Edema is a condition of swelling of body tissues due to fluid buildup. Edema can be caused by many things and can appear in various parts of the body, such as the hands, feet, arms, and face.
Edema is a sign of leakage of body fluids through the walls of blood vessels. This fluid then builds up in the surrounding tissue and causes swelling.
Edema that is mild and caused by inflammation generally does not cause symptoms. However, if the swelling experienced is large enough, this condition can trigger symptoms. Symptoms depend on where the edema appears, such as difficulty walking, shortness of breath, an enlarged abdomen, or ulcers appearing.
In addition to swelling, edema also causes the skin to stretch and form depressions when pressed. This basin takes a long time to return to its original state.
Various Factors That Cause Edema
In mild cases, edema often results from prolonged sitting or standing, minor injuries, too much salt intake, symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, and pregnancy.
However, apart from these causes, edema can also be a sign of a more serious medical condition. Some of the diseases and conditions that can cause edema include:
- Congestive heart failure
- Liver disease, such as cirrhosis
- Infection
- Severe allergic reaction
- Blockage of blood vessels
- Kidney illness
- Disorders of the flow of lymph fluid (lymphatic system)
- Protein deficiency or protein energy malnutrition
Edema can also occur as a side effect of long-term medications, such as high blood pressure medications, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroid medications, estrogen medications, and diabetes medications.
Because it can be caused by many things, you should see a doctor if you have edema, especially if the edema does not go away. This is important so that the doctor can determine the cause of the edema you are experiencing and provide appropriate treatment.
Recognizing How to Treat Edema
To treat edema, doctors can provide several types of treatment, including:
1. Restriction of fluid intake
The main goal of treating edema is to remove fluid that has accumulated in body tissues. Therefore, the doctor will advise the patient to limit fluid intake or reduce drinking water.
Doctors will also advise people with edema to reduce salt intake in food or drinks. Too much salt in the body can increase fluid buildup and make swelling worse.
2. Giving drugs
To remove excess fluid that has accumulated in the patient's body, doctors can give diuretic drugs. This drug serves to remove salt and excess fluid from the body through urine. Diuretic drugs can be given to edema due to certain diseases, such as heart failure and pulmonary edema.
3. Administration of albumin
Lack of albumin protein (hypoalbuminemia) in the blood can also cause edema. This protein helps hold salt and fluids in the blood vessels from leaking into body tissues.
To increase the level of albumin in the blood of patients with edema, doctors will usually recommend eating high-protein foods, such as meat, fish, eggs, milk, cheese, and nuts.
Apart from food, doctors can also increase albumin levels by giving albumin supplements or intravenous fluids containing albumin.
4. Wash blood
Kidney failure can also cause edema. This occurs because the kidneys are no longer able to remove excess fluids, electrolytes, and salt from the body. To treat edema due to kidney failure, doctors may recommend dialysis procedures.
In addition to medical treatment from a doctor, edema can also be treated independently at home. The following are some ways you can do to relieve the symptoms of edema that appear:
- Eat healthy food and limit salt intake
- Avoid smoking and alcoholic beverages
- Do light exercise regularly
- Give a cold compress on the swollen body part
- Use special stockings to prevent swelling from getting worse
The important thing to do to prevent and treat edema is to make lifestyle changes and a healthier diet, especially by avoiding foods that contain excess salt.
If you experience symptoms of edema, especially edema that appears throughout the body or causes symptoms of weakness and shortness of breath, you should consult a doctor to get the right treatment.