Haywood Regional Medical Center and Harris Regional Hospital will hold a free vein seminar on Tuesday, Oct. 22, at noon in the board room at Harris Regional Hospital.

The session will be led by Dr. Al Mina and will center on helping people who have aching, cramping or burning pain in their legs; varicose veins; discoloration or skin changes in their legs; numbness or tingling in their legs; or pain in their legs after activities such as grocery shopping or short walks up stairs.

Over 40 million Americans suffer daily with painful, swollen legs as a result of what is known as venous disease or problems with veins in the legs. This condition is the result of faulty valves in the veins and is called venous insufficiency.

The treatment for this disorder is a minimally invasive procedure called endovenous thermal ablation. It is done under local anesthetic and is covered by most insurance carriers, including Medicare. Patients walk out of the vein center and most can return to their normal activities the same day.

Heredity is the number one risk factor for venous disease. If someone’s parents had varicose veins, that person has an 89 percent chance of developing them. In addition, women, especially those that have had multiple pregnancies, are three times more likely than men to develop venous disorders. Also, professions that require long periods of sitting or standing increase a person’s risk for venous disease. Age is also a risk factor. While older people are at a higher risk for venous disease, it can start as early as childhood.

The Vein Center, located on the second floor of HRMC, can be accessed from entering behind the hospital at 262 Leroy George Drive in Clyde. The Vein Center will be expanding to Jackson County with a location at Harris Regional Hospital. Opening date will be later this year.

Lunch will be provided. Space for the educational program is limited, and registration is required. To register or to learn more about the procedure, call 828-452-VEIN (8346). Additional information is online at MyHaywoodRegional.com/Vein.

About Haywood Regional Medical Center

Haywood Regional Medical Center, a Duke LifePoint Hospital, is located in Haywood County and offers a comprehensive array of services, including orthopedics, spine services, cardiology, general surgery, women's care, emergency medicine, behavioral health, and includes 12 multi-specialty physician clinics. The campus, located in Clyde, is also home to the 54,000 square foot Haywood Regional Health and Fitness Center, the 44,000 square foot Haywood Regional Outpatient Care Center (includes the outpatient surgery center, laboratory, imaging center including women's imaging and physician practices) and nearby, The Homestead, an inpatient hospice facility. Haywood Regional Medical Center also operates two urgent care centers in the county, in Waynesville and Canton.  For more information, visit MyHaywoodRegional.com.

About Harris Regional Hospital

Harris Regional Hospital, established in 1925, is an 86-bed acute and specialty care facility serving Western North Carolina with more than 100 physicians practicing in locations throughout a multi-county region, including Harris Regional Hospital Medical Park of Franklin, an outpatient facility in Macon County.