Puffiness of the face, bags under the eyes, swelling of the hands are the first signs indicating fluid retention in the body. The development of edematous syndrome is facilitated by diseases of the endocrine system, heart, liver and kidneys, taking medications, dietary errors, drinking disorders and individual manifestations of allergies. Determining the main provoking factor is necessary to effectively solve the problem. Edema in kidney diseases is most common. To eliminate them, it is necessary to identify and eliminate the cause of their occurrence, to exclude cross-disturbances in the functioning of other organs and systems, therefore, it is impossible to do without consulting a doctor and specialized examination.
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The work of the organs of the urinary system is normally aimed at eliminating excess fluid and metabolic by-products. With diseases and functional disorders, the function of the filtration system becomes difficult, the kidneys cannot cope with the increased load and edema syndrome occurs. It is associated not only with external manifestations in the form of edema, but is also accompanied by changes in the biochemical parameters of the blood and urine, which is caused by the pathological functioning of the renal tubules.
The causes of the development of renal edema are disturbances in the internal environment of the body, accumulation of substances that retain fluid, decreased filtration and parenchyma of the kidneys, insufficient throughput of the glomerular system or blockage of the urinary ducts:
To determine the cause of edema formation, biochemical blood and urine tests, instrumental and computer examinations are carried out, the main purpose of which is to identify the pathological process and the degree of its development.
The greatest danger is posed by edema in renal failure, the formation of which can develop over a long period of time or be lightning fast. The reason for their development is always impaired renal function, a decrease in the level of urine excreted and poisoning of the body with toxic breakdown products:
Edema syndrome is a sign not only of renal pathology; differential diagnosis most often requires distinguishing between diseases of the urinary and cardiovascular systems. The main difference is that in pathology caused by heart disease, swelling will be localized in the lower extremities. Kidney diseases are characterized by swelling in the eyes, cheekbones, and hands. Difficulties arise in diagnosis in the later stages, when swelling affects all areas of the body with the formation of general fluid retention.
The causes of the development of renal edema are different, the clinical picture of the disease differs in the combination of symptoms, but in general the pathological process has a similar development mechanism in all cases:
The process of formation of edematous syndrome resembles a vicious circle, breaking which is a therapeutic task.
In the treatment of renal edema, it is important to make a timely diagnosis, establish the exact cause of the development of the pathological condition and eliminate it as quickly as possible. To combat this, medications and traditional medicine methods are used, and a special diet and regimen are prescribed.
It should be remembered that self-administration of medications is unacceptable, since it erases the clinical picture, complicates diagnosis and provokes the development of complications. It is necessary to first study the biochemical composition of urine and blood, determine the functional state of the kidneys, and the presence of inflammatory and endocrine disorders. Depending on the identified cause underlying the formation of renal edema, adequate treatment is prescribed using drugs with specific effects.
To get rid of edema caused by kidney disease, use:
Anti-inflammatory drugs are used for treatment as auxiliaries, reduce the effects of the toxic effects of breakdown products, eliminate non-infectious inflammation and relieve pain.
Hemodialysis is required in acute conditions caused by renal failure, as replacement therapy to compensate for the functioning of damaged kidneys. Radical measures to get rid of renal edema also include surgical interventions.
Traditional remedies are considered additional methods in the treatment of edema caused by kidney disease. They have a symptomatic effect and do not affect the cause of the pathology. After drinking heavily at night or indulging in salty foods, your face and eyelids may swell in the morning. In such cases, folk recipes help get rid of external signs of fluid retention and are of a cosmetic nature:
Herbal decoctions of Chamomile, corn silk, cranberry and lingonberry fruit drinks have the ability to remove excess fluid from the body. All means act by creating conditions for increased diuresis or by creating conditions for the transfer of fluid into the area by osmotic pressure.
The diet and nature of nutrition in the treatment of diseases of the urinary system are important for alleviating the functional load on the kidneys.
