Why You Shouldn't Ignore Edema Symptoms

When your body swells due to excess fluid buildup, it’s known medically as edema. Your feet, ankles, and lower legs are the most commonly affected areas, though it can affect the body almost anywhere. 

Venous disorders often cause edema, but this swelling can have many other causes and can lead to a long list of complications if left untreated. Dr. Clement Banda, our dermatologist and phlebologist at MD Vein & Skin Specialists in Columbia, Maryland, frequently diagnoses and treats edema in his patients. If you experience swelling and other symptoms, contact our office right away. 

Common causes of edema

Without your body in motion, gravity pulls fluid down toward the earth, a reason why feet and hands can show signs of edema swelling more readily than other places in your body, called dependent anemia. Other common causes include: 

• Venous insufficiency: when valves in your veins weaken and fail, blood and other fluids collect more easily, with varicose veins often being a companion symptom
• Pregnancy: your baby can place pressure on blood vessels in the lower abdomen
• Medical conditions: edema is a symptom of heart failure and diseases of the kidneys, liver, and lungs
• Medication side effects: drugs to treat high blood pressure and pain can cause edema
• Salt intake: too much sodium in your diet contributes to fluid buildup

Edema may also accompany allergic reactions, infections, soft tissue trauma, and blood clots. 

Why you shouldn’t ignore edema symptoms

While edema has its own signs and symptoms, it’s often a symptom of other diseases and conditions. As such, it may indicate potentially serious health issues with more serious complications. 

Without treatment, edema can develop symptoms beyond simple swelling. These can include: 

• Stretched skin
• Itchiness and dry skin
• Pain that accompanies increased swelling
• Stiffness of joints in areas of swelling
• Difficulty with movement and walking
• Increased infection risks
• Slow-healing wounds in the affected areas
• Reduced blood flow
• Scarring
• Breathing difficulties
• Chest pain

These additional symptoms may signal the progression of underlying diseases, such as: 

• Chronic venous insufficiency 
• Congestive heart failure
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Kidney damage or disease
• Liver damage, such as cirrhosis
• Lymphatic system problems
• Pulmonary edema

The time to tackle edema is when it first appears before the root causes and swelling create conditions that become more complex to treat. 

The location and type of edema typically influence your treatment. In many cases, modest lifestyle changes help reduce edema symptoms and their accompanying problems. 

Adopting a few healthy habits makes a big difference, including losing weight, increasing physical activity, and lowering the salt in your diet. Dr. Banda reviews your medication list and recommends changes if these might be contributing to swelling. 

Other therapies, like support hose, diuretics (water pills), or treating varicose veins, may be appropriate for your condition. 

The solutions start with a visit to MD Vein & Skin Specialists. Call or click to schedule a consultation today.