Varicose veins are large, twisted veins that appear above the surface of the skin. Spider veins are smaller versions of varicose veins. Risk factors such as obesity, pregnancy, hormonal changes and heredity may cause spider veins to occur. A...
You may be able to slightly reduce your risk of developing varicose veins by avoiding constrictive pants and tights, getting regular exercise and trying not to cross your legs, but in the end, your genes will be the most likely factor in whether...
Nosebleeds are a common childhood ailment and usually occur when a small vein in the nasal lining bursts. Although often scary to both children and parents, most causes of bloody noses in children are harmless. There are a few situations, however,...
People of any age can suffer a blood clot in the leg. A clot in a small vein near the surface of the leg creates a condition known as superficial thrombosis. A more serious condition is deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, a situation in which the blood...
Drawing blood or starting intravenous infusions starts with venipuncture, the placement of a needle in a vein. Done improperly, venipuncture can result in infection, stress for the patient, bruising or blood collection under the skin and pain....
Shrimp make ideal hors d'oeuvres and also is integrated easily into meals. Preparing and steaming shrimp takes only a few minutes. If you buy ready-to-eat shrimp at the grocer, it is still a good idea to steam them at home to ensure they are...
Varicose veins are the result of vein swelling due to poor venous circulation. Sclerotherapy is one treatment for varicose and spider veins. With sclerotherapy, a syringe is used to inject a solution into the veins. This solution creates...
Surgery for varicose veins may be necessary if the veins cause problems with blood flow, pain or heaviness in the legs, ulcers and other sores, blood clots or inflammation of the veins, also called phlebitis. Vein stripping surgeries are usually...
Venipuncture is the technical term used to describe the routine removal of blood from a vein for subsequent laboratory testing. You may undergo this procedure as part of the observation or diagnosis of a wide range of medical conditions. The...
Spider veins are thin, small veins just underneath the skin’s surface. They may be red or blue and radiate out from a central area like small webs. This sign of aging often appears on the legs. It may be concealed with longer and longer...
Cholesterol is a naturally occurring waxy, fat based substance in the cells of the body. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute indicates that the body requires certain forms of cholesterol to work properly and uses cholesterol to create...
The small veins in the legs can be damaged by disease, advanced age or trauma. The location of the injured veins is important in determining the cause. Identifying what produced the injury is the first step in prevention and treatment; failing to...
Spider veins are small veins that can be seen directly under the skin surface. They are red or blue and usually resemble spiderwebs, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Spider veins are most commonly found on the legs,...
Thread veins, also known as spider veins, appear on your face due to dilation of the small veins just underneath your skin. The result is a visible purple, blue bruised look that can resemble a spider's web. Although no home treatments can reduce...
A child's blood type is passed down from her parents. In many cases, a baby's blood type is determined at birth. If your child's was not or if that information is lost or forgotten, you may want to have your child tested so you know her blood...
Varicose veins of the legs are the visible result of chronic superficial venous insufficiency, a manifestation of venous hypertension. Veins carry blood from the feet and legs up toward the heart. Valves in these veins prevent the reflux of blood...
When small, thin veins known as spider veins show up on your face, it can be quite upsetting. Spider veins usually show up as red or purple web-like or starburst patterns from the dilation of small sections of blood vessels near the surface of the...
According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, the first step is threading the pacemaker wires through a vein near your shoulder or chest. A small incision is made to locate the vein. The wires are fed through and attached to the heart...
Life, clearly, is in the blood. As a transport mechanism for waste products, life-sustaining oxygen and nutrients, normal blood flow is essential to your health. That's why the different parts of your heart continuously beat in unison, receiving...
Low potassium can come from a number of causes, including side effects of medications, GI losses such as diarrhea, hormonal or genetic disorders according to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine" by Anthony S. Fauci M.D. Low potassium...
MayoClinic.com describes varicose veins as gnarled, enlarged veins that are usually merely a cosmetic problem. In some cases they can be a source of discomfort and lead to circulatory problems. Less invasive procedures are available, which means...
An estimated 23.6 million people in the United States have diabetes, a condition characterized by high blood sugar levels, according to 2007 statistics, the most recent published by the American Diabetes Association. If you have a family history...
Cirrhosis of the liver is a degenerative process in which healthy liver tissue dies and tough scar tissue and nodules grow in its place. Common causes of cirrhosis include habitual alcohol abuse, biliary obstruction and hemochromatosis....
Veins are important in blood flow and circulation. They are underneath all the layers of your skin and usually aren't visible. However, sometimes the veins become visible, especially in areas with thin skin layers, including the neck and face....
It's normal to experience pain -- sometimes all over your body -- in the days following a marathon. You've just completed an extremely difficult physical feat and your muscles will need some time to recover. However, severe pain in just one calf...
Varicose veins that are small are referred to as spider veins. Spider veins occur in the capillaries, and they can appear as spider web patterns on the skin. The lines appear blue and are about as thick as a large hair. The spider veins can also...
The chemical allantoin in the plant Symphytum officinale, more commonly known as comfrey, helps new skin cells grow, keeps skin cells healthy and decreases inflammation, as explained by the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). People use...
Veins have thin walls and contain one-way valves that help your blood flow in one direction. However, blood flow in the veins, particularly in the legs, must work against gravity and requires the skeletal muscle contractions to help pump it...
If you are plagued with a maze of purple or bluish veins that spread across your legs, you do not have to spend the rest of your life wearing pants. Spider veins are a mild form of varicose veins, which occur when the valves inside the veins stop...
Cirrhosis is a condition that causes irreversible scarring of the liver. As scar tissue replaces normal tissue, blood flow through your liver is affected. Learn about the different causes, symptoms, and treatments for Cirrhosis in this video.