In the acute period, a strict diet is recommended with complete salt restriction to reduce fluid retention, an abundance of vitamins and microelements that normalize water and electrolyte balance. A split meal with a large amount of easily digestible protein is prescribed. The products are subjected to gentle processing, with predominant steaming, stewing and boiling. Salted, smoked, pickled foods, strong tea and coffee, alcohol and confectionery are prohibited.
As the condition improves, a small amount of salt is gradually introduced into the diet; the diet is allowed to be diversified with dairy products, eggs, and vegetarian soups.
At all stages of dietary nutrition, the amount of fluid consumed and daily diuresis are monitored. If there are signs of water retention and manifestations of edema syndrome, reduce water consumption.
Treatment of diseases that provoke the formation of edema must be carried out under the strict supervision of a doctor, as well as under the control of biochemical parameters of urine and blood. Timely identification of the cause of the development of edematous syndrome and its elimination is the most important principle of successful therapy.
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With many diseases, the development of edema is observed: most often the lower and upper extremities swell; excess fluid may accumulate on the face and in the peritoneum. Most often, edema occurs with diseases of the kidneys and heart. Also, expectant mothers and women during the period of premenstrual syndrome often suffer from this pathology. You will learn about the pathogenetic factors in the occurrence of edema and the mechanism of their development in this material.
The main factors contributing to the development of edema are dilation of arterioles and increased venous pressure. Because of this, the passage of liquid through the walls of the capillaries increases. Edema in these cases is caused not only by an increase in capillary pressure, but also by an increased permeability of the vascular walls. Clinical observations show that an increase in capillary pressure is almost always combined with dysfunction of the sympathetic nervous system. The influence of this factor in the development of edema is most pronounced in polyneuritis, as well as in patients taking ganglion-blocking or sympatholytic drugs for a long time, when edema is often severe. Not only swelling of the affected limb, but also swelling of the brain - with severe arterial hypertension - has a largely similar origin.
An increase in pressure in the venous part of the capillary, combined with a decrease in pressure in the surrounding tissues, is an important cause of the formation of edema of the lower extremities in those people who work while standing, without significant muscle activity or muscle tension.
In addition, there is no doubt that the development of edema with varicose veins has the same mechanism. Finally, this should also include edema in conditions where venous outflow is blocked (due to a tumor, scar or blood clot).
Mainly local factors are responsible for such a relatively common and quite dangerous condition as Quincke's edema. It develops according to the allergic type after an insect bite, the application of certain ointments, or subcutaneous or intramuscular administration of drugs - when the body is sensitized to these substances.
Also, diseases that cause allergic edema can provoke negative emotions, which once again shows the high degree of participation of the nervous system in the development of this type of pathological reactions of the body.
Asymmetrical edema of the lower extremities is a phenomenon that is encountered quite often in therapeutic practice. And, as a rule, these swellings turn out to be lymphatic.
There are two types of lymphatic edema: primary (congenital), resulting from a congenital defect in the development of the lymphatic vessels of the legs, and secondary (acquired). The cause of lymphatic secondary edema is inflammation of the blood vessels of the legs.
But we must not forget that lymphatic edema of the extremities is widespread in cancer pathology (as a result of partial or complete compression of the draining lymphatic vessel by the tumor).
Primary non-inflammatory lymphedema of the lower extremities is considered:
Inspection and palpation when diagnosing diseases with a tendency to edema make it possible to detect a clearly defined boundary between the edematous and non-edematous parts of the limb. At the beginning of the disease, the swelling spreads only to the ankle joint, in later stages - to the knee joints and in advanced stages - to the foot ligaments. In the early stages of the disease, swelling can sometimes disappear for several years. At first, the swelling is soft, but after repeated lymphangitis it becomes denser. Defiguration of the limbs is observed only after many years of illness. Rarely, not only the lower but also the upper extremities are affected.
