Information About Edema

Edema also known as oedema means swelling of body parts due to fluid retention. It is the accumulation of excessive serous fluids in cells or cavities of the body. It mainly affects lower body parts, mostly foot and ankles. It can slow down the healing process, increase the chances of developing skin infection, affect blood circulation and can be painful. Edema is not a disease; it only indicates that something is wrong in the body. Edema is due to an underlying problem in the body.

Edema is a frequently encountered problem in clinical practice, but effective treatment of this condition is a relatively recent development.1 The etiology of edema always must be determined; the condition may indicate an underlying life-threatening disease such as congestive heart failure, or it may be caused by something as benign as sitting for too long. Edema may be localized and confined to one limb, or generalized and massive. It usually results from an imbalance of forces controlling fluid exchange, including an alteration in capillary hemodynamics favoring the retention of sodium and water by the kidneys and the movement of fluid from the vascular space into the interstitium

Coriander seeds can help the body in flushing out excess fluids. Pregnant women can also use this home remedy. Just boil coriander seeds in a cup of water. Strain the solution and drink it. Your foot edema should be healed in no time.

Whatever the cause, the symptoms can include irritability, mood swings, and anger. Indeed, the emotional symptoms, which occur in more than 80 percent of PMS sufferers, are what often drive women to their doctor's office. Other symptoms may include sugar cravings, headaches, dizziness, shakiness, abdominal bloating, breast tenderness, and overall swelling (from edema, or fluid retention). Much less common are depression, memory loss, and feelings of isolation. The symptoms of PMS appear to occur in a cycle, and their severity varies from woman to woman.

Taking medication to increase your kidneys' output of water and sodium (diuretics). Diuretics often used to treat edema include thiazide diuretics, furosemide (Lasix) and spironolactone.

Morphine (Astramorph, Roxanol). This narcotic, for years a mainstay in treating cardiac pulmonary edema, may be used to relieve shortness of breath and associated anxiety. But some doctors believe that the risks of morphine may outweigh the benefits and are more apt to use other, more effective, drugs.

Usually our bodies do an admirable job of quickly correcting fluid balance. But sometimes the balance gets temporarily thrown off. Too much salt or alcohol, long periods of inactivity and, for women, monthly hormone fluctuations or pregnancy can all tip the scale toward fluid retention. A sudden weight gain of several pounds may be your first and only sign that you're retaining fluid. Swollen ankles are a common tip-off, too.

Pitting edema can be demonstrated by applying pressure to the swollen area by depressing the skin with a finger. If the pressing causes an indentation that persists for some time after the release of the pressure, the edema is referred to as pitting edema. Any form of pressure, such as from the elastic in socks, can induce pitting with this type of edema.

Calcarea carbonica: A person who develops swelling in the lower extremities, especially around the knees, may need this remedy. Symptoms can be worse from sitting, unless the legs are supported. A person needing this remedy may tend toward weight problems, get tired easily, and feel worse from exertion. Hands and feet are often cold and clammy (although the feet may heat up at night).