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It’s fairly common knowledge that smoking, poor diet, and inactivity can lead to the development of varicose veins. However, many people don’t know that alcohol use can also have major effects on existing varicose veins as well.

Drinking, especially excessive drinking, affects every major organ in the body, and the circulatory system is no exception to this, particularly when the circulatory system has already been compromised by a vein disease.

Vein diseases of any kind can be very scary. After all, the circulatory system runs constantly and requires unhindered operation to run smoothly! Deep vein thrombosis may be the most serious type of vein disease; it can significantly disrupt the basic functions of the circulatory system, sometimes resulting in a life-threatening pulmonary embolism and even death.

Since it is so serious, it’s understandable to have lots of questions about deep vein thrombosis, also known as DVT. Here’s what you need to know about DVT and how it should be treated.

Vein disease is a common occurrence. It is relatively easy to treat and, when managed with careful treatment, it is usually not a life-threatening condition. With proper treatment, your quality of life can easily be restored. Without proper medical care however, vein diseases can become life-threatening, which is why treatment is so important.

Venous diseases show up in two ways: clotting and blockages (thrombosis) and improper blood return (insufficiency). In a normal circulatory system, veins bring oxygen-depleted blood back to the lungs for reoxygenation. When vein diseases occur, it becomes more challenging to get oxygen back into the blood system as a whole.

Vein diseases must be recognized and treated in a timely manner to prevent deeper issues from developing. Here are the types of vein diseases and the warning signs for each.

Those varicose veins in your legs are not only unattractive, they can be an indicator of a more serious health issue. And if you have swelling around protruding leg veins, you need to see a physician.

A new diagnosis of skin cancer brings immediate questions about treatment. How treatable is it? What are my options? The good news is that most types of cancer have effective treatment options and excellent survival rates if caught early.

Here’s a closer look at the main treatment options for skin cancer and how you can cope with them in your day-to-day life.

Despite decades of public awareness, melanoma diagnoses are still occurring at epidemic rates. Researchers believe this is a combination of something good - melanoma awareness - and something bad: a continued rise in new melanoma cases.

Among skin cancers, melanoma is the deadliest. It affects people of all ages and is shockingly common among young people. It’s the leading cause of cancer death in women age 25 to 30. In all people age 15 to 29, melanoma is the second most-common cancer diagnosis, increasing by 50% since 1980 in women under 30.

Are you familiar with the signs of melanoma? Would you know if you had symptoms of it? Let’s take a closer look at how it affects your skin and body.

As the sun shines in spring and the days lengthen toward summer, ‘tis the season for sunscreen. Using a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher is one of the best ways to protect yourself against skin cancer, which affects more than 3.3 million people in the U.S. each year.

Summer time is fun time - and, unfortunately, injury time - for kids.

More than 200,000 children ages 14 and younger in the United States are injured in playground-related accidents during the summer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Emergency rooms and pediatricians most commonly see concussions, broken bones, cuts and burns from tumbles and other accidents while playing outside with friends or in youth sports programs.

Young people also get hurt from lawnmowers, barbecue grills and fall hazards.

Does that mean you need to keep them safe by enfolding them in bubble wrap confining them to their rooms? Of course not. Children need to run and play to keep their bodies and minds healthy.

Spring is in full swing, and summer is not far behind.

While we welcome the warmer weather here, it's a good idea to take some precautions before venturing out to plant those flowers or spend the day at a park.

Stroke recovery is a lifelong process. Although there’s a persistent myth that all recovery happens within the first few months after a stroke, that doesn’t match the facts. Most stroke patients make progress for years afterward, depending on their level of care.