Ola from Arizona, Chris!

Your email newsletter on AFib went a long way towards helping me understand what the heck it is and how it’s treated.  I know several (very healthy otherwise) friends diagnosed with AFib – one whose been resuscitated a couple of times, which sounds pretty frightening.  Bottom line, your description of AFib causes, symptoms, and treatment answered my questions as well as reminded me that I’ve never had an EKG or other heart diagnostic exam.  At the tender age of 65, I’m probably wise to get checked out.

I want to tell you about another wide-spread but little recognized health issue that typically affects older folks which is Chronis Venous Insufficiency (CVI) – also known as Venous Reflux Disease. Here’s a link to a description of the condition:

What Is Chronic Venous Insufficiency? .

I was diagnosed with CVI when I sought treatment for unsightly spider veins in my legs.  I assumed that I needed sclerotherapy treatment to solve the spider vein problem, however when an ultrasound was done on both legs, I was told that I had CVI and that was probably what was causing the spider veins and varicosities in my legs.  This was totally new to me – that what I previously understood was simply a cosmetic issue of unsightly spider veins and varicose veins was actually symptomatic of CVI.  I did some research and discovered that CVI affects approximately 40% of the population: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16872-chronic-venous-insufficiency-cvi AND that very few people seek treatment for it.  It’s a primary cause of DVT, Phlebitis and several other serious vascular issues but people don’t typically seek treatment until their symptoms are severe.

The good (and unexpected) news is that my health insurance covers the treatment with endovenous thermal ablation which has excellent results.  I’m scheduled for treatment in the next month and can report back to you if you are interested.

I wanted to see if you’re interested in writing a newsletter discussing the symptoms and treatment of CVI because it’s a disease that most dramatically affects older people, is little understood, and for which few people seek treatment.

As I said, I’m happy to follow up with you as I complete my treatments. In the meantime, perhaps you’ll let me know if you’re interested in sending a YNY newsletter regarding CVI.

Thank you for your never-ending commitment to supporting us “older-but-younger-than-our-years” folks with your beautifully crafted newsletters.

Warmest Regards,

CS