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.

When should you be hospitalized for edema?

Seek immediate medical care (call 911) for serious symptoms, such as chest pain or pressure, difficulty breathing, or inability to catch your breath. Edema occurs when excess fluid collects in the tissues of your body, resulting in swelling of the feet, fingers, hands, legs and other parts of the body.

How do you know when edema is serious?

Seek medical care immediately if your edema is suddenly worse, painful, new, or if it's associated with chest pain or trouble breathing. The latter may be a sign of pulmonary edema, a serious medical condition in which the lung cavities fill with fluid.

When should I go to the ER for leg swelling?

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.

What do hospitals do for edema?

Treatment of edema includes several components: treatment of the underlying cause (if possible), reducing the amount of salt (sodium) in your diet, and, in many cases, use of a medication called a diuretic to eliminate excess fluid. Using compression stockings and elevating the legs may also be recommended.

Know When to Go to the Emergency Room (ER) vs. Immediate Care

What happens if edema is left untreated?

If left untreated, edema can lead to increasingly painful swelling, stiffness, difficulty walking, stretched or itchy skin, skin ulcers, scarring, and decreased blood circulation.

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.

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.

How do you know if you have a blood clot in your leg?

Signs that you may have a blood clot

leg pain or discomfort that may feel like a pulled muscle, tightness, cramping or soreness. swelling in the affected leg. redness or discoloration of the sore spot. the affected area feeling warm to the touch.

Should I go to urgent care for swollen ankles?

Go to urgent care if your pain level and swelling is significant and you have difficulty walking, to the point that you need assistance, due to the pain. Go to the emergency room if your foot is bruised, deformed, or you are unable to walk at all. You may have a fracture, broken bone or serious ligament damage.

What stage of heart failure is edema?

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.

How long can edema last?

Depending on the cause of your diagnosis, edema could be temporary or permanent. 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.

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.

Is edema something to worry about?

Although edema can affect any part of your body, you may notice it more in your hands, arms, feet, ankles and legs. Edema can be the result of medication, pregnancy or an underlying disease — often congestive heart failure, kidney disease or cirrhosis of the liver.

What is the best diuretic for edema?

Thiazide and thiazide-like diuretics are some of the most commonly used diuretics. They're first-choice water pills for hypertension (high blood pressure). At higher doses, they can also help treat edema. Because they work in the kidneys, you'll need blood tests to make sure these water pills aren't hurting them.

How long should I elevate my legs to reduce swelling?

The more the swelling and the longer there has been swelling, the longer and more frequently your need to elevate your legs. Start with 20 minutes twice a day. This might do the trick. If not, go to 30 minutes or even an hour.

What are the 10 signs of a blood clot?

What are the first signs of a blood clot?

How do you check for blood clots at home?

What happens if you ignore swollen legs?

It can also travel to the heart, causing a heart attack, or the brain, causing an aneurysm or stroke. DVT can be treated with: Blood thinners.

How can I treat edema at home?

What causes extreme edema?

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.

How do you stop edema from leaking?

What color is edema?

The swollen area feels warm, painful, and is red in color. You have increased swelling or swelling in other parts of your body.

What happens when your body retains too much fluid?

The buildup of excess fluid in your body can take a variety of forms from belly bloating and swollen ankles to nausea, persistent coughing and fatigue. You may be tempted initially to dismiss this hodgepodge of problems as having little to do with your heart.