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Vascular Specialists Blog View all posts

Here's Why You Should Never Ignore Leg Swelling
While occasional leg swelling can be harmless, it’s good practice to never ignore it. In this blog, we share the three reasons why you should see a vascular specialist and what we can do to help reduce your leg swelling and pain.
Mar 2nd, 2023

What to Expect Before, During, and After Venous Ablation
Are you scheduled for an upcoming venous ablation treatment? Venous ablation is one of many options we use for addressing varicose veins. In this blog, we explain what you can expect before, during, and after your procedure.
Feb 2nd, 2023

Can My Spider Veins Put My Health in Danger?
While varicose veins are bulging twisted veins that can itch or be painful, spider veins are smaller blue or purple webs of veins that form on your legs or face. Many people view spider veins as cosmetic concerns, but can they affect your health?
Jan 10th, 2023

What Is the Difference Between LDL and HDL Cholesterol?
Cholesterol has a bad reputation for being bad, but the surprising reality is that there are two main types of cholesterol — LDL and HDL — and one of them is good. Read on to learn more about cholesterol and the key difference between LDL and HDL.
Dec 1st, 2022

The Link Between Smoking and a Peripheral Aneurysm
Smoking increases your risk of many different health conditions, including peripheral aneurysms. In this article, we take a closer look at how smoking affects your arteries and what you can do to reduce your risk of developing an aneurysm.
Nov 1st, 2022

Can I stop prediabetes?
Early identification and lifestyle changes can improve the chances of avoiding diabetes; while not all of this is in your control, much of it is.
Oct 27th, 2022

Understanding Your Non Surgical Vein Treatment Options
Treating problematic veins can help address aesthetic concerns like twisted or discolored veins, but it also helps combat symptoms such as pain, cramping, and heaviness. Read on to learn more about your nonsurgical vein treatment options.
Oct 4th, 2022

Why Do I Need A D-Dimer Test?
Dr. Eugene Tanquilut of Vascular Specialists says, “A D-Dimer test is a simple blood test, but it can give us valuable information. If D-Dimer levels are elevated, it could indicate the patient has a blood clotting disorder.”
Sep 6th, 2022

How a Carotid Stenting Procedure Works
If you’re anticipating an upcoming carotid stenting procedure for the treatment of blocked carotid arteries, you might wonder how it works. In this blog, we explain what this procedure is, who it’s for, and how it helps prevent strokes.
Jul 1st, 2022

Is an aspirin a day the right choice for you?
Today, your Vascular Specialists physician may recommend a regimen of daily low-dose aspirin or, “We may not, depending upon your unique health history,” says Dr. Eugene Tanquilut.
Jun 1st, 2022

6 Ways to Reduce Your Risk of a Peripheral Aneurysm
A small peripheral aneurysm may not cause symptoms. But as it grows, it can cause issues such as pain, tenderness, swelling, and ulcers. The good news is that there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing one. Read on to learn more.
Jun 1st, 2022

Sleep and Your Vascular Health
Dr. T says, “If you’re having trouble sleeping for more than a few nights, it’s time to see your physician."
May 4th, 2022

The Ellipsys™ System: How It Can Save You Time
When it comes to dialysis access, there are many options available, but fistulas are often the preferred choice. The Ellipsys™ Vascular Access System is used to create a fistula and save you time, too. Read on to learn more.
May 1st, 2022

Rejuvenate Your Eyes With SmoothEye®

Do you want to enhance the appearance of your eyes by reducing periorbital wrinkles? While you have options, including injectables, SmoothEye® laser treatments might deliver the long-lasting resultings you’ve been looking for. Learn more here.
Apr 1st, 2022

Botox® vs. Fillers: Which Treatment Is Right for Me?
Cosmetic injectables Botox® and dermal fillers are two of the most popular aesthetic treatments, but which one should you choose? Read on to learn more about each type of injectable and how to tell which one is right for you.
Mar 1st, 2022

Understanding How Chemical Peels Work
Chemical peels can reduce the appearance of fine lines, acne scars, and sun damage, but before you commit to this skin resurfacing treatment, it’s important to understand how it works. Learn more here.
Feb 9th, 2022

