Causes and Treatment
If there is fluid in places where it shouldn’t, you probably have edema. Edema is often in the ankles or lungs and occurs in young and old.
Edema can have various causes. If the blood vessels in the legs don’t properly drain blood to the heart, fluid can build up in the feet, ankles, and lower legs. A reduced pumping function of the heart, or liver and kidney disorders can also cause edema.
First signs
The first signs of edema are often easy to recognize: you have thick ankles and feet. After all, you usually notice when your feet bulge out of your shoes. The difference between swollen feet and edema is easy to test yourself. Press your finger firmly into the skin and remove it after a while. If you see a pit in your leg, you have fluid retention.
Fluid may also remain around the lungs. Obviously you cannot see this. You usually notice it by shortness of breath or because you are tired more quickly. Shortness of breath, especially with exertion or when lying flat (at night), can also be a sign of edema in the lungs. If you suffer from this and also gain more than one or two kilograms in a few days, you may have edema.
In addition, it is possible that you will develop edema in the lymphatics; this is often congenital or the result of an accident or surgery.Edema, now what?
In order to proceed to treatment, it is necessary to know the cause. Edema is an abnormality that can arise from all kinds of diseases. If you suffer from fluid retention and you have or have suffered from heart failure, check your body weight a few times a week. If this increases significantly, a visit to the doctor is definitely necessary.
There is one golden rule when it comes to retaining water: be careful with salt. This way you retain less fluid and your blood pressure drops. Also make sure you get enough exercise. Exercise stimulates blood flow and muscle function in your legs, which can reduce fluid. An alternating shower – alternating hot and cold water – after an afternoon of exercise enhances this process.
In edema, so-called diuretics are often prescribed. These drugs cause the kidneys to excrete more salt. The fluid is, as it were, drawn along and discharged through the urine. This reduces the edema and makes thick ankles and feet disappear.
In some, often severe cases, the doctor will prescribe compression stockings or a bandage.
