What Is Swollen Tissue?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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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 get rid of swollen tissue?

  1. Rest and protect a sore area. …
  2. Elevate the injured or sore area on pillows while applying ice and any time you are sitting or lying down. …
  3. Avoid sitting or standing without moving for prolonged periods of time. …
  4. A low-sodium diet may help reduce swelling.

What causes swelling of tissue?


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.

How long does soft tissue swelling last?

Inflammation starts within the first hour or two after injury, peaks within 1-3 days but lasts

at least a couple of weeks

. This phase is when you will experience swelling and some heat around your injury. This is entirely normal and a natural part of your body’s tissue healing process.

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.

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.

How do I reduce swelling naturally?

  1. Load up on anti-inflammatory foods. …
  2. Cut back or eliminate inflammatory foods. …
  3. Control blood sugar. …
  4. Make time to exercise. …
  5. Lose weight. …
  6. Manage stress.

What are the 4 types of soft tissue?

  • Soft tissues are found throughout the body. There are many types of soft tissue, including fat, muscle, fibrous tissue, blood vessels, lymph vessels. Close. …
  • Fibrous tissue. Fibrous tissue is. connective tissue. Close. …
  • Lymph vessels. Lymph vessels are small tubes like blood vessels that run throughout the body. They contain.

How can I speed up soft tissue healing?

RICE method to treat injuries:

Rest, ice, compression, elevation

. The mnemonic RICE which stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation is key to treating an acute soft tissue injury. The objective of early RICE therapy is to control the initial inflammation and get the healing process started early.

How long should swelling last?

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.

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.

What happens if swelling doesn’t go down?

“If not treated appropriately, the

swelling can become chronic

, or long term. Chronic swelling leads to tissues becoming more rigid and less pliable than their healthy counterpart. Less pliable tissues are more susceptible to further injury.”

What to eat to reduce swelling in feet?

Therefore, when you are suffering from swollen feet, eat

magnesium-rich foods

. These include tofu, spinach, cashews, almonds, dark chocolate, broccoli and avocados.

Can swelling go away by itself?


Mild edema usually goes away on its own

, particularly if you help things along by raising the affected limb higher than your heart. More-severe edema may be treated with drugs that help your body expel excess fluid in the form of urine (diuretics).

What is the strongest anti-inflammatory?

“We provide sound evidence that

diclofenac 150 mg/day

is the most effective NSAID available at present, in terms of improving both pain and function,” writes Dr da Costa.

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.