How many vein in the body

Checking your blood pressure at home with a manual or automated device can help you monitor your health between doctor visits. Staying active can help protect your heart as you age. Removing plaque from your arteries is difficult, and not something you can do at home. Instead, focus on things you can do to prevent plaque from….

Deep vein thrombosis DVT is a serious condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein located deep inside your body. Learn how to spot…. Blood clots form for many reason and can lead to serious health problems.

Find out what steps you can take to prevent dangerous blood clots from…. A large, new study suggests that people who have valvular atrial fibrillation AFib , or irregular heartbeat, had lower risk of ischemic stroke or…. Have you ever wondered what it feels like to have a blood clot? We explain some of the classic signs with help from three medical experts.

Does pregnancy increase risk for DVT? We explain ways to reduce your risk for this rare complication. Blood clotting is a good thing, because it can stop you from bleeding. But when abnormal blood clots form within a vein or artery, it can create…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Conditions like pregnancy, obesity, and genetic predisposition can cause them. Once varicose veins appear—usually on the legs—they require a medical procedure to get rid of them.

Veins are a critical part of normal circulation in the body, so varicose veins can be more than just a cosmetic issue. One in five people have vein disease. As recently as 10 years ago, there were few treatments to offer varicose vein sufferers except for vein stripping surgery, in which problematic veins are removed. Malvehy says that over the past decade, "there has been a revolution in treatment, such that almost all vein issues can be treated in the office with no downtime.

One common treatment is sclerotherapy , in which a liquid solution is forced into the bulging vein to stop the flow of blood. The vein will eventually turn into scar tissue and fade away, though follow-up treatments might be needed. Another treatment is thermal ablation , performed using ultrasound guidance. Kezele explains that a physician will insert a small catheter into the diseased veins, which then delivers heat; the heat will close off blood flow to the problem veins and improve circulation as blood diverts to healthy veins.

According to Kezele, the first depiction of vein disease appears on a Greek tablet dating to the 4th century BCE. The carving, from the sanctuary of Amynos, shows a man clutching a giant, disembodied leg with a bulging vein. Kezele suggests on his website that "it shows the Greek official Lysimachides dedicating a fake leg suffering from a varicose vein to Amynos," an Athenian hero revered as a healer. There are lots of theories on why athletes often have big, bodaciously bulging veins visible on their arms or legs after they work out.

The ropy look is completely normal and temporary. Writing in Scientific American , physiology professor Mark A. Andrews said that a likely cause of protruding veins is arterial blood pressure during exercise.

Which conditions affect the venous system? What are the symptoms of a venous condition? Tips for healthy veins. Read this next. Symptoms and Complications of Blood Clots. Medically reviewed by Graham Rogers, M. Temporal Arteritis Temporal arteritis occurs when the temporal arteries, which supply blood to the head and brain, become inflamed or damaged. Reversing Atherosclerosis. Medically reviewed by Dr. Payal Kohli, M. In extreme cases, such as when your feet are exposed to very cold or wet conditions for prolonged periods of time — a condition called trench foot — the constriction of blood vessels can shut down circulation, causing skin tissue to die, according to the U.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Another consequence of extreme exposure is frostbite, which can happen after just a few minutes in freezing conditions. Blame that ice cream headache on your blood vessels. Anyone who likes popsicles or ice water may be familiar with the uncomfortable sensation known as brain freeze. When something cold touches the warm roof of your mouth, local blood vessels constrict to minimize heat loss, then relax to restore blood flow.

This response triggers a burst of pain that lasts for a few minutes, or until the body adapts to the sudden change in temperature, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke explains. The agency notes that ice cream headaches are more common among people who have migraines. Your blood vessels might get a boost from chocolate. Eating moderate amounts of chocolate could offer some benefits, including keeping your heart and blood vessels healthy and helping to lower heart disease and stroke risk , according to a June study published in Heart.

How does this guilty pleasure benefit your blood vessels? Chocolate, particularly dark chocolate , contains micronutrients called flavonoids that are believed to have strong antioxidant properties, the American Institute for Cancer Research points out.

Obesity takes a toll on the blood vessels. It's estimated that every pound of fat requires about one extra mile of blood vessels, according to the Obesity Action Coalition — and that means more work for the heart. Zhao explains.