Book a consultation by phone or online scheduling tool with Heart Vascular and Leg Center today!

Health

9 Simple Steps to Dealing with a Broken Tooth

Published

2 months ago

February 14, 2024

Michelle Langton

Credit: freepik via Freepik

It’s movie night, and you have an obligatory bowlful of popcorn balancing on your lap. You toss a handful of popcorn and — crack — you unknowingly bite down on a kernel with the full power of your jaw.

Lightning strikes your mouth as you realize this humble kernel broke your tooth.

Now what?

Besides pausing the movie and spitting out your mouthful of popcorn and tooth, you might not know your next steps.

What should you do, and how can you pay for it? Find the answers to these questions and more below:

1. Save the Pieces

If possible, save any broken pieces of the tooth. Your dentist might need these pieces.

2. Rinse Your Mouth

Gently rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area. Avoid using hot or cold water, as it might aggravate any exposed nerves.

3. Control Bleeding

If you bleed, apply gentle pressure to the area with a clean cloth or gauze. You can also use a cold compress on your jaw or cheek to reduce swelling.

4. Contact Your Dentist

Reach out to your dentist immediately. Explain the situation and try to schedule an emergency appointment. Many dentists reserve slots for urgent cases. If they don’t have a spot available, look at specialty emergency clinics in your area.

5. Get Over-the-Counter Pain Relief

Broken and chipped teeth can hurt, so take some over-the-counter pain relievers to help manage this pain until you can see your dentist.

6. Check Insurance Coverage

Review your dental insurance policy to understand coverage details. Some policies may cover emergency procedures, while others may have limitations.

7. Discuss Payment Options

If cost is a concern, discuss financing options with your dentist. Some dental offices offer flexible arrangements that give you a break. If you qualify for these plans, you might be able to push out your due date to coincide with your payday. You may even be able to break up your total outstanding amount over several payments.

8. Take out a Personal Loan

If you’re just shy of what you need to cover your emergency dental expense, consider going online to scope out personal loans. A personal loan may fill in for savings in urgent situations. You can quickly visit a website like MoneyKey to see what you need to apply. If approved, a personal loan gives you the means to pay for your visit upfront and pay off what you owe over time.

9. Consider Urgent Care Clinics

If your financial situation is such that you can’t afford a personal loan’s payments, reconsider your choice of dentist. Some dental practices apply a sliding scale to their services so that they can provide immediate care at a lower cost for at-risk individuals.

Next Steps: Thinking About the Future

So, you’ve managed to repair your tooth and pay the bill, too. What’s next? Make sure you hit these three goals soon. They can help you prevent another broken tooth in the future!

Stay on Top of Dental Hygiene: Brush at least twice a day and floss once a day — these simple habits can protect your teeth over time.
Schedule Regular Checkups: Keeping up with regular cleanings can also help you prevent future dental emergencies.
Build an Emergency Fund: Sometimes, accidents happen. Consider building an emergency fund specifically for unexpected dental emergencies.