In practical work, a therapist sometimes has to deal with lymphatic edema of the upper limb in women who have undergone radical surgery to remove a breast cancer tumor. The diagnosis of this type of lymphedema is not difficult.
Lymphatic edema of inflammatory origin, often with distinct lymphangitis and enlargement of regional lymph nodes (especially axillary and inguinal), usually refers to the field of purulent surgery.
According to various data, the kidneys are involved in the pathological process in half or more patients with bacterial endocarditis. The symptoms that arise in this case are sometimes explained by embolism of the renal vessels by colonies of bacteria. The pathogenesis of nephrotic edema is manifested by the detection of blood in the urine and pain in the lower back (a similar clinical picture also develops with focal nephritis). Bacterial endocarditis is often complicated by glomerulonephritis, which is prone to rapid progression.
Modern methods of antibacterial therapy in most cases make it possible to eliminate the infection - thus, damage to the heart may be insignificant, but the further course of glomerulonephritis comes to the fore.
It should be noted that nephrotic syndrome is sometimes the first and most striking manifestation of bacterial endocarditis. In typical cases, a patient with a low but prolonged temperature develops minor transient swelling against a background of general malaise. Later they are joined by nephrotic renal edema, which usually develops acutely. Their typical location in this case is on the face, legs, and lower back. Simultaneously with the formation of edema, large losses of protein in the urine, decreased levels of proteins in the blood and increased levels of cholesterol are observed. Body temperature decreases, but sometimes remains normal. Blood pressure is normal or slightly increased. The disease is often mistaken for chronic nephritis, and only the development of the clinical picture of a mature heart defect, an enlarged spleen and other symptoms make it possible to belatedly establish the correct diagnosis of bacterial endocarditis.
Edema in nephrotic syndrome does not occur at the onset of bacterial endocarditis, but after the formation of a heart defect. Although the causes of edema in nephrotic syndrome have been studied quite well, their appearance is often considered a manifestation of heart failure, and they begin to think about the kidneys only after long-term therapy with cardiac and diuretics has proven ineffective.
The pathogenesis of nephrotic syndrome with edema also occurs in malaria, pyelonephritis and many other diseases. The mechanisms of its development in malaria, especially in children, have been studied in more detail. Malarial nephritis can be focal or diffuse, but diagnosing nephrotic syndrome in infectious diseases is not difficult, since it is one of the well-known complications.
One of the diseases that causes edema is diabetes mellitus. Nephrotic syndrome in a patient with diabetes mellitus can develop under the influence of both the disease itself and the medications used. In the last quarter of the 20th century, kidney damage became the leading cause of death in diabetic patients, and diabetic nephropathy thus represents a pressing problem for modern medicine. Clinically, this pathology is manifested by the determination of protein in the urine, edema and increased blood pressure.
Protein in the urine is detected earlier than other signs, and its amount usually increases in proportion to the duration of diabetes. With significant constant losses of protein in the urine, a general protein deficiency gradually develops (mainly due to a decrease in albumin concentration). Levels of lipids and cholesterol in the blood increase even in uncomplicated diabetes.
Swelling in diabetes, minor or moderate, is observed in approximately half of patients with a disease duration of more than 10-15 years. Massive edema of renal origin is observed in 5 - 6% of patients. By the time edema forms in diabetes mellitus, blood pressure is always elevated in only 5% of cases, but as the disease progresses, this number increases, and in advanced cases of nephrotic syndrome, a persistent increase in blood pressure is found in 90% of patients. The severity of diabetes can be judged by measuring the concentration of sugar in the blood.
Diabetic kidney damage at a young age progresses much faster than in the elderly and senile. However, in all cases, after the development of a complete picture of nephrotic syndrome, the formation of renal failure occurs on average after 3 to 4 years, and deaths are not uncommon.
