Portal hypertension is an increase in the pressure in your vein that carries blood from the digestive organs to the liver, according to the Cleveland Clinic. This pressure increase causes the development of large veins, which can bleed easily....
Dark under eye circles affect many of us, but they typically do not indicate serious illness or exhaustion. In a medical sense, dark under eye circles are defined as even, round areas below each eye that are pigmented. There are several different...
A deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that has formed in one of the large veins of your body, usually in your legs. According to the Mayo Clinic, a DVT can develop during times of inactivity, such as sitting for prolonged periods of time....
Chemotherapy drugs, administered to treat cancer, can cause scarring and collapse of veins, making it hard to start intravenous lines. Ports buried partially or completely under the skin connect to catheters that terminate in large veins, reducing...
According to MedlinePlus, deep venous thrombosis is the medical terminology for blood clots in the legs. The large veins of the lower legs and thighs are affected. This becomes a risk factor when these clots, called embolus, travel through the...
The cardiovascular system is a network of muscles and hallow tubes that transport blood and nutrients throughout the body. The cardiovascular system is actually two systems; one is the pulmonary system, which takes blood from the heart to the...
Knee replacement surgery is a treatment option for those with a knee that has been severely damaged by arthritis or injury. This surgery is very successful and relatively safe. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), 90...
Chemotherapy remains one of the primary forms of cancer treatment. The chemical nature of many chemotherapy medicines necessitates administering the drugs directly into the bloodstream. Cancer care professionals use different types of tubes, or...
As Radiology Info explains, most chemotherapy ports consist of a tube (known as a catheter) which is inserted into a vein as well as a small opening (called a port) which is inserted underneath the skin and provides access to the catheter. The...
The ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament, is a band of fibrous tissue in the knee that gives it additional support. ACL tears are common in athletes because of the excessive twisting forces of the knee involved in sports. A 2005 article in the...
Edema is swelling due to buildup of serous fluid in connective tissue, such as cartilage and bone, or in a serous cavity, a hollow space within the body. Edema occurs when tiny blood vessels in your body leak fluid in the surrounding tissue. The...
Actos, the brand name for pioglitazone, is a medication used to treat Type 2 diabetes. The medicine is available with a prescription and comes in a tablet form. Actos, used by itself or in addition to insulin, helps control blood sugar levels. The...
Deep venous thrombosis, or a blood clot, can occur anywhere in the large veins of the leg. A DVT is a dangerous condition, because the clot may break free from the vein and travel to the lungs or heart. Risk factors for leg DVT include recent...
For diabetics, managing blood sugar is a 24-hour task. People with diabetes attempt to eat healthy meals consistently and exercise regularly to maintain blood sugar levels. Blood sugar levels can be too high or too low; each has its own remedies...
Gastric surgery is the most common type of bariatric surgery performed in the United States, according to the MayoClinic.com. The purpose of a bariatric surgery is to limit the amount of food the stomach can hold, therefore decreasing weight and...
Chemotherapy is a common treatment for patients with cancer. It is designed to selectively terminate cells that are very rapidly dividing. Because cancer cells divide more quickly than normal cells, they will be more affected by the chemotherapy....
The circulatory system is the body's transportation superhighway. As the blood circulates through the body, it brings oxygen and nutrients to the body tissues and picks up the waste products, delivering them to the kidneys and lungs to be...
Motherwort, botanically known as Leonurus cardiaca, is a member of the mint family. It has a square stem with opposite serrated and lobed leaves. It blooms small purple and pink flowers in the summer months and grows up to 40 inches in height....
Infusion therapy is a method of administering drugs into the bloodstream, underneath the skin or into surrounding areas of the spinal cord. Infusion therapy is a preferred method of giving drugs to patients who are unable to tolerate oral...
Varicose veins are large veins that appear gnarled or twisted. They are caused when the veins that return blood to the heart are no longer able to do their job effectively, which results in the blood pooling within the veins. Improved circulation...
Your lower leg contains three large muscles, the gastrocnemius and soleus in the calf and the tibialis anterior in the shin. There also are many smaller muscles responsible for ankle movements and a host of tendons, ligaments and nerves. Many...
While over 90 percent of all Americans will experience back pain in their lifetime, according to the Mayo Clinic, only 5 percent of these will remain disabled more than 3 months. Most back pain can be resolved through conservative treatments like...
Varicose veins are superficial veins, meaning just under the skin, that become large and noticeable on the thighs and legs. These purple, blue or dark-colored crooked veins can also appear around the vulva or vagina during pregnancy, as well as...
With any surgery, there is a risk of complications. Surgery performed near the spine and spinal cord is a delicate procedure that can be especially risky, according to SciaticPainTreatment.com. Complications after back surgery can range from mild...
Muscle cramping or spasms that occur in the leg are commonly known as a charley horse. The intensity of pain in aching and cramping legs can fluctuate from mild and intermittent to severely intense and chronic, depending on the cause. Many...
When excessive fluid builds up in the feet and ankles, it is referred to as peripheral edema. This fluid buildup is usually painless and can be a normal response to a localized condition, but may also be related to something more serious and...
The portal vein carries blood from the gastrointestinal tract to the liver. If this vein becomes blocked by cirrhosis--which is a scarring of the liver or by a blood clot--the pressure inside the vein increases. This increase in pressure is called...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 4 million women in the United States have babies each year. A woman's body goes through enormous changes during the 36 weeks of gestation as accommodations are made for the needs...
The blood has cells called platelets, which, in concert with proteins and other molecules, create a mass known as a blood clot. Blood clots are activated by tissue damage and prevent bleeding, both external and internal. In some cases, however,...
