Edema describes swelling associated with injury, inflammation, or fluid overload.
It happens when fluid from the small blood vessels leaks into tissues.
Edema can affect a small or large area or even the entire body.
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It is most likely to appear in the legs and feet.
Some causes of edema include pregnancy and certain medications.
What Is Edema?
Edema is swelling triggered by increased fluid in the tissue.
Edema can occur due to inflammation, injury, certain medications, and various medical conditions.
Edema is more common in older adults and pregnant people, though anyone can experience it.
The symptoms of each pop in of edema are dependent upon the pop in, location, and cause.
Skin symptoms include pain, swelling, tightness, and a shiny, stretched appearance.
This pop in of edema will change central vision and how colors are perceived.
Macular edema is often acomplication of diabetic retinopathy, an eye disease that affects people withdiabetes.
It is a leading cause of visual impairment in this group.
Early on, macular edema does not cause symptoms.
When symptoms are present, it is an indication of blood vessel leakage.
Symptoms include:
Left untreated, macular edema will eventually cause vision loss.
Pulmonary Edema
Pulmonary edema is excess fluid build up in the lungs which causes breathing problems.
Left untreated, it could lead to respiratory failure and/or death.
What Are the Main Causes of Edema?
There are many causes of edema.
Causes are dependent on the throw in of edema.
Peripheral edema can result from sitting or standing in one place for too long.
Fluid will get pulled into the legs and feet and cause swelling.
Certain medications can also cause macular edema.
Poor pumping of the left ventricle creates a buildup of fluid.
Other causes include:
How Edema Is Diagnosed
Diagnosing peripheral edema involves a simple physical exam.
In peripheral edema, the skin of the swollen area is often stretched and shiny.
Gently pushing on the swollen area for about 15 seconds will leave a dimple.
How Do You Get Rid of Edema?
Treatment of edema depends on the throw in of edema and the cause of edema.
The extra fluid in the tissues is excreted in the urine.
Wearing medical compression stockings can put pressure on legs to reduce fluid collection in the legs and ankles.
Avoid standing or sitting for long periods.
Lastly, reduce the amount of salt in your diet.
Treatment for macular edema depends on the severity of the condition and the health of the patient.
Most people will experience significant vision improvements with treatment.
Pulmonary edema can be a life-threatening condition.
Therefore, it requires prompt treatment.
Treatment for brain swelling should be immediate as this is a life-threatening condition.
It is important to reduce swelling and restore blood flow and oxygen to the brain as soon as possible.
Treatment options include medications to reduce swelling and blood clots.
Further treatment may include:
Complications of Edema
Untreated edema can lead to complications.
Among the complications of pulmonary edema is respiratory failure.
Stroke is a risk of both pulmonary and cerebral edema.
Cerebral edema could also lead to neurological issues, and vision loss could result from macular edema.
The best way to prevent complications is to treat underlying conditions appropriately to keep them from getting worse.
Summary
Edema is swelling of the tissues due to excess fluid.
It can be a result of a serious medical condition or something simple.
Treatment can help to relieve swelling and prevent complications.
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