What Is Edema? Edema is a buildup of fluid in the space between the body’s cells. Edema can occur throughout the body, but it is most clearly visible on the arms or limbs. Edema occurs when fluid in the blood vessels comes out into the surrounding tissue. The fluid then accumulates, causing the body’s tissues to become swollen.
Mild edema is harmless, but it can also indicate more serious conditions, such as heart failure, liver, kidney, and brain disorders. Therefore, checking with a doctor during edema is very important to find out the cause. Handling will be done based on the cause.
Types of edema
There are several types of edema. Each type of swelling indicates your health condition further. The following are the types, namely:
1# Peripheral Edema
Swelling occurs in the ankles, wrists, arms, and legs. This condition is the most common type of swelling and makes it difficult for the sufferer to move the body.
2# Pulmonary Edema
Swelling due to accumulates of water in lungs, which interferes with breathing problems. The cause of pulmonary swelling is due to heart failure or acute injury to the lungs.
3# Cerebral Edema
Swelling due to fluid accumulates in brain tissue is very life-threatening. Cerebral swelling occurs due to complications of other diseases of the brain. Symptoms include dizziness, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, mental health disorders to visual impairment.
4# Macular Edema
Swelling of the macula is a condition of swelling that occurs in the part of the eye that contains the center of vision. This type of swelling occurs due to complications of diabetic retinopathy. The sufferer is at risk of visual impairment and visual changes in seeing colors.
5# Pedal edema
Pedal edema, commonly occurs in elderly patients or pregnant women. This type of edema is common when heaps of fluid in the legs and lower legs. This condition may make it difficult for you to move more freely because some of the legs will experience numbness.
6# Lymphedema
Lymphedema, this swelling is common in the legs and arms caused by damage to lymph tissue that helps filter germs and waste from your body. Lymph damage is likely caused by post-cancer side effects such as radiation or surgery. Cancer suffered by patients can actually also block the lymph nodes in the body, thus creating a build-up of fluid.
Swelling is a complication of other diseases and it can occur in other parts of the body. This condition can be one indicator of your health condition.
Edema Symptoms
Symptoms that appear to depend on the condition and location of the swollen tissue. Edema is mild because inflammation can cause no symptoms. Symptoms that appear and are felt by the sufferer are:
- Limbs, such as arms or legs, become swollen.
- The skin of the edema area becomes tight and shiny.
- If the skin on the edema area is pressed, then a dimpled-like hole arises for a few seconds.
- The size of the stomach is enlarged.
- Shortness of breath and coughing in cases of edema in the lungs.
- It is difficult to walk because the limbs feel heavier due to swelling.
- Severe leg edema can interfere with blood flow, causing ulcers on the skin.
What is edema caused by?
Edema occurs due to the fluid found in the blood vessels, coming out of the tissues. This can be caused by several conditions such as:
- Sit or be in one position for a long time
- Consume a lot of salt-containing foods
- Premenstrual symptoms
- Bee sting
- Skin infections
- Pregnancy
- Side effects of drugs such as hypertension drugs, painkiller drugs, drugs containing steroids, estrogen, and some other drugs.
In certain conditions, edema can also be caused by more serious disease conditions such as:
- Allergic reactions
- Heart failure
- Cirrhosis of the liver
- Head trauma
- Kidney Disease and damage to the kidneys
- Disturbance or weakness of veins
- Disorders of the lymphatic vascular system
- Severe protein deficiencies.
Thank you very much for reading What Is Edema: Types, Symptoms, and Causes, hopefully useful.