Edema is a term to describe water retention in the tissues or some body organs, which can provoke swelling. Edema can be divided into 2 categories, general edema causing swelling all over the body and local edema provoking swelling in some particular body areas.
Excessive fluid from the tissues are generally carried by the lymphatic system to the blood and removed by the kidneys. If you have edema, the fluid gets accumulated in the tissues, being influenced by some conditions and diseases. Water retention causes may be medicine related, hormone-related and lifestyle related.
One of the common water retention causes is excessive salt or sodium intake. Sodium increases water retention ability of the kidney provoking fluid accumulation in the tissues. High temperatures also affect the ability of the body to remove fluids. Albumin low levels in the blood and lack of vitamin B6, B5, B1 are other water retention causes.
Many women can have this 1 or 2 weeks before menstruation because of the fall in progesterone and an increase in estrogen. Estrogen increases aldosterone secretion which makes the kidneys to keep more water. Women may experience fluid retention in pregnancy because of hormonal changes. Oral contraceptives containing estrogen may as well be a water retention cause.
Such medications as hypertension drugs, steroids, anti-inflammatory can produce edema in some cases. Edema can be a symptom of a serious underlying disorder. Kidney diseases cause the inability to remove fluids and sodium from the body.
Heart failure can affect the pumping capability of heart chambers, in such cases more fluid is retained in the body. Such liver disorders as cirrhosis can provoke fluid accumulation in the feet and abdominal cavity. Arthritis and hypothyroidism can as well provoke edema.
Symptoms
The main signs of water retention are skin swelling, abdomen enlargement, body weight fluctuations. Pulmonary edema can cause breathing difficulties in people.
Edema diagnosis is normally carried out after a careful symptoms observation and some urine tests, blood tests, liver and heart function tests. Generally the treatment is determined due to specific causes. Diuretics are frequently prescribed by doctors together with the drugs for treating some underlying problems. Except for the medications, a lifestyle and eating habits changes are needed. A low sodium and salt diet is crucial in preventing potential complications of the disorder.