Edema
occurs when tiny blood vessels in your body (capillaries) leak fluid. The fluid builds up in surrounding tissues, leading to swelling. Mild cases of edema may result from: Sitting or staying in one position for too long.
What does swollen tissue mean?
Edema
is swelling that is caused by fluid trapped in your body’s tissues. Edema happens most often in the feet, ankles, and legs, but can affect other parts of the body, such as the face, hands, and abdomen. It can also involve the entire body.
How do you treat swollen tissue?
- Rest and protect a sore area. …
- Elevate the injured or sore area on pillows while applying ice and any time you are sitting or lying down. …
- Avoid sitting or standing without moving for prolonged periods of time. …
- A low-sodium diet may help reduce swelling.
What causes fluid retention in tissues?
Some of the many common causes of fluid retention include:
gravity
– standing up for long periods of time allows fluid to ‘pool’ in the tissues of the lower leg. hot weather – the body tends to be less efficient at removing fluid from tissues during the summer months. burns – including sunburn.
How do I reduce swelling in my body?
- Movement. Moving and using the muscles in the part of your body affected by edema, especially your legs, may help pump the excess fluid back toward your heart. …
- Elevation. …
- Massage. …
- Compression. …
- Protection. …
- Reduce salt intake.
What medicine helps with swelling?
- Aspirin (Bayer® Aspirin, Ecotrin®, Excedrin®, St. …
- Ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, and others)
- Ketoprofen (Orudis®)
- Naproxen (Aleve®)
How do I reduce swelling quickly?
Cold Therapy
Applying an ice-pack or cold compress to an injury
is the fastest way to deal with immediate swelling. It helps reduce swelling by restricting blood flow to the area and slowing down cellular metabolism. Cold therapy systems and ice baths are other methods you can use to apply cold to the area.
Will drinking more water help with edema?
1. Drink
8 to 10 glasses of water per day
. Though it might seem counterintuitive, getting enough fluids actually helps reduce swelling. When your body isn’t hydrated enough, it holds onto the fluid it does have.
When should you worry about swelling?
Swelling is a sign of built up fluid, which may mean you have a disease in one of these organs. Swelling by itself is not usually a sign of heart, liver, or kidney disease. However, people with swelling that also experience a
loss of appetite
, weight gain, and fatigue should talk to a doctor.
Is swelling good or bad?
Swelling is a normal reaction of the body to an injury
. Sometimes the body goes overboard and the swelling response is excessive. When this happens it can actually begin to cause more harm than good.
What happens if edema is left untreated?
If left untreated, edema can lead to
increasingly painful swelling, stiffness, difficulty walking, stretched or itchy skin, skin ulcers, scarring
, and decreased blood circulation.
How can I stop retaining water?
- Eat Less Salt. Salt is made of sodium and chloride. …
- Increase Your Magnesium Intake. Magnesium is a very important mineral. …
- Increase Vitamin B6 Intake. …
- Eat More Potassium-Rich Foods. …
- Try Taking Dandelion. …
- Avoid Refined Carbs. …
- Other Ways to Reduce Water Retention.
What deficiency causes edema?
An extreme lack (deficiency),
of protein in your diet over a long period
of time can lead to fluid accumulation and edema.
How do I reduce swelling naturally?
- Load up on anti-inflammatory foods. …
- Cut back or eliminate inflammatory foods. …
- Control blood sugar. …
- Make time to exercise. …
- Lose weight. …
- Manage stress.
How long does it take for swelling to go down?
After you suffer an injury, swelling usually worsens over the first two to four days. It can then last
for as long as three months
as the body attempts to heal itself. If the swelling lasts longer than this, your physical therapist or doctor may need to take a closer look to determine the cause of the delayed healing.
What can I eat to stop retaining water?
One way to reduce water retention is by increasing potassium intake by eating healthy foods such as
vegetables and fruits
. These foods contain nutrients that help prevent blood vessels from leaking fluid in the tissue spaces. Eating food high in potassium is recommended rather than taking potassium supplements.
