What You Should Know About Edema

Edema is mostly caused owing to salt retention and can also occur owing to underlying diseases of the heart, kidneys or the liver. Other than the legs and feet the other areas that can be impacted owing to edema are the peritoneal cavity or abdomen, the lungs (alveoli) and the chest. Edema occurring in the lungs is called by the name pulmonary edema which is mostly caused as a result of heart failure.

Though a vast majority of the people can consume salt without any significant complication, those having some underlying disease will face the problem of processing and eliminating large quantities of salt. In people suffering from heart disease, they may experience a limited flow of blood to their kidneys which can impact the ability of the kidneys to remove the excess salt. This can lead to the occurrence of edema and fluid retention by the body.

Pitting and non-pitting edema are the two main types of edema. In the case of pitting edema, the swollen areas show indentations from the stockings or socks. Non pitting edema is mainly seen among people who suffer from hypothyroidism or lymphatic system problems. A doctor can diagnose the type of edema easily.

Another type of pitting edema is referred to as Idiopathic edema which can occur without any underlying condition or disease. This is mainly seen in women who are at a pre menopausal stage and who experience fluid retention in their legs. This type of edema is also called cyclical edema. Doctors recommend the use of diuretics and limiting salt intake among such patients in order to treat the swelling itself.

Depending on the cause, edema can be permanent or temporary. It can be best treated after analyzing the underlying cause of the problem. Patients who are addicted to smoking would be advised to quit smoking if edema results from lung disease such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis. Those suffering from chronic heart failure would be advised to limit excess alcohol intake and their coronary artery disease would be monitored and treated without delay.