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EDEMA DISEASE?

Edema is an accumulation of fluid in the intracellular tissue characterized by the acute, subacute and chronic. Or more it is like a swelling that occurs due to the fluid trapped in the tissues of the body, skin, hand, feet, legs, and ankles. There are many types of edema disease and they have a different cause like. Pulmonary edema that damage the lungs. If it occurs, is a very serious disease for every gender whether its a male, female, child, older and also the pregnant women.

What is the Etiology of Edema?

It has been observed that balance and regulation of fluid in the body is far more complex. The real cause is very simple as the tiny blood vessels in the body leak fluid into the surrounding tissues. The excess fluid causes the tissue to swell. It’s because either there is too much force/pressure inside the blood vessels that its walls cannot maintain equilibrium. Each of these mechanisms is associated with a variety of diseases or conditions- Pregnancy, Liver Disease, Venous Insufficiency, Heart failure, Idiopathic edema, etc.

Symptoms of Edema

Following are the symptoms of the disease.

• Weight gain or loss
• Swollen and stretched skin
• Shiny skin
• Aching body parts and stiff joints
• Higher pulse rate and blood pressure
• Headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fuller hand and neck veins

Diagnosis of Edema

Depending on the details of the patient’s history, healthcare, the practitioner will perform a thorough examination. The doctor you visit might prescribe you the

• Chest X-ray
• Urinalysis
• Abdominal ultrasound
• Blood tests of liver function
• Ultrasound of the legs

Anyhow, the swelling of one or both legs might be a sign of a serious medical problem.

Treatment of Edema

Your doctor will ask you questions, conduct a full exam, and might order tests to determine why you have edema.

To treat edema, you often must treat its underlying cause. For example, you might take allergy medications to treat swelling that may occur due to allergy. Like edema from a block in fluid drainage can sometimes be treated by getting the drainage flowing again. A tumor that blocks blood or lymph can sometimes be shrunk or removed with surgery, chemotherapy or radiation.

Whereas leg edema related to congestive heart failure can be treated with diuretics like furosemide (Lasix).

In addition to treating the underlying diseases, there are a few other steps you can take to keep fluid from building up in your body:

• Put a pillow under your legs when you are lying down or sitting for prolonged periods. (Keep your legs elevated above the level of your heart.)
• Do not sit or stand for long periods of time without moving.
• Wear support stockings, which put pressure on your legs and keep fluids from collecting in your legs and ankles. These stockings can be purchased at most drugstores.
• Ask your doctor about limiting your salt intake.
• Follow your doctor’s directions for taking prescription medications. Your doctor might want you to take a diuretic (commonly called a "water pill"), which helps your body get rid of excess fluid.