Why Dry January Is A Great Idea
January is the perfect time to step back, reflect on how much alcohol we are consuming and how it is impacting our health, happiness and wellbeing. Vascular Specialists is here to help you start the new year with a fresh, healthy perspective.
Jan 7th, 2022

What Does a 4D Nonsurgical Facelift Entail?
A facelift without surgery sounds too good to be true, but the Fotona4D® nonsurgical facelift makes this dream into a reality. Continue reading to learn more about nonsurgical facelifts and what they entail.
Dec 1st, 2021

Does a Vascular Ultrasound Hurt?
Are you scheduled for a vascular ultrasound? You might wonder how you can prepare for your scan and 一 more importantly 一 if it will hurt. Read on to learn about the many reasons you might need an ultrasound and what to expect from it.
Nov 1st, 2021

Exercise Without Exercising
Exercise doesn’t have to take a chunk out of your day, it doesn’t have to be regimented and it doesn’t have to be a chore. Vascular Specialists doctors have three simple tips to incorporate more movement into your day while hardly noticing.
Oct 10th, 2021

Are My Spider Veins Putting My Health in Danger?
Spider veins are a cosmetic nuisance, but can they impact your overall health? Continue reading to find out if spider veins are dangerous, what causes them, and how you can get rid of them.
Oct 1st, 2021

How Do I Know If I Have Vein Insufficiency?
What is vein insufficiency and how do you know if you have it? In this article, we explore the signs of vein insufficiency, the risk factors that contribute to vein problems, and your potential treatment options.
Sep 1st, 2021

Are Varicose Veins a Threat to Your Health?
Getting rid of varicose veins is a common cosmetic goal, but did you know that varicose veins pose more than an aesthetic concern? Find out how varicose veins affect your health and what you can do to reduce these risks.
Aug 2nd, 2021

The Link Between Your Weight and Vein Problems
When it comes to vein problems, including varicose veins, there are many risk factors 一 including carrying extra pounds. In this blog, we explain the connection between your weight and vein problems.
Jul 11th, 2021

Our Varicose Vein Treatments Explained
Varicose veins cause unsightly bulges as well as physical symptoms like aches and throbbing. Varicose vein treatments provide relief for both the aesthetic and physical concerns, but which treatment is right for you? Learn more about your options.
Jun 24th, 2021

Are There Ways to Avoid Varicose Veins?
Can you avoid those lumpy, twisted varicose veins? In this blog, we answer your question and shed light on steps you can take to improve your vein health, even if you already have varicose veins.
May 24th, 2021

Vascular Ultrasound: What to Expect

Vascular ultrasounds are invaluable when it comes to treatment plans for vascular conditions like varicose veins or venous insufficiency. If you’re scheduled for an upcoming vascular ultrasound, here’s everything you need to know.
Apr 14th, 2021

Vascular Surgeons Are Expert At Diagnosis

Dr. Tanquilut explains three common vascular diagnostic tests; why your primary care physician may order them, what happens during the test and what your medical professionals are looking for in the results.
Mar 12th, 2021

Benefits of Venous Ablation for Varicose Veins
Are you tired of living with your varicose veins? Endovenous ablation is a common treatment for varicose veins. In this blog, we highlight the many advantages of treating varicose veins with this procedure.
Mar 4th, 2021

Leg Swelling and Venous Disease
Is leg swelling connected to venous disease? It could be. In this article, we explore the link between leg swelling and vascular conditions like venous insufficiency and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Read on to learn more.
Feb 17th, 2021

Why Do Varicose Veins Hurt?
Varicose veins are a common cosmetic complaint, but varicose veins may cause more than just aesthetic concerns. If your varicose veins hurt, you might wonder why. In this post, we explain more about varicose veins and their complications.
Jan 18th, 2021

When Does Leg Pain Require Medical Intervention?
From dull aches to sharp spasms, leg pain can stop you in your tracks. But what if your leg pain is only mild? When do you need to seek medical treatment? Keep reading to explore common causes of leg pain and treatments we offer when you need care.
Dec 7th, 2020

Do You Need an Angiogram?

