Why are swollen face, arms and legs - and what to do about it
The body of an adult is about 70% water. two thirds of which is inside the cells and another third in the space between them. Edemas also appear just as the amount of fluid in the intercellular space increases. There are many reasons for this, and the most obvious is tissue injury, for example, in case of bruise. Puffiness may be associated with heavy drinking, eating salty foods (salt retains liquid) or alcohol.
If puffiness appears rarely and quickly subsides, then there is no cause for concern, but if it occurs more often, it may indicate the presence of certain diseases. What to do if the person, arms or legs swell for no apparent reason, find out from the experts: Verba Mayr, Chief Physician of the Austrian Health Center, Natalia Edel, general practitioner, Nina Markova, general doctor of the Dobry Doctor clinic, and Anton, Chaika Clinic general practitioner Averinov.
Why do swelling appear
Edema is the accumulation of blood plasma from the lymphatic and blood vessels in the intercellular space. In fact, it can be the body's response to overheating (arms and legs often swell in the heat - so the body tends to cool tissues with the help of fluid), poor circulation, some drugs, such as diabetes, heart problems or kidney problems. other health problems.
According to therapist Natalia Edel, one of the common causes of edema is insufficient lymphatic drainage when the fluid does not flow out of the tissues at the proper rate. Lymph vessels have valves and muscles that regulate the flow of lymph. But with age, in case of poor heredity or with additional loads (for example, during pregnancy) they no longer cope with their task - and edemas are formed.
Why does the face swell
If there are no health problems, the swelling on the face in the morning after an alcoholic party or a large amount of liquid drunk before bedtime subsides rather quickly. The body itself gets rid of excess water, normalizing the water-salt metabolism. Faster cleaning up with cool water, cooling the face with ice cubes, easy self-massage, as well as refusal from salty, greasy and fried foods will help you to clean up. According to the doctor Anton Averinov, women are more likely to experience swelling of the face in men. The reason is in the structure of the subcutaneous fat: in women it is more loose and holds water better.
If puffiness has appeared without obvious external causes and does not subside for a long time, it may be a “bell” of heart or kidney failure. In the first case, the outflow of fluid worsens, since the heart muscle does not have time to pump blood in the required volume; in the second, the exchange of potassium and sodium salts in the body is disturbed, and the level of protein in the blood decreases, as a result of which the liquid is not excreted in the required amount.
If a person swells every morning and has a headache, it is better not to postpone the examination: the risk of hypertension and cerebral circulation is high.
In renal insufficiency, edema usually appears under the lower eyelids and disappears during the day. It is possible to suspect a problem with the kidneys if the edema is accompanied by impaired urination and fatigue. But to make an accurate diagnosis, you can’t do without a visit to the doctor anyway. To begin with, it is enough to turn not to the urologist, but to the therapist: to undergo blood and urine tests, to do an ultrasound of the liver. If a person swells every morning and has a headache, it is better not to postpone the examination: the risk of hypertension and cerebral circulation is high.
A separate story - edema associated with an allergic reaction, which represent a serious danger. Nina Markova cites a case from her own practice: the patient was bitten by wasps, and the puffiness of her face, larynx and tongue appeared in just seconds - her eyes swelled and did not open, it became very difficult to breathe. It was possible to save the woman thanks to a quick hospitalization and a dose of an antihistamine. The doctor notes that if in such a situation there is no necessary medicine at hand, the victim should be given water and ensure that he remains in a half-sitting position until the ambulance arrives.
What to do when hands swell
If in the evening to remove the ring from your finger becomes not the easiest task, you should not panic. Therapist Anton Averinov notes that moderate swelling of the hands of women often occurs in the premenstrual period or during pregnancy as a reaction of the body to hormonal changes. Such edemas usually pass by themselves and do not require special treatment. But if the swelling is accompanied by pain, venous thrombosis can be the cause of the discomfort.
It also happens that only one arm swells. In this case, experts advise to seek medical help as soon as possible: the cause is often heart failure, nerve strangulation, or endocrine diseases. If the frequent swelling of the hands (especially the fingers) is accompanied by heartburn and nausea after eating, it is very likely that the liver suffers - this organ itself never hurts, because it has no nerve endings. One advice: to consult with a therapist and, if the problem with the liver is confirmed, to run to a hepatologist.
How to deal with swelling of the legs
Usually, the legs and feet swell when the person is on his feet for a long time. At the same time on the lower limbs have a large load, and the fluid accumulates in the soft tissues. The legs also swell, if you sit for a long time without getting up, for example, during a long flight, working at a computer or driving a traffic jam. In most cases, such discomfort is not a symptom of the disease, and puffiness disappears after a short rest. It is best to lie down for 15-30 minutes, lifting and holding the foot above the level of the heart. Another option is to make contrast foot baths; This method helps not only to remove the edema, but also is a good training for venous valves. When swelling occurs too often and is not dependent on stress, check the health of the arteries and veins - not superfluous. If the elasticity of the veins and the outflow of blood are violated, the swelling of the tissues around the vessels is inevitable - it provokes stagnation of blood.
Varicose veins are a common diagnosis among women who often have swollen legs. For the prevention of varicose veins, normalization of weight and moderate physical activity work best, but the methods of treatment of an already encountered problem are determined only by a doctor, who will help with the choice of compression hosiery. Special socks and stockings are also useful in cases when you have to sit for a long time - for example, during a transatlantic flight - or to walk a lot. In this case, they should be worn on the still not swollen legs. Doctor Nina Markova notes that if the edema of the foot and ankle does not subside for a long time, but not on the other, the problem is often associated with a blood clot in the deep veins of the lower leg, and urgent medical examination is necessary.
When the patient was taken to the hospital, jeans had to be cut with scissors - her legs were so swollen
Sometimes severe puffiness can lead to infringement of the nerve ending. So, the story of a woman whose legs began to be taken away because of swelling in tight jeans, was actively discussed by the media. When the patient was taken to the hospital, it turned out that his legs swelled so much that the jeans had to be cut with scissors. Doctors found: the cause of the temporary failure of the legs - nerve compression. During the move, the woman lifted and dragged heavy boxes of things for half a day, causing her legs to swell, and tight jeans only increased pressure. This story may seem like a simple bad luck, but remember the narrow shoes, which sometimes you don’t have to take off all day, “earning” by the evening the swelling of the feet or shins. If the situation is repeated too often, over time, it can provoke the development of chronic disruption of the venous valves, and the blood will begin to stagnate in the lumen of the vessels. In this case, one cannot do without consulting a surgeon or phlebologist. Doppler sonography (a study of potentially unhealthy veins) will help diagnose the problem and allow the doctor to choose the right method of treatment.
In diseases of the kidneys and especially the heart, edema of the legs is also not uncommon. In this case, they do not fall down long enough and may increase in the evening. Heart failure is also often accompanied by shortness of breath, chest discomfort and headache. In this case, you need the help of two specialists: a therapist (he will give direction for blood and urine tests) and a cardiologist (the doctor will do electrocardiography, echocardiography and prescribe treatment). If the cause of the puffiness is not obvious, experts recommend a comprehensive examination: necessary tests, ECG, ultrasound of the kidneys, examination of thyroid function. Based on the results, a diagnosis will be made and appropriate treatment prescribed. But to drink diuretics without a doctor's prescription is a big mistake: these drugs can flush out beneficial microelements from the body, on which, for example, heart rate and bone density depend.
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