What is Edema?
Edema is a disorder in which bodily tissues accumulate fluid, which results in swelling. Although it can happen everywhere on the body, it most frequently affects the legs, ankles, and feet.
Edema is brought on by an imbalance in the body’s fluids, which can be brought on by a number of things, including the use of certain medications or an underlying medical condition like heart or renal illness. It can also be caused by a high-salt diet, standing or sitting in one position for a long time, or exposure to heat or humidity.
Edema can be mild or severe, and it can cause symptoms such as swelling, pain, difficulty moving, and skin changes. It is often treated with medications, lifestyle changes, or other therapies, depending on the underlying cause.
If left untreated, edema can cause complications, such as skin infections, impaired circulation, and damage to the affected tissues. If you encounter persistent or severe edema or if you have other symptoms that could point to a medical concern, it’s crucial to contact a doctor.
Various Edemas:
- peripheral swelling. It can also happen in the arms. However it typically affects the legs, feet, and ankles. It can indicate issues with your kidneys, lymph nodes, or vascular system.
- pedal swelling This occurs when fluid builds up in your lower legs and feet. If you’re older or pregnant, it happens more frequently.
- Lymphedema. The tissues in your lymph nodes, which assist in removing waste and pathogens from your body, are most frequently to blame for this swelling in your arms and legs. Radiation and surgery used to treat cancer may have caused the harm. Additionally, lymph nodes can become blocked by cancer and enlarge as a result.
- respiratory edema or Pulmonary edema is when fluid builds up in the air sacs of your lungs. You find it difficult to breathe as a result, and lying down makes it worse.
- Brain enlargement When this extremely deadly condition exists, there is fluid buildup in the brain. A serious head injury, a tumour, a blocked or burst of a blood vessel, an allergic reaction, or both may cause it.