Angiograms are used to diagnose and even treat certain conditions related to the arteries or heart, but how do you know if you’re one of the more than 1 million Americans who need one? Read to learn the top signs that you need an angiogram.
Nov 16th, 2020

Varicose Veins: Aesthetic or Health Concern?
Varicose veins are lumpy, discolored, and difficult to ignore. But are they just a cosmetic concern? In this blog, we cover both aesthetic and health concerns tied to varicose veins, plus your options for eliminating them.
Oct 25th, 2020

How We Can Help Your Dialysis Experience
One in seven American adults has chronic kidney disease (CKS), a condition that can lead to kidney failure and the need for hemodialysis. Before you start dialysis, you need dialysis access. That’s where we can improve your dialysis experience.
Sep 1st, 2020

We don’t just operate - we also do this.

Surgery is only part of our story here at Vascular Specialists in Tinley Park. Dr. Tanquilut, Dr. Pradhan and Dr. Coffey help prevent disease, diagnose disease and manage disease with medications, interventions or lifestyle alteration assistance.
Jan 24th, 2021

Telehealth: The Advantages of Telemedicine
Struggles to get to the clinic? Trying to reduce your exposure to COVID-19, as well as other contagious illnesses, and still need to see your doctor? Telehealth is safe and easy — receive quality care from anywhere.
Dec 23rd, 2020

What’s the scariest thing about Halloween?
Vascular Specialists explains why added sugar is a threat to your good health, raising blood sugar levels and your risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, weight gain, obesity, atherosclerosis and other vascular diseases.
Oct 30th, 2020

Welcome Dr. Patrick Coffey, DO!
Vascular Specialists of Tinley Park is pleased to welcome Dr. Patrick H. Coffey, DO, to our practice. Dr. Coffey earned his undergraduate degree in Philosophy at University of Scranton, then graduated Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from ...
Aug 4th, 2020

Welcome Lindsey Dockemeyer!
Vascular Specialists is pleased to announce Lindsey Dockemeyer, FNP, has joined our Tinley Park practice. Lindsey earned her Masters of Science, Family Nurse Practitioner, at Chamberlain College of Nursing after achieving a BS in Nursing and ...
Jun 26th, 2020

Please Read Before Visiting Our Office!
We care deeply for all our patients, and we are committed to treating patients who need care while keeping well patients safe. Please read our Coronavirus policies below and call our office at 815-824-4406 with any questions.
Mar 16th, 2020

Is Open AAA Repair Right For You?
Your abdominal aorta is a blood vessel about the size of a garden hose that runs downs the middle of your torso to supply blood to the lower half of your body. An abdominal aortic aneurysm, or an AAA, is a weak spot in your aorta that bulges ...
Feb 20th, 2020

The Itsy-Bitsy Spider…vein!
Spider veins can be indeed itsy-bitsy and very few – or they can be quite visible, turning your legs into a web of purple, blue or red lines. They can appear as thin lines, threads, tiny branches or webs, giving spider veins their name.
Feb 1st, 2020

Vascular Specialist’s New Facility In Tinley Park Is Open!
We’ve just opened the first facility dedicated to vein and artery disease in the south and southwest Chicago suburbs. This state-of-the-art facility will help our patients in the Chicago southwest and south suburbs access university-level vein and ...
Jan 2nd, 2020

Holiday Season Is Stroke Season
The holidays are packed with family, food, cocktails – and more strokes than at any other time of the year. In fact, of the nearly 800,000 stokes in the United States each year, more occur between November and February than during any other 4-month span.
Nov 22nd, 2019

Wasn’t Vaping Supposed To Be Good For You?
It seemed like a great idea to begin with – a device that mimics smoking a cigarette to help people quit smoking altogether. Vaping also seemed safer as there was no tar, no tobacco smoke and no smell, just water vapor.
Sep 25th, 2019