It should be noted that in diabetes mellitus, kidney damage can also be a consequence of heart failure, pyelonephritis and other kidney diseases, which are often found in patients. Pyelonephritis is characterized by unilateral kidney damage, and with bilateral pyelonephritis, one kidney is always more affected than the other. In diabetic cases, both kidneys are affected evenly.
Another disease characterized by swelling is cirrhosis of the liver. Edema usually occurs in the late stages of the disease. They manifest themselves predominantly as ascites, which is more pronounced than swelling in the legs. Sometimes hydrothorax is detected (usually right-sided). Edema skin is dense and warm. Upon examination, there are pronounced clinical and laboratory signs of the underlying disease.
Hypothyroidism (decreased thyroid function and insufficient production of thyroid hormones) also causes swelling. They are distributed evenly throughout the body and are expressed as pasty and puffy.
Such swelling does not leave a pit. Patients are usually weak, uninitiative and slow, overweight, and pale skin. People with this swelling-related disease complain of hair loss and brittle nails, and constipation. Such patients are characterized by problems with childbirth.
Swollen ankles are common late in normal pregnancy. Toxicosis of the second half of pregnancy is accompanied by significant edema, which develops under the influence of increased capillary pressure, decreased plasma colloid osmotic pressure, and retention of water and electrolytes by the kidneys.
Edema during pregnancy can be caused by heart failure, exacerbation of chronic glomerulonephritis, late toxicosis. Hydrops of pregnancy is detected after the 30th week, rarely - after the 25th week of pregnancy. Edema skin is soft and moist. Swelling during pregnancy first appears on the legs, then on the external genitalia, anterior abdominal wall, anterior chest wall, lower back, back, and face. Ascites and hemothorax are rarely found.
The entire range of issues related to edema during pregnancy will be discussed in detail further in the corresponding section.
It is often necessary to observe swelling of the subcutaneous tissue in practically healthy women who do not suffer from heart, kidney or liver diseases. And, as a rule, in such cases, after examination, premenstrual syndrome is detected. In the second half of the menstrual cycle, a woman becomes irritable, unbalanced, and prone to strong emotional reactions. Weakness, headache, and migraine attacks are also very common; a characteristic symptom is sleep disturbance (insomnia). There may be an increase in appetite and the appearance of pigmentation on the face.
Signs indicating fluid retention in the body with the described pathology are initially weakly expressed. Premenstrual swelling develops on the ankles, sometimes the mammary glands swell, and swollen gums are observed; Sometimes there is pain in the joints and muscles. In hot weather, swelling is more pronounced than in cold weather. In some cases, fluid retention is not accompanied by clear clinical symptoms and is detected in connection with an increase in body weight.
The diagnosis of premenstrual syndrome can be considered quite reasonable if the symptoms described above are repeated in women regularly every month. Gradually intensifying in the second phase of the cycle, they become especially pronounced on the eve of menstruation. After the cessation of menstruation, the condition improves, and signs of fluid retention disappear or noticeably decrease.
Diagnosis of premenstrual syndrome with edema is possible only after a sufficiently long observation and (more importantly) the exclusion of all other causes of water and electrolyte retention in the body. The main clinical signs of the syndrome are the cyclical nature of water-electrolyte metabolism disorders and the coincidence of periods of fluid retention with the days preceding menstruation.
Depending on the cause, the following types of edema are distinguished:
There are a huge number of diseases that can cause edema.
Edema caused by heart disease (often called cardiac edema) has some characteristics. The further a part of the body is from the heart, the more difficult it is for the heart muscle to push blood through it. Therefore, swelling most often occurs in remote places. As a rule, the legs swell. Blood stagnates in the vessels of the lower extremities, which the heart is unable to lift upward due to the action of gravity.
With many of the above diseases, the patient may not pay attention to the symptoms that arise for a long time. In addition to swelling of the legs in these pathologies, as a rule, constant slight shortness of breath, weakness and fatigue are of concern; the patient’s skin as a whole may have a grayish tint. With chronic infections, a slight increase in temperature may be present for a long time.
