Today’s topic is EDEMA. Edema is swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in the body's tissues especially the skin edema usually occurs in the skin, especially on the legs feet, and ankles but it can affect other parts of the body including the muscles, bowels, eye, lungs, and brain. The body's organs have interstitial spaces where fluid can be trapped and accumulate and there are different examples of edema in specific organs when there is an accumulation of fluid in the interstitial tissue around the alveoli in the lungs is referred to as pulmonary edema.
Edema is a serious condition as it
can make it hard to breathe. Cerebral edema is also a very serious condition
in which fluid builds up in the brain this condition may result from a range of
reasons many of which are life-threatening such as trauma to the head tumor,
allergic reaction, or if a blood vessel gets blocked or bursts it can cause loss
of consciousness leading to brain herniation and even death. Macular edema
occurs when fluid builds up in a part of the eye called the macula, the part of
the eye that enables detailed central vision; macular edema is a serious
complication of diabetic retinopathy.
Peripheral edema usually affects the hands, arms, legs, and feet. Papillo edema occurs when there is pressure inside the skull and around the brain resulting in swelling of the optic nerve of the eye, edema usually starts slowly but the onset can be sudden it is a common problem but can also be a sign of a serious medical condition it is important to check with a doctor if there is a concern about any kind of swelling causes mild cases of edema may be caused by being pregnant eating too much salty food, sitting or staying in one position for too long such as when traveling over a long distance, having premenstrual signs and symptoms, high altitude burns and sunburn edema can also be a side effect of some medications such as estrogens NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen diadems or diabetes medications.
Steroid drugs some chemotherapy
drugs calcium channel blockers several diseases and conditions such as
congestive heart failure, kidney disease, kidney damage, cirrhosis, severe
long-term protein deficiency, thyroid disease, and varicose veins. Edema caused by malnutrition
defines quasi-core symptoms, swelling or puffiness directly under the skin especially
in the arms or legs stretched or shiny skin over the swollen area difficulty moving
joints and increased abdominal size, difficulty breathing, chest pain, and shortness
of breath in pulmonary edema. Skin that retains an indentation like pits or a
dimple after pressure is applied to a small area for several seconds if left
untreated edema can cause an increased risk of skin ulcers scarring between
layers of tissues, decreased blood circulation, difficulty walking, increased
risk of infection in the swollen area.
Diagnosis and treatment to make a diagnosis
the doctor will review your medical history and perform a physical exam the
doctor may also order tests including x-rays ultrasound exams MRI urine
analysis or blood tests all these might help to determine the underlying cause
of your edema. Treatment mild cases of edema usually resolve on their own, particularly
with certain lifestyle adjustments more severe cases of edema may be treated
with medications that help the body expel excess fluid in the urine like
diuretics based on your personal medical history. Your doctor will determine if
this treatment option is good for your long-term management of edema and focuses on treating
the underlying condition causing your swelling. If edema is caused by
medication use the doctor may check for alternative medicine that doesn't cause
edema or adjust your prescriptions certain lifestyle modifications that can
help lessen edema include exercise, massage, reduced salt intake, compression
socks/sleeves, or gloves to prevent swelling from occurring after it might have
gone down in your limbs elevating the affected leg or arm above heart level
several times a day.
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