Major Breakthrough In Treatment Of Carotid Artery Disease
Have you been told carotid artery surgery or stenting is too risky for you? A new, FDA-approved procedure to treat carotid artery disease dramatically reduces the risk of stroke during and after carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS).
Aug 30th, 2019

A Seismic Shift In Access Creation
Vascular Specialists now performing groundbreaking new procedure for those facing dialysis. For decades, patients facing hemodialysis have had few options for access creation.
Jul 31st, 2019

Did You Know…?
You may think that veins and arteries are pretty straightforward body parts, just 60,000 miles of tubes moving blood around your body. However, your vascular system is actually a wonder of function and structure.
Jul 1st, 2019

A Healthy Vascular System Means A Healthy This!
Blood flow is your body’s life force. Oxygen-rich blood that travels through flexible, clear arteries to reach to the very tips of your fingers and toes keeps your organs, muscles, bones, tissues, ligaments – everything! – healthy and well.
May 31st, 2019

Not So F.A.S.T. Can Still Mean Stroke
May is World Stroke Awareness Month and here at Vascular Specialists, our medical professionals are committed to helping you avoid this life-changing health challenge, or to make sure you recover as much as absolutely possible in the event of a stroke.
May 23rd, 2018

Eleven Reasons You Need A Vascular Surgeon
You have a family doctor, a dentist and perhaps an eye doctor, all working together to improve or maintain your wellness, your quality of life and help you better understand how you can control your own good health.
Apr 27th, 2018

Springtime Special Vein Offer From Vascular Specialists!
Don’t spend another summer hot, sweaty and uncomfortable because you’re hiding your legs in long pants. Now is the perfect time to start sclerotherapy and vein treatments to get rid of spider veins and varicose veins.
Mar 25th, 2018

Is Red Wine The Answer?
For many years, we’ve been told that red wine, about 4 ounces a day but no more than 7 drinks a week, can lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. Resveratrol, the ingredient found in grape skins, is linked to lowering your “bad” cholesterol ...
Feb 19th, 2018

How To Avoid The ER This Holiday Season
Merry Christmas And Happy New Year From All Of Us At Vascular Specialists! Are You Following Us On Facebook And Twitter? We’re Talking About A-fib Right Now; Please Join Our Conversation!
Dec 22nd, 2017

Have The New Guidelines Given You High Blood Pressure?
Your blood pressure readings haven’t move single digit but as of Monday, you may suddenly have hypertension. The American Heart Association (AHA) has changed the guidelines for healthy blood pressure, to possibly include as many as 50% of American adults.
Nov 17th, 2017

Vascular Specialists Welcomes Alex Del Real, Nurse Practitioner
Dr. Eugene Tanquilut is pleased to announce that Alejandro Del Real, Nurse Practitioner has joined the Vascular Specialists team. “In the few months since Alex has joined us,” said Tanquilut, “he has contributed to our practice with his expertise ...
Oct 24th, 2017

I Need An Angiogram! What Does That Mean?
Diagnostic tests, even non-invasive tests like a simple X-ray, can put us all on edge. Being recommended for an angiogram can cause even more anxiety. Here, Dr. Tanquilut, Dr. Pradhan and Dr. Alhalbouni take you through why ...
Oct 18th, 2017

If You Prick Us, Do We Not Bleed?
Many times, the sight of blood is the first indication that we’ve injured ourselves. We may not feel that scratch, that bite or that little puncture, but when a foreign object breaks the skin, we bleed.
Sep 18th, 2017

50 Years Without Doctor Visit Results In Near Amputation
Eugene Tanquilut, D.O., “worked A Miracle” To Save Leg, Function. Fifty years is a lifetime. In 1967, fifty years ago, Thurgood Marshall became the first African-American Supreme Court Justice, gasoline was 29 cents a gallon and ...
Aug 9th, 2017

Is This The Reason Your Blood Pressure Is So High?
Hypertension can be caused by genetics, diet, tobacco use or weight gain. In these circumstances, a combination of lifestyle changes and medication can bring blood pressure numbers back into a normal range.
Aug 7th, 2017