If an oncological process or infection is suspected, sputum tests are performed.
Swelling due to kidney disease is most often located on the face. Moreover, they most often occur not in the evening, like cardiac ones, but in the morning. This is quite understandable: after all, during the night, most often, there is no urination, and all the liquid drunk before bed remains in the body. The skin over the swelling is pale. The fact is that the kidneys produce substances that can activate hematopoiesis. With these diseases, this process is disrupted, and the patient develops anemia.
Swelling on the face caused by kidney disease is dealt with by specialists such as a therapist, urologist, and nephrologist.
Treatment of renal edema involves treating the specific disease. Some patients independently use various diuretics for these purposes. This is a big mistake. Sometimes these drugs can further worsen the pathology.
1. The liver is the organ in which most of the proteins in the human body are formed. Moreover, for the most part these are blood proteins. If this process is disrupted, the fluid is no longer retained in the bloodstream and enters the tissues and organs.
2. The liver receives the portal vein, through which blood is drained from almost the entire intestine. If this process is disrupted (and in severe diseases of the organ this is what happens), then there is stagnation of blood in the entire lower half of the body.
Other symptoms are also observed:
The diagnosis is made by a physician, gastroenterologist or hepatologist. Studies such as ultrasound, computed tomography, MRI, liver scintigraphy, general and biochemical blood tests, and blood tests for the presence of viruses that cause the disease are carried out.
Sometimes when in contact with an allergen, limbs or other parts of the body may swell.
1. With renal edema, the skin of the face is pale, and with Quincke's edema it has a reddish tint;
2. Renal edema occurs mainly in the morning, and Quincke's edema occurs with direct contact with allergens.
1. Injury. With this injury, only soft tissue is affected. Typically, a bruise occurs due to a blow to some area of the body with a blunt object. Swelling, pain, and subcutaneous hematoma (bruise) occur at the site of injury.
2. Sprains and tears of ligaments and muscles. They are accompanied by severe pain, and subsequently movement at the site of injury is severely limited due to pain. There is swelling and hematoma.
3. Dislocations. This is a more severe injury, so swelling and other symptoms (pain, loss of movement) are more pronounced. Deformation of the joint in which the dislocation occurred is noted. In this case, movement is impossible not only because of pain, but also because the articular surfaces have lost contact with each other.
4. Bone fractures. Accompanied by severe pain, swelling, subcutaneous hemorrhages, and deformation of the limb.
5. Hemarthrosis. A type of injury in which hemorrhage occurs into the joint cavity. Most often, hemarthrosis of the knee joint occurs. In this case, there is swelling in the joint area, and movements in it are limited.
The diagnosis and treatment of arthritis is carried out by specialists such as surgeons, orthopedists, infectious disease specialists, rheumatologists, and therapists. Often, to establish a diagnosis, studies such as radiography, ultrasound of the joint, general and biochemical blood tests, immunological and microbiological studies, and joint puncture are used.
The general principle of treatment of purulent-inflammatory diseases is the prescription of antibiotics and disinfectants. If necessary, surgical intervention is performed.
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Swelling of the legs in older people is such a common phenomenon that many people see them as just another and not the biggest nuisance against the backdrop of many years of health problems.
They have only one thing in common - they are never an independent pathology: edema is always only a symptom, which an attentive geriatrician will certainly take seriously and prescribe an examination. Be prepared: the result will be at least one more new diagnosis.
This is a visible or invisible accumulation of fluid under the skin, in or around internal organs. Visible accumulation is something that can be determined visually, by touching and pressing. Swelling on the feet is usually not only clearly visible, but also felt: they make even well-worn shoes tight.
An invisible accumulation of fluid is usually defined by a person as heaviness, weight gain, the inability to fasten clothes with a belt - it simply does not meet at the waist, although it is not a matter of fullness at all.
