What does edema look like on legs?

Edema in foot and ankle
Signs of edema include: Swelling or puffiness of the tissue directly under your skin, especially in your legs or arms. Stretched or shiny skin. Skin that retains a dimple (pits), after being pressed for several seconds.
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How do you tell if you have edema in your legs?

Signs of Edema
  1. Your skin may look stretched and shiny.
  2. Your skin feels tight or painful.
  3. Your shoes and socks may be too tight.
  4. The color of your skin in the swollen area is different than the rest of your body.
  5. Your foot or leg feels heavy.
  6. It is hard to move your ankle or toes.
  7. It hurts when you touch your foot or leg.
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How do I get rid of edema in my 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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What are the main causes of edema?

Some of the most common causes of edema are:
  1. Long periods of standing or sitting. Sitting or standing for too long can cause extra fluid to build up in your feet, ankles, and lower legs. ...
  2. Venous insufficiency. ...
  3. Chronic (long-term) lung diseases. ...
  4. Congestive heart failure. ...
  5. Pregnancy. ...
  6. Low levels of protein.
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Is edema in the legs life threatening?

Swelling in the legs and ankles can be normal in some cases, but if it is sudden, unexplained, or accompanied by additional symptoms, contact a healthcare professional. Some health issues that result in this swelling can be life-threatening without treatment.
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Edema, Causes, Signs and Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment.



Will drinking more water help with edema?

1. Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water per day. Though it might seem counterintuitive, getting enough fluids actually helps reduce swelling. When your body isn't hydrated enough, it holds onto the fluid it does have.
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Can edema be reversed?

The back-up of blood from these conditions causes pressure, which forces fluid from tiny capillaries in the area and into the surrounding tissues. These types of edema cannot be cured, so the goal is management. Exercise, particularly involving the affected limbs, can help veins return blood to the heart.
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How do I know if I have edema?

Signs of edema include:
  1. Swelling or puffiness of the tissue directly under your skin, especially in your legs or arms.
  2. Stretched or shiny skin.
  3. Skin that retains a dimple (pits), after being pressed for several seconds.
  4. Increased abdominal size.
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What does edema feel like?

Swelling caused by edema will usually make the skin feel tight, heavy, or sore. Other symptoms depend on the cause, but they can include: tingling or burning sensations around the swelling. pain and aching in the swollen areas.
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What does weeping edema look like?

The swelling is obvious, and the skin may look shiny and stretched. Sometimes, swelling is so extreme that a person has difficulty moving. Swelling can become so severe that fluid will leak out directly from the skin. This is known as weeping edema.
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Can sitting too long cause edema?

Sitting in one place for too long can cause edema of the legs. Eating food with too much salt can make the problem worse. Congestive heart failure and liver, kidney, and thyroid diseases can cause edema.
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What medication is good for edema?

Medications.
  • NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen and naproxen)
  • Calcium channel blockers.
  • Corticosteroids (like prednisone and methylprednisolone)
  • Pioglitazone and rosiglitazone.
  • Pramipexole.
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How can you test for edema at home?

Observe for edema of the foot, ankles and legs. Gently compress the patient's soft tissue with your thumb over both shins for a few minutes. Observe for indentation.
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How long does it take for edema to go away?

Swelling normally lasts for a few days. In the first two days, you will experience the most swelling, and it should start to reduce by the third day. Following treatment from your healthcare provider reduces the amount of swelling you might experience.
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When should I go to the ER for edema?

You should seek emergency care if you have sudden, unexplained swelling in just one limb or if it occurs along with chest pain, trouble breathing, coughing up blood, fever, or skin that is red and warm to the touch.
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What would happen if edema goes untreated?

Edema left untreated can cause skin stretching to a point of pruritus and discomfort accompanied by painful swelling, stiffness, and difficulty walking. Swollen areas are at increased risk of skin ulcers and infection.
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What causes legs to swell from knees down?

Common causes of leg swelling include salt retention, cellulitis, congestive heart failure, venous insufficiency, pregnancy, and medication side effects.
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Is swelling and edema the same thing?

Swelling is any abnormal enlargement of a body part. It is typically the result of inflammation or a buildup of fluid. Edema describes swelling in the tissue outside of the joint.
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What are the two types of edema?

Types include: Peripheral edema: This affects the feet, ankles, legs, hands, and arms. Symptoms include swelling, puffiness, and difficulty moving certain parts of the body. Pulmonary edema: This occurs when excess fluid collects in the lungs, making breathing difficult.
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Can High BP cause edema?

Because of this, and due to the increased blood pressure in the veins, fluid seeps out into the surrounding tissue. This may cause swelling in the legs or a build-up of fluid in the abdomen.
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Can dehydration cause edema?

Swelling of the brain (cerebral edema) Sometimes, when you're getting fluids again after being dehydrated, the body tries to pull too much water back into your cells. This can cause some cells to swell and rupture.
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What color is edema?

Call your doctor if: The swollen area feels cold and is pale or blue in color. The swollen area feels warm, painful, and is red in color. You have increased swelling or swelling in other parts of your body.
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Can losing weight reduce edema?

Weight loss

Many people with fluid retention are overweight and losing weight can make a big difference to improve the oedema. A gradual weight loss (rather than fasting and bingeing) is recommended.
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What stage of heart failure is edema?

Patients in the end stages of heart failure want to know what to expect. The symptoms of end-stage congestive heart failure include dyspnea, chronic cough or wheezing, edema, nausea or lack of appetite, a high heart rate, and confusion or impaired thinking.
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