ABSTRACT – Swelling due to the leakage of excess fluid from blood vessels, gets deposited in the body’s tissues...
Edema
Edema is when swelling due to the leakage of excess fluid from blood vessels, gets deposited in the body’s tissues. It can affect any body part but seen mostly in hands, arms, feet, ankles and legs. It can occur due to the reaction of certain medications, pregnancy, congestive heart failure, kidney disease or cirrhosis of the liver. Medication for edema removes excess fluid and excess amount of salt from the body.
Types –
Pitting
Pulmonary
Peripheral
Pedal
Lymphedema
Cerebral
Macular
CAUSES –
Sitting in one position for too long
Eating very salty food
Low albumin
Pregnancy
High BP
Congestive heart failure
Certain types of medication
Kidney disease
Steroids
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS –
Signs and symptoms varies with the types of edema –
Stretched skin
Swelling or puffiness under skin (especially in legs or arms)
Shortness of breath in case of pulmonary edema
Pit occurs after giving some pressure on skin
DIAGNOSIS –
Physical examination
X-ray
Ultra sound
Blood test
Urine test
TREATMENT –
Body treats mild edema on its own
Diuretics drugs
Treatment for underlying cause of edema like for liver cirrhosis, kidney disease and congestive heart failure
RISK FACTORS –
Certain medication for high BP, diabetes, estrogen
Steroidal drugs
Hormonal changes due to menstruation
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
Excess of sodium intake
EPIDEMIOLOGY –
On a global level, estimation shows that approximately 140 to 250 million people have Lymphedema.
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