Each of these reasons always means specific diseases. They are identified through various types of examination - laboratory tests of urine and blood, hardware diagnostics.
A doctor examining an elderly person with swollen legs has the right to think about one (or several) diseases:
Swelling with them looks, behaves and is palpated differently.
Sometimes, by the appearance and consistency of swelling, you can try to determine its origin.
Swelling of the feet and ankles in various kidney diseases appears later than swelling of the face and hands: if the legs also begin to swell, then this is a clear sign of a worsening of the disease.
What they look like: swelling in kidney disease is symmetrical and mobile - they shift when pressed, the skin in their area looks a little paler than other areas. The consistency is soft and loose: after pressing on the area of edema, a dent from the finger remains on it for a long time.
As the course of the disease improves, the swelling disappears or becomes significantly smaller.
Edema due to heart disease and CHF appears on the feet and legs. They are symmetrical, hard and motionless to the touch: if you try to move the area of edema, pain occurs. They appear in the evening at the onset of heart disease, and with their further development and transition to CHF they persist constantly: the heart is so weakened that it simply cannot pump blood at any time of the day.
The skin in areas of swelling is cold, pale, and bluish.
With pulmonary hypertension and other lung pathologies, swollen legs look bluish and pale. Swelling develops in the ankles and feet.
Varicose veins and its severe complication - thrombophlebitis - are accompanied by swelling of the legs, which have a specific, recognizable character. If in diseases of the kidneys and heart the swelling does not hurt or turn red, then in diseases of the veins of the extremities, patients complain not only of pain, but also of redness in the area of the affected veins.
If the veins on both legs are diseased, the swelling may be symmetrical; if only one limb is affected, then swelling appears only on it.
In severe cases, the pain is intense and throbbing. Added to this is a feeling of burning and swelling in the swollen areas.
Swelling due to joint diseases and injuries is very painful, often accompanied by high fever and redness. If we talk about the legs, swelling, depending on the type of disease, is localized in the area of the knees, ankles, and toes.
The same applies to traumatic and infectious edema.
The legs begin to swell in the evening in the later stages of liver disease. The swelling resembles that of the kidneys: when you press on it, an indentation from pressing with your finger remains for some time. If the patient wears socks, by the evening they leave a reddish, painful mark.
In appearance they are very similar to heart swelling: such swelling is symmetrical, dense to the touch, motionless, and when pressed there is no fingerprint left. There is no redness or fever with them.
Isolated - no way! Treating swelling of the legs in older people without taking into account the reasons that caused them is an absolutely hopeless task: swelling of the limbs never occurs on its own.
The most popular folk measure - taking decoctions of diuretic herbs and medicinal diuretics - solves the problem only for a few days, and then the swelling still returns.
In addition, uncontrolled increased urination disrupts the already fragile balance of potassium and magnesium in the blood - regulators of cardiac and nervous activity.
Bottom line: If you see swelling in your legs, see your doctor first for an evaluation. It will identify the causes of swelling of the legs - diseases of the heart, kidneys, liver, lungs or endocrine system.
First, see a therapist or a geriatrician, if a previous injury to the edema is excluded. The general practitioner will prescribe an examination, during which he will find out the causes of swelling of the legs, and, if necessary, refer to specialists to clarify the diagnosis:
Prescribed adequate treatment of the underlying disease will certainly bear fruit: the activity of diseased organs and systems will improve, and then the swelling will disappear completely or decrease.
In some kidney diseases, swelling may occur with varying degrees of severity and different localization. This is facilitated by diseases such as acute and chronic nephritis, lipoid nephrotic syndrome and many other kidney diseases.
Edema is an excessive accumulation of fluid in the body, in its tissues. During edema, the transudative flow from the capillaries increases and the return flow through the lymphatic tract is weakened. Blood is separated from the interstitial fluid by a semi-permeable membrane. This membrane provides tissue nutrition through which amino acids, water, salts, etc. pass. In a normal situation, edema does not appear, since free water is connected by colloids, and with normal tissue elasticity, intracapillary pressure alone will not be enough to squeeze it out.
