Edema (swelling): symptoms, causes, to treatment

Definition

What is edema?

Edema is swelling caused by fluid buildup in your body's tissues. Although it can occur anywhere on your body, edema is a condition that usually appears on the hands, arms, soles, ankles, and feet.

Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, edema is a condition that results from medications, pregnancy, or other disorders, such as congestive heart failure, kidney disease, or cirrhosis of the liver.

How common is edema?

Edema usually occurs in adult women, but it can get worse with age. Many women report swelling occurring at certain times of the month, usually before their period.

However, edema is a condition that can be experienced by everyone, regardless of gender.

Types

What are the types of edema?

Quoted from Web MD, the types of edema are:

1. Peripheral edema

This type of edema is a condition that commonly affects the legs, feet, and ankles, but can also occur in the arms. This could be a sign of problems with the circulatory system, lymph nodes, or kidneys.

2. Edema pedal

Pedal edema is a condition that occurs when fluid collects in the calves and lower legs. It is more common in pregnant women and the elderly.

This condition causes difficulty moving because you may feel too much weight on your legs.

3. Lymphedema

This type of edema or swelling is most often caused by blockage or damage to the lymph node tissue, the tissue that helps filter germs and waste from your body.

The damage may be caused by cancer treatments, such as surgery and radiation. Cancer itself can also block the passage of the lymph nodes and cause fluid buildup.

4. Pulmonary edema

When fluid collects in the air sacs in your lungs, you develop pulmonary edema. This type of edema is a condition that makes it difficult to breathe.

This condition gets worse when you lie down. You may feel a fast heartbeat, feel weak, and cough up foam and blood.

5. Cerebral edema

Cerebral edema is a very serious condition in which fluid builds up in the brain. This condition can occur if you hit your head hard, a blood vessel is blocked or burst, or you have rumors or an allergic reaction.

6. Macular edema

This type of edema is a condition when fluid builds up in the part of the eye called the macula, which is in the center of the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. This condition occurs when damaged blood vessels in the retina secrete fluid into the area.

Symptoms

What are the features and symptoms of edema?

Symptoms of edema depend on the underlying cause, but swelling, tightness, and pain are common in sufferers.

The hands, feet, stomach, breasts, or even face are slightly swollen. It usually looks more swollen in the afternoon or evening, but gets better in the morning when you wake up.

Many people who experience edema weigh 2 kg heavier at night than in the morning.

In general, the symptoms and features of edema are:

• Swelling, expansion, and shiny skin.
• Skin that turns into a dimple after pressing.
• Chewy on the ankles, face, or eyes.
• Parts of the body are sore and joints are stiff.
• Weight gain or loss.
• Hands and neck vessels that appear full.
• Headache.
• Stomach ache.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Change in bowel habits.
• Sluggish and dazed.
• Visual abnormalities.

The symptoms of edema depend on the underlying cause, the type of edema, and where the edema is located.

Cause

What causes edema?

Edema occurs when the tiny blood vessels in your body (capillaries) secrete fluid. Fluid builds up in the surrounding tissue and can cause swelling.

The causes of edema or swelling are:

1. Water retention

Swelling due to water retention is usually caused by fluid leaking from small blood vessels into body tissues. It is not known why this leak occurred.

2. Standing or sitting too long

Edema is usually more pronounced after prolonged standing, because there is more pressure on the veins in your legs than when you lie down. Traveling long distances or sitting for long periods of time (for example on a bus, on a plane) can also trigger swelling.

3. The amount of salt in the body

The reason your body retains excess water is also the amount of salt (sodium / sodium) in the body. When the body stores a lot of salt, it will also retain more fluid, which sometimes causes swelling.

4. Overeating

Another cause of swelling that is difficult to diagnose is eating behavior binge eating (overeating) interspersed with strict diets. This can cause the body to retain a lot of water.

5. Idiopathic

Idiopathic is a term that means an unknown cause. People with idiopathic edema are declared healthy and do not have kidney or heart disease to explain the reason for their edema.

6. Medicines

Some medicines can cause edema, such as:

• NSAIDs
• Calcium channel blockers
• Corticosteroids (such as prednisone and methylprednisolone)
• Pioglitazone and rosiglitazone
• Pramipexole.

Edema due to drugs is a condition that is usually relatively mild.

Triggers

Who is at risk for idiopathic edema?

Edema is more common in diabetics, people who are overweight, and people who have emotional problems (including depression).

It also found an association between edema and unhealthy behavior to lose weight, such as using diuretics, laxatives, or stimulating yourself to vomit food (bulimia).

Diagnosis and treatment

How do doctors diagnose edema?

To understand what causes edema, the doctor will perform a physical examination and ask questions about your medical history.

In some cases, X-rays, ultrasound examinations, magnetic resonance imaging, blood tests or urine analysis may be required.

How to treat edema?

Mild edema usually goes away on its own, especially if you make an effort to raise the affected limb to the level of your chest.

Edema that is more severe is a condition that can be treated with medicines that help you remove excess fluid in the form of urine (diuretic). One of the most common diuretics is furosemide (Lasix).

If edema occurs as a result of taking a medication, your doctor can adjust your prescription or provide an alternative medication that doesn't cause edema.

Home remedies

How can you prevent edema with lifestyle changes and home remedies?

The following ways can prevent edema and reduce swelling that already occurs in your body:

1. Avoid standing for too long

If your job requires you to stand for long periods of time, use it support stocking, special stockings to prevent and treat swelling in the feet and ankles. This type of stocking can be found at the doctor.

1. Avoid excess body weight

Most people who have edema are overweight. Losing weight can treat your edema. However, make sure you lose weight gradually, and not drastically.

1. Limit your salt intake

Edema usually gets better quickly if you avoid or reduce salt intake. Limit the amount of salt you add to cooking, and avoid it fast food and processed foods because they usually contain a lot of salt.

1. Expand food sources of potassium

Eating foods high in potassium can reduce salt levels in the body, thereby reducing swelling. Fruit is usually the best source of potassium, especially bananas and tomatoes. But, avoid taking potassium supplements.

1. Diuretics (water pills)

Diuretics are often prescribed by doctors to treat swelling caused by a number of medical conditions. However, for idiopathic edema, diuretics can actually make the swelling worse because the balance of water and salt in the body becomes increasingly disturbed.

Although effective for some people, not everyone can feel the benefits. Discuss with your doctor whether diuretic drugs are right for your edema condition.

Please consult your doctor for more information.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical consultation, diagnosis or treatment.