Edema-Swelling of body tissues due to excessive fluid.
Wix58
Subj: INFO:REPOST:Edema-Swelling of body tissues due to excessive fluid.
Edema-Swelling of body tissues due to excessive
fluid.
Health tips
Relieving swollen feet and ankles
Originally published in Mayo Clinic Health Letter, July 1996
When you wake up, your feet and ankles are fine. But by the end of the day
they're swollen and wearing shoes is painful.
The swelling, called dependent edema, results from a buildup of fluids in your
skin tissue. During the day, gravity pulls the fluids to your feet and ankles,
causing them to swell.
To reduce swelling:
Cut back on sodium--Sodium causes fluid retention.
Maintain proper weight--Excess weight slows circulation of body fluids and
puts extra
pressure on your veins, causing fluid buildup.
Get some exercise--Regular exercise improves circulation in your legs and
feet.
Put your feet up--Place them at least 12 inches above the level of your heart.
Do this for 10
to 15 minutes, three or four times a day.
Use support stockings--They compress your legs, promoting circulation and
limiting
gravitational movement of excess fluid. Elastic stockings are available at
most medical supply
or drug stores.
Take a break when traveling--Long periods of sitting can promote swelling in
your feet and
ankles. Get up and walk around at least every one to two hours.
If swelling is persistent, or accompanied by shortness of breath and weight
gain, see your doctor.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
This is an Abstract from the April 1997 edition of American Family Physician.
Peripheral Edema
ANGELA A. POWELL, M.D., and MARC A. ARMSTRONG, M.D.
University of Alabama School of Medicine, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Distribution of accumulated fluid is the important element in the
differentiation of peripheral edema
resulting from different etiologies. Isolated upper extremity edema is rare
and is usually caused by
obstruction of the superior vena cava by a malignancy. The cause of unilateral
edema of a lower limb
can usually be determined by the history (heart, liver or kidney disease,
trauma, malignancy, radiation
or surgery), a physical examination (distribution of edema, stigmata of
infection, trauma, malignancy
or organ failure) and appropriate laboratory and other tests. Determining the
etiology of bilateral
lower extremity edema requires a similar approach; this condition may be the
result of systemic
conditions, drug use, lipidema or idiopathic edema, in addition to obstructive
causes and chronic
venous states. Algorithms, based on the patient's history, physical
examination and diagnostic tests,
can help guide physicians to the correct diagnosis.
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Current
Q
uestion &
A
nswer
Date: December 8 1997 | Category: Skin Conditions | Topic: Pitting edema
Q. I find that if I press hard with my thumb in my leg between the ankle and
shin, it leaves a distinct depression that lingers for 10 minutes or more. Do
I
have anything to worry about? I am a "borderline" diabetic.
Jean-Marc / Canada
A. You describe a physical sign known in medical terms as "pitting edema"
(swelling in the tissue under the skin that can be indented by pressure from a
finger). A physical sign, like a symptom, may have many possible causes and
should not be viewed
as a diagnosis. It's not unusual for pitting edema to occur after prolonged
periods of sitting, such as
long airplane or car trips. Constricting garments, such as elastic at the top
of stockings or in
underwear, may contribute to the problem. Under such conditions, there may not
be any underlying
health problem.
There are many medical conditions, some of which are potentially serious, that
can lead to such
swelling. The long list includes congestive heart failure, some types of liver
and kidney disease,
obstruction of venous blood flow from the legs, and a variety of conditions
that lead to low levels of
protein in the blood. Diabetes may damage the kidneys so that excessive
protein is lost in the urine; if
this is severe enough, swelling may result.
The onset of pitting edema not readily explained by inactivity or garment
selection warrants careful
medical evaluation to establish the cause and to determine treatment options.
##############################
Brought to you by Mayo Clinic
January 27, 1998
Swollen legs
Common, but could signal a more serious
condition
Originally published in Mayo Clinic Health Letter, January 1997
Tight shoes. Puffy ankles. An unpleasant tautness in your calves.
There's no mistaking the feel of swollen legs--something just about everyone
experiences at some point. You may remember your legs feeling swollen or
uncomfortable after a long car trip, a spell of hot weather or a whole day on
your feet.
But not all swollen legs have such ordinary causes. Many illnesses, both minor
and severe, can cause swelling in your legs. Although common, swollen legs
shouldn't be overlooked
as a potential sign of an underlying health condition.
A delicate balance
The medical term for swelling is "edema" (uh-DEE-muh), which means there is an
abnormally large
amount of fluid between your body's cells. Sometimes, edema can occur in one
part of your body. At
other times, it can occur in many areas.
Normally, your body maintains the right amount of fluid in tissues by
performing a delicate balancing
act. You take in fluid when you drink and get rid of it when you breathe,
urinate, defecate or sweat.
Your body usually ensures that the same amount of water entering your body
also leaves it.
Upsetting the balance
Inside your body, arteries and veins transport fluid in the bloodstream. Fluid
is also transported by
your lymphatic system--a network of channels that carry lymph, a colorless
fluid containing
infection-fighting white blood cells.
The fluid in your bloodstream contains oxygen and nutrients your cells need.
As it moves around your
body, fluid moves through the walls of your blood vessels into body tissue.
There, it nourishes and
hydrates cells. Once depleted of nutrients, fluid moves back into your blood
vessels and returns to
your heart. Your lymph system also absorbs and transports this fluid.
When edema occurs, too much fluid leaves your blood vessels, or not enough
leaves your tissues.
The result can range from a little puffiness to severe swelling.
When to see a doctor
Should you see a doctor any time you have swollen legs? It's hard to say. The
amount of swelling
may not be a good indication of when you need medical attention. Sometimes,
serious conditions
may produce only slight swelling.
However, in general you should see your doctor promptly if your leg swelling
is sudden, painful,
persistent, in one leg, or accompanied by shortness of breath, weight gain or
redness.
Ordinary causes
It's important to remember, though, that many ordinary factors can upset the
balance of fluid
movement in your body and cause swelling. Among them:
Immobility--When you walk or run, your leg muscles contract and compress leg
blood
vessels, promoting blood flow. When you don't use these muscles, such as
during a long
airplane flight, blood can pool in your veins. This can make it difficult for
fluid to move from
body tissue back into vessels, causing swelling.
Heat--Hot weather can cause your blood vessels to expand, making it easier for
fluid to leave
them.
Taking certain medications--Commonly used drugs such as steroids, blood
pressure
medications, antidepressants, hormone replacement medications and nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) can affect how fast fluid leaves your
vessels.
Eating salty foods--Your body maintains a constant concentration of salt in
its tissues. When
you take in more salt than you need, your body dilutes it by retaining fluids
and making you
thirstier.
Menstruation and pregnancy--These events are accompanied by changing levels of
hormones,
which can affect the rate at which fluid enters and leaves your tissues.
Lipedema--A hereditary condition called lipedema (lip-uh-DEE-muh) can cause
excess fat
and fluid to accumulate over time in your legs, but not in your upper body or
feet. Lipedema
usually occurs in women.
With the exception of lipedema, swelling caused by these ordinary factors
often responds to
straightforward treatments such as exercise, weight loss, elevating your legs
or wearing support hose.
Other treatment options include limiting salt, avoiding hot weather or
altering fluid intake. In addition,
your doctor may advise changing medications or using diuretics (prescription
drugs that increase salt
and water loss into urine).
Lipedema may be treated with diet and exercise, although effectiveness varies.
In severe cases,
surgery that removes fat and fluid may be necessary.
Serious causes
Sometimes, leg swelling may be a sign of a more serious underlying health
condition. Swelling can be
in one leg or both. Conditions that may cause swelling in one leg include:
Blood clots--A clot in a leg vein can cause blood pooling and keep fluid from
leaving tissue.
Swelling can occur suddenly and may be painful and accompanied by
discoloration. Urgent
medical care is necessary.
Weakened veins--Deformed veins, such as varicose veins, or veins whose walls
or valves are
damaged, can cause blood pooling in your leg's blood vessels, resulting in
swelling.
Lymphedema--If lymph channels become blocked, lymph can't drain properly and
may
accumulate. Blockage can be caused by infection, scar tissue in lymph
channels, parasites or
hereditary conditions.
Infection and inflammation--Infection in leg tissue can lead to inflammation,
which causes
increased blood flow in your vessels and may increase the movement of blood
through them.
Inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and gout, can also lead to
swelling.
Tumors--Abnormal masses can compress leg blood vessels and lymph channels,
which may
affect the rate of fluid movement.
Conditions that cause edema in both legs are usually different than those
affecting just one limb.
Swelling in both your legs can suggest the presence of a serious, widespread
condition.
Conditions that can cause swelling in both legs include:
Organ failure--Diseases of the heart, liver and kidneys can affect blood
pressure and fluid
movement into and out of tissues.
Thyroid disease--An overactive or underactive thyroid gland can change the
concentration of
protein in your blood, affecting fluid movement in and out of tissues.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Brought to you by Mayo Clinic
January 27, 1998
Health tips
Relieving swollen feet and ankles
Originally published in Mayo Clinic Health Letter, July 1996
When you wake up, your feet and ankles are fine. But by the end of the day
they're swollen and wearing shoes is painful.
The swelling, called dependent edema, results from a buildup of fluids in your
skin tissue. During the day, gravity pulls the fluids to your feet and ankles,
causing them to swell.
To reduce swelling:
Cut back on sodium--Sodium causes fluid retention.
Maintain proper weight--Excess weight slows circulation of body fluids and
puts extra
pressure on your veins, causing fluid buildup.
Get some exercise--Regular exercise improves circulation in your legs and
feet.
Put your feet up--Place them at least 12 inches above the level of your heart.
Do this for 10
to 15 minutes, three or four times a day.
Use support stockings--They compress your legs, promoting circulation and
limiting
gravitational movement of excess fluid. Elastic stockings are available at
most medical supply
or drug stores.
Take a break when traveling--Long periods of sitting can promote swelling in
your feet and
ankles. Get up and walk around at least every one to two hours.
If swelling is persistent, or accompanied by shortness of breath and weight
gain, see your doctor.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
TITLE
New ways to cope with bloating.
AUTHOR
Nix-E
SOURCE
Redbook. (Feb 1995) 184(4):39,47.
ABSTRACT
The term "bloating" refers to distension of the abdomen, and "fluid retention"
(or edema) is
associated with swelling in the ankles, hands, feet and breasts. Fluids can
also accumulate in
the brain and behind the eyes, causing the headaches and dizziness that many
women
experience before their periods. A diet rich in complex carbohydrates and
other fiber-rich
foods can help to relieve bloating, constipation, and diarrhea. Certain foods,
such as
watermelon or cranberry juice, can serve as natural diuretics. Caffeine is not
a good choice as
a diuretic because it also drains nutrients from the body. Drink plenty of
water, which prompts
your body to release fluids, and avoid sodium and salty foods. Vigorous
workouts help to
mobilize fluids by forcing them out of tissues and into the bloodstream. If
you need more
powerful help, your doctor can prescribe diuretics to cause your body to
secrete salt and
water.
*************************************
As always do not substitute what you read in a post w/competent professional
medical advice which encompasses your unique medical condition