Vein Services Available at Holzer Gallipolis and Jackson

John Wells, PA-C

Holzer now offers Vein Services at Gallipolis and Jackson locations. The Vein Center offers treatments for a variety of venous disease. “Venous disease can affect all age groups and affects more than 45 million Americans,” shared John Wells, PA-C, Vein Center/Cardiology Services, Holzer Health System.  

Common symptoms of vein disease include: 

• Leg pain, even at rest 
• aching 
• fatigue, heaviness in legs 
• throbbing, burning, stabbing pain in legs 
• cramps, swelling, itching of legs 
• restless legs 
• numbness 

Chronic venous disease may cause varicose veins, spider veins, swelling, leg skin changes, leg ulcers, and phlebitis or inflammation of leg or arm veins caused by prolonged inactivity. Left untreated, it may lead to blood clots, skin color changes, and chronic ulcers of the legs. Venous diseases are five times more common than arterial diseases.  

Several factors increase the chance of venous disease, including: 

• Family history (worse if both parents had it) 
• Older age groups 
• Gender, women are three times more likely to be diagnosed than men 
• Pregnancy, high risk if individual has had several pregnancies 
• Trauma 
• Jobs that require standing for long periods of time 
• Obesity 

Holzer hosts free vein screenings for our communities in order to screen for potential venous disease. “We encourage everyone to take advantage of the free vein screening,” shared Wells. “Our staff will perform the screening, inform you of your results, and let you know if additional testing may or may not be needed.” The next free screening is scheduled for March 21 from 3pm to 5pm at Holzer Medical Center – Jackson.  Please call 740-446-8346 for appointment times available. 

Individuals who may be experiencing symptoms of vein disease should schedule an appointment. If symptoms are left unchecked, they could become bothersome with activities of daily living. “Holzer Vein Center offers sclerotherapy treatments of spider veins, phlebectomy, which is the micro stab procedure for varicose veins, and laser ablations, which are the Gold Standard of Care for treatment of varicose veins and a minimally invasive treatment approved by the FDA,” continued Wells. “All are in office-based procedures. Referrals are not needed unless required by your insurance company.” 

Wells is a graduate of Cuyahoga Community College and the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska.  He has been with Holzer Health System for over 20 years and is accepting patients at our locations in Jackson and Gallipolis, Ohio.  

For more information, visit www.holzer.org or call 1-855-4-HOLZER.