Vol. 5, No. 7, July 2008
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A Standing Proposition
You love your job. You hate what it’s doing to your legs. Luckily, there are new, simpler solutions for unsightly varicose veins.
Ask most casino workers who are not in the executive suite, and chances are they spend hours each day—sometimes even whole shifts—on their feet. For dealers, floor people, wait staff and others, long periods of standing or walking are just part of the job description. As a result, many who work in the casinos—men and women alike—are at risk for varicose veins.
Varicose veins are not just unsightly. They can cause discomfort, itching, swelling, a sensation of heaviness and fatigue in the legs—even ulcerative wounds that can be prone to infection.
Fortunately for the 20 million Americans who suffer from varicose veins, the painful, laborious process known as vein stripping has gone the way of the Edsel. Though varicose veins cannot be eliminated or completely prevented, these days, the procedures to alleviate them have been vastly improved and streamlined.
“In my opinion, vein stripping today is almost never necessary,” says cardiovascular surgeon Jeffrey Gosin, MD, of the Jersey Shore Center for Vascular Health. “I can accomplish the same results in my patients with what’s called the Closure Procedure.”
Also known as endovenous ablation, the Closure Procedure does not remove the veins (stripping), but seals them so they are cut off from the circulatory system. Without an inflow of blood, the size and appearance of varicose veins are markedly improved.
Other benefits of Closure over vein stripping: “It’s done in the office, with a local anesthetic,” says Gosin. “It’s done through small needle punctures under ultrasound guidance; there are almost never any incisions or stitches required.”
And recovery is swift—most patients can go back to work within a day or two.
Best of all, says Gosin, “It makes people’s legs feel dramatically better. The heaviness, the fatigue, the cramping and swelling are relieved. This treatment is extremely effective.”
Spider veins can be eliminated in similar fashion. With a process called sclerotherapy, a solution is injected into the veins through a tiny needle, causing them to collapse. (The veins are then reabsorbed into the body.)
For casino workers whose very livelihood requires hours of standing, these treatments—in the U.S. for about six years—are a welcome option.
“You can’t always change your occupation,” says Gosin. “Whether you’re a pit boss or a cashier, a dealer or a host, you’re on your feet.”
When varicose veins make the job harder, the minimally invasive Closure Procedure could be for you.
Jeffrey S. Gosin, MD, FACS, is a board-certified cardiovascular surgeon at the Jersey Shore Center for Vascular Health in Somers Point. For more information, call 609.927.3030 or visit www.getgreatlegs.com.
Life, Unplugged
It’s easy to get depressed when you’re bombarded with daily reminders of all that’s wrong in the world.
TV, internet and newspapers, by their very nature, focus on the bad news (hence the old TV news axiom, ‘If it bleeds, it leads”). These outlets inundate your mind with tragedy, turmoil and unrest, most of which we cannot influence for the better.
The remedy? Consider a “media fast.”
That’s right. For a week, turn off the television. Ignore the computer. Let the newspapers pile up (at the end of the week, you can build a bonfire!).
You’ll reap several benefits. First, you’ll rediscover your own inner voice, which can be easily drowned out by the clamor of talking heads.
Next, you’ll realize there are many hours in the day (hours once absorbed by the TV or computer) that can now be devoted to other pursuits—like friends, family, hobbies, nature and the arts.
While breaking the habit of constant “information” may feel strange or empty at first, stick with it. Tuning out the news media can cause a profound shift in your day-to-day experience of living, leaving you calmer, less wound-up, and much more placid. Just as important, this kind of media-free life (even if you only do it for a few days) can lead to a marked reduction in news-induced stress.
Your first response may be, “But it’s important to stay well-informed! I can’t switch off all that’s happening when the world is in such bad shape.”
To which we reply: Yes, you can. And for your own health and happiness, maybe you should.
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