How do you drain fluid from your legs?

Support stockings
  1. Movement. Moving and using the muscles in the part of your body affected by edema, especially your legs, may help pump the excess fluid back toward your heart. ...
  2. Elevation. ...
  3. Massage. ...
  4. Compression. ...
  5. Protection. ...
  6. Reduce salt intake.
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Can you drain swollen legs?

There are four main way to treat it: Compression – wearing special clothing or bandages that gently squeeze the part of your body that's affected and encourage the fluid to drain away. Massage – a special type of massage called Manual Lymphatic Drainage encourages the fluid to drain away.
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What causes fluid to build up in your legs?

You can have swelling due to fluid buildup simply from being overweight, being inactive, sitting or standing for a long time, or wearing tight stockings or jeans. Factors related to fluid buildup include: Acute kidney failure. Cardiomyopathy (problem with the heart muscle)
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How can I get rid of fluid in my legs fast?

Some tips that may help reduce swelling:
  1. Put your legs on pillows to raise them above your heart while lying down.
  2. Exercise your legs. ...
  3. Follow a low-salt diet, which may reduce fluid buildup and swelling.
  4. Wear support stockings (sold at most drugstores and medical supply stores).
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How do doctors drain fluid from legs?

The area to be drained will be numbed with local anaesthetic before a needle is inserted through the skin. The doctor will use an ultrasound scan to locate the correct place to insert the needle. The needle is then connected to a syringe to draw off a small sample of the fluid.
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When should you go to the hospital for swollen feet and legs?

Seek emergency medical care if you have leg swelling and any of the following signs or symptoms, which can indicate a blood clot in your lungs or a serious heart condition: Chest pain. Difficulty breathing. Shortness of breath with exertion or lying flat in bed.
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Why is my body filling up with fluid?

Medications, pregnancy, infections, and many other medical problems can cause edema. Edema happens when your small blood vessels leak fluid into nearby tissues. That extra fluid builds up, which makes the tissue swell. It can happen almost anywhere in the body.
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How do I get rid of fluid in my legs and feet?

Support stockings
  1. Movement. Moving and using the muscles in the part of your body affected by edema, especially your legs, may help pump the excess fluid back toward your heart. ...
  2. Elevation. ...
  3. Massage. ...
  4. Compression. ...
  5. Protection. ...
  6. Reduce salt intake.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on mayoclinic.org


How do I get rid of fluid in my ankles and feet?

Here are 10 to try.
  1. Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water per day. ...
  2. Buy compression socks. ...
  3. Soak in a cool Epsom salt bath for about 15 to 20 minutes. ...
  4. Elevate your feet, preferably above your heart. ...
  5. Get moving! ...
  6. Magnesium supplements can be helpful for some people. ...
  7. Make some dietary changes. ...
  8. Lose weight if you're overweight.
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What medication is used for fluid retention?

Hydrochlorothiazide is used to treat edema (fluid retention; excess fluid held in body tissues) caused by various medical problems, including heart, kidney, and liver disease and to treat edema caused by using certain medications including estrogen and corticosteroids.
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What is a home remedy for swollen legs?

Soak your legs for 15 to 20 minutes in lukewarm water with Epsom salts, which helps relax muscles and ease swelling. If you don't have a bathtub, try to find a bucket big enough to fit at least one leg at a time, with the water covering your legs up to your knees.
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Are swollen legs serious?

Seek medical care right away if your legs swell for no apparent reason, especially if you have unexplained leg pain, difficulty breathing, chest pain or other warning signs of a blood clot in your lungs or a heart condition. Many factors — varying greatly in severity — can cause leg swelling.
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How do you get rid of swelling fast?

Any form of cold therapy can be beneficial, such as: ice packs, ice baths, and ice machines that deliver cold water to wraps. Ice should be used a few times a day for about 20-30 minutes at a time to reduce swelling effectively. Pressure on an injury helps constrict blood flow and excess fluid from reaching the injury.
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Is walking good for lymphedema in the legs?

Exercises. Gentle exercises, such as walking, are a great way to help the fluids in your body move a little better. Try to go for a walk every day, if you can.
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What does it mean when your legs are swollen and leaking fluid?

Edema occurs when tiny blood vessels in your body (capillaries) leak fluid. The fluid builds up in surrounding tissues, leading to swelling. Mild cases of edema may result from: Sitting or staying in one position for too long.
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Where does the fluid go when you elevate your legs?

If your leg is swollen and you raise it higher than your heart, the force of gravity will be moving the fluid in your leg towards your heart. The more the swelling and the longer there has been swelling, the longer and more frequently your need to elevate your legs.
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What causes swollen legs from the knee down in elderly?

Edema (or swelling) of the lower limbs is common in older adults. The most common cause (about 70%) of leg edema is due to Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI). Other serious causes of edema include congestive heart failure, kidney disease, and liver disease.
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Will water pills help swollen feet?

The first thing your doctor may try are diuretics, or water pills. This may not be the best treatment particularly if the swelling is not due to too much volume. “Often, using counter pressure, or wearing compression stockings, to help push fluid out of the legs is the most effective treatment,” says Dr.
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What is the best diuretic for edema?

The 8 Best Natural Diuretics to Eat or Drink
  1. Coffee. Share on Pinterest. ...
  2. Dandelion Extract. Dandelion extract, also known as Taraxacum officinale or “lion's tooth,” is a popular herbal supplement often taken for its diuretic effects ( 4 , 5 ). ...
  3. Horsetail. ...
  4. Parsley. ...
  5. Hibiscus. ...
  6. Caraway. ...
  7. Green and Black Tea. ...
  8. Nigella Sativa.
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How do you drain edema naturally?

Remedies for water retention can include the following.
  1. Follow a low salt diet.
  2. Eat potassium- and magnesium-rich foods. They will help balance out your sodium levels. ...
  3. Take a vitamin B6 supplement.
  4. Eat protein. ...
  5. Keep your feet elevated. ...
  6. Wear compression socks or leggings. ...
  7. Seek a doctor's help if your problem persists.
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What causes puffy legs and ankles?

eating too much salty food. being overweight. being pregnant. taking certain medicines – such as some blood pressure medicines, contraceptive pills, hormone therapy, antidepressants or steroids.
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What happens if fluid retention is not treated?

"Fluid buildup can quickly escalate into a life-threatening situation," says Dr. Eldrin Lewis, a heart failure specialist at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital. Heart failure may start with injury from a heart attack or develop as a result of damaged valves, infection or disease of the heart muscle cells.
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Can fluid retention cause death?

In critically ill patients, fluid overload is related to increased mortality and also lead to several complications like pulmonary edema, cardiac failure, delayed wound healing, tissue breakdown, and impaired bowel function.
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What kind of doctor do you go to for swollen legs?

If you experience swelling that does not go away on its own, make an appointment to see your primary doctor. If the issue doesn't improve, ask your doctor for a referral to a vascular specialist.
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What can doctors prescribe for swollen feet?

Common Drugs to Treat Ankle Swelling
  • Thiazide diuretics - relax the blood vessels.
  • Loop diuretics - used in cases of heart failure.
  • Potassium-sparing diuretics - keeps potassium in the body.
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