Liver damage most commonly occurs through a process called cirrhosis. During this process, normal liver tissue becomes damaged and dies. In its place new tough scar tissue grows but has limited functionality compared with healthy tissue. When...
Although rare, esophageal cancer most frequently affects men, smokers and those who chronically use alcohol, according to MedlinePlus, a service of the National Institutes of Health. The esophagus is the tube that transfers food from the mouth to...
Black, tarry stools are the result of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. Specifically, they may originate from the stomach, the esophagus or the upper portion of the small intestine. The bowel movement appears to look like black, soft tar as...
Your veins serve as transport vessels for venous blood, or blood that requires oxygenation. They are naturally elastic, meaning they expand and contract frequently. There are a number of reasons why the veins in your feet may appear larger when...
Lumps under the skin are usually harmless, but in some cases can be caused by something more serious, such as a tumor. If you only see the lump when you are exercising, it is often due to engorged veins, a cyst or a herniated muscle. If it's...
Anal itching and burning is a symptom associated with a variety of causes. A variety of self-care measures can often relieve the symptoms. However, medical attention is required if home treatments do not relieve symptoms because they may be a...
The anus is the end of the digestive tract and separates the rectum from the outside of the body. For various reasons, itching may occur in the anal area. Anal itching is also referred to as pruritus ani. Infections, foods, dry skin and irritants...
Sit-ups are a great form of exercise to work the abdominals, but they also can strain the nearby muscles, tissues and blood vessels, including the rectum. Rectal bleeding is not a condition but rather a symptom of an underlying problem. While most...
Doctors use the word vascularity in connection with the venous system, or veins. For bodybuilders, however, the word takes on a specific meaning concerning the visibility of your veins under your skin. Ideally, they stand out in sharp relief...
Cirrhosis is a disease characterized by destruction of healthy liver tissue. Scar tissue replaces once healthy tissue with tough fibrous nodules. Cirrhosis often begins with no symptoms as the body often compensates for the early damage, a...
Most cases of rectal bleeding are minor and resolve on their own. Dark, tarry stools typically stem from bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract, such as the stomach or esophagus. Bleeding from the large intestine or rectum is more often...
Varicose veins are a common vein disorder, typically occurring in women more often than men. These veins appear enlarged in the legs and feet as a result of insufficient blood flow, causing the valves in the veins to weaken and pool with blood. In...
The calf and thigh muscles provide over half of the power required to walk, run and jump. They are the muscles that support the knee joint, the largest weight bearing joint in the body. When a person experiences pain in the calf or thigh muscle...
Tiny veins or broken capillaries, particularly on the face, can be disheartening to have. They often appear on the nose and the cheeks in a pattern that is noticeable to others. Though common, particularly for people who are light-skinned or who...
Varicose veins can be extremely disfiguring and distressing for both women and men, though they are much more common in women. This condition occurs when the valves and walls of veins in the legs, ankles and feet weaken leading to engorged and...
Varicose veins are enlarged veins in the legs, which may both widen and become bulbous, according to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. The veins' engorged state can interfere with regular blood flow and cause pain in addition to being...
A nursing diagnosis is a statement that describes a problem related to a patient's disease. A nurse makes a nursing diagnosis by interviewing and examining a patient to find out what issues they have because of the disease or illness they...
Cirrhosis of the liver describes a disease of progressive tissue destruction characterized by the replacement of hard fibrous tissue riddled with nodules. This disease typically becomes chronic, and often patients are unaware of the disease...
According to "Medical Surgical Nursing" the liver performs more than 400 functions, which makes it an extremely vital organ. Destruction of liver tissue eventually results in liver failure. This disease progresses over time and complications may...
Liver damage typically occurs overtime and sometimes even takes years. Cirrhosis describes liver damage and is characterized by the destruction of normally functioning liver tissue. As the liver tissue dies, it is replaced by tough fibrous scar...
Bulging veins in the hands are common signs of aging; but a variety of other conditions could be the cause, some of them potentially harmful. However, in many cases, particularly those having to do with teenagers, the cause is something more...
Priests at the Jewish temple in Jerusalem cleansed the premises with an herb called hyssop. Since the plant we call hyssop today did not grow in Palestine at the time, the plant used was most probably eroz, according to the Britannica Encyclopedia...
Any time you feel pain while running, you need to pay attention, because running is hard on the muscles and joints in the legs. The lower leg consists of the shin, or tibia bone, and calf muscles. Along with these main components, you have...
Your pregnancy causes obvious and visible changes to your belly and other areas of your body, but your breasts won't escape unscathed either. Darkening, spots and lines on your breasts run the gamut from being a temporary issue to a permanent...
Venipuncture is a procedure involving the puncture of a vein for the purposes of collecting blood, or administering intravenous (IV) therapy and IV drugs. A phlebotomist or other health care provider will apply a tourniquet above the intended area...
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in your rectum or anus. They can be mild, with occasional itching and discomfort, or painful enough to warrant surgery. Constipation is one of the many potential causes of hemorrhoids, and the fiber in flax can help...
Deep vein thrombosis, referred to as DVT, is the formation of a clot in one of the body's deep blood vessels. Commonly formed in the legs, DVTs can develop in the arms. Risk factors for the development of DVT include immobility, smoking and...
As you exercise, your heart pumps more blood to the working muscles to meet their elevated need for oxygen and nutrients. This increased blood-flow causes your veins to swell as the blood returns to your heart, often making them visible through...
Regular exercise can help you control your weight, build cardiovascular fitness and help control your blood pressure. During exercise, however, your blood pressure rises slightly, which might be affecting your left jugular vein. The problem might...
Hemorrhoids are swollen, inflamed veins in your anus and rectum which are quite common but also sometimes embarrassing. Learn about the different causes, symptoms, and treatments of hemorrhoids in this video.