Swelling due to kidney disease usually occurs in the face or feet, less often in the chest cavity, abdominal cavity, or in all tissues at once. The reasons that cause renal edema include a number of diseases:
1) tumor processes in the kidneys;
5) renal failure;
The most basic causes of kidney diseases that lead to edema: intoxication, allergies, infections, abnormalities of the kidney structure. Renal edema appears in the morning. This is facilitated by a violation of the protein composition of the blood and the accumulation of Na ions in the blood. As a result, a large amount of excess fluid accumulates in the body.
People with kidney disease may experience nephrotic syndrome: about 60 g of protein is lost during each urination. Tumor processes also contribute to the disruption of normal kidney function and can lead to fluid retention in the body.
There are several factors that precede the appearance of edema in kidney disease:
1) increased intracapillary pressure (venous segment) - the filtration of fluid in the tissues increases and its reabsorption decreases;
2) a decrease in the amount of plasma proteins - a lack of proteins leads to a disruption in the removal of water from the intercellular space - this occurs as a result of the excretion of proteins in the urine during kidney diseases or due to fasting;
3) increased capillary permeability - occurs with glomerulonephritis or pathological conditions;
4) improper functioning of the excretory system of the kidneys - reduced filtration and increased reabsorption;
5) impaired regulation of water-salt metabolism - increased secretion of the hormone aldosterone leads to retention of water and sodium ions.
In nephrotic syndrome, edema occurs as a result of decreased blood plasma pressure and loss of proteins in the urine. In nephritis, water retention in the blood is caused by decreased renal excretory function and hypoproteinemia. Albuminuria also contributes to the development of edema. It causes a decrease in serum protein and a drop in colloid osmotic pressure. And limiting protein intake only enhances this process.
Edema in kidney disease differs from edema in heart disease in that it is more evenly distributed over the surface of the subcutaneous tissue. Such swelling is more mobile and can be located under the eyes. While cardiac edema is characterized by reduced oncotic pressure and protein content in the blood plasma.
At first, swelling may appear in some places (feet, face), and then gradually spread to the whole body. The development process itself can take one day or more. The main feature of such edema is its mobility: with your hands you can slightly move the swollen area from one place to another.
Depending on the underlying disease, renal edema varies in severity, location and persistence. In some cases, a long, persistent course of the disease may occur that is not amenable to any therapeutic treatment. Renal edema is characterized by pale skin in these areas and dry skin. Edema is accompanied by oliguria - when diuresis per day is less than 500 ml. The most dangerous thing for human life is laryngeal edema, which can be fatal in the absence of proper and timely assistance.
Renal edema with nephritis is pronounced and can often disappear on its own without treatment. The origin of such edema lies in a violation of glomerular filtration, when a large amount of salt and water is retained in the body. Dysregulation of water-salt metabolism is of great importance.
Lipondo-nephrotic edema appears due to impaired renal function and glomerular filtration. There is a mechanism for the reabsorption of salts and water into the blood. When diuretics are administered, this swelling subsides.
The very first sign of renal edema is weight gain without visible pathologies in the body. This is due to fluid retention in the body. In order to identify water retention in the body, you should measure the amount of fluid you drink and the amount of urine excreted and make a calculation.
Edema in kidney diseases can vary in location and be hidden or obvious. Hidden edema can be detected if the patient is given diuretics. In the presence of such hidden edema in the body, a slight weight loss of 1 to 2 kg will occur in one day along with the excreted fluid.
Renal edema should be differentiated from cardiac edema. Cardiac edema, as a rule, appears first on the legs, and renal edema in the face. In order to distinguish renal edema from cardiac edema, consultation with specialists such as a cardiologist and neurologist is necessary.
Most often, factors contributing to kidney edema include a decrease in the oncotic pressure of blood plