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ABSTRACT –

Swelling due to the leakage of excess fluid from blood vessels, gets deposited in the body’s tissues is known as Edema. 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 edema
• Pulmonary edema
• Peripheral edema
• Pedal edema
• Lymph edema
• Cerebral edema
• Macular edema

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 disease –

• 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 disease on its own
• Diuretics drugs
• Treatment for underlying cause of this disease 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.