Vein Care
Varicose veins aren’t just an “appearance” issue; they are a health issue. Hancock County – Hancock County Health System (HCHS) is excited to now provide comprehensive care for varicose vein disease with Ali Mardan, MD, and Ami Frohling, ARNP, along with a team of medical experts.
Together, Dr. Mardan and Frohling, ARNP, will treat the underlying cause of the disease to prevent reoccurrence. This is all done from one location – HCHS’s Heart and Vascular Center in Britt.
About Varicose Veins
Symptoms
The following are the most common symptoms of varicose veins. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
- Noticeable dark-blue blood vessels, especially in the legs and feet.
- Brown discoloration of the lower leg.
- Leg fatigue, itching, pain, throbbing, aching
- Leg Swelling
- Breaks in the skin
- Restless legs
- Skin ulcers near your ankle, which are serious and require immediate medical attention.
These symptoms can worsen as the day progresses.
Risk Factors of Varicose Veins
- Age. With aging, there is a decrease in the production of collagen and an increase in breakdown in elastin in vein walls. This weakness in the walls will lead to dilation, enlargement and bulging of the veins.
- Family History. Varicose veins commonly run in the family.
- Ethnicity. Caucasians have a higher rate of developing varicose veins compared to other races.
- Inactivity. A sedentary lifestyle impacts the ability of leg muscles to pump blood well. As the leg pump weakens it will increase the risk for developing varicose veins.
- Prior blood clots in your legs. These damage the valves in the leg veins
- Pregnancy. Pregnant women have an increased risk of developing varicose veins due to the hormonal influences of pregnancy on the veins, but the veins often return to normal within one year of childbirth. Women who have multiple pregnancies may develop permanent varicose veins.
Treatment Options at HCHS
- Medical Management. Compression stockings are typically the first option to improve the blood flow in the legs and help with leg symptoms. The graduated compression stocking will be needed if you are treated with any vein procedure in the future.
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A Varicose Vein Procedure.
- Radiofrequency Ablation. This is a minimally invasive technique where your doctor will use radiofrequency energy to heat and damage a vein's wall, which will close off the varicose vein. The vein will be absorbed in the tissue, and blood will be diverted to nearby healthy veins.
- Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy. UGS is a highly specialized procedure for treating advanced varicose veins that are hidden beneath the skin. The procedure is very effective and involves injecting a sclerosant solution into the abnormal veins using ultrasound guidance, causing the vein wall to collapse.
Many insurance carriers cover the vein ablation treatment, based on medical necessity for symptom relief.
About Dr. Ali Mardan
Dr. Mardan is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and sub-boarded in Vascular Medicine. In addition, he is certified in Underwater Hyperbaric Medicine. Most recently Dr. Mardan was the medical director of MercyOne North Iowa’s Vascular Medicine Department, where he provided advanced wound care and vein intervention.
He completed a fellowship in Vascular Medicine at the Greensville Health System University Medical Center in Greensville, South Carolina; his Internal Medicine Residency at Gunderson Clinic and Lutheran Hospital in Lacrosse WI and received his Doctor of Medicine Degree in General Medicine and Surgery from the School of Medicine Institute of Biomedical Science at the University of Jaurez in Chihuahua, Mexico. Prior to attending Medical School, Dr. Mardan received a PhD in Microbiology from the University of Minnesota.
About Ami Frohling, ARNP
Ami has been the director of HCHS Heart and Vascular Center since its inception in 2017. Prior to her role at HCHS, Ami had been with MercyOne North Iowa for 23 years, specializing in vascular medicine.
Ami earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Iowa and her Master's degree in Science in Nursing with a focus in Family Nurse Practitioner from the Minnesota State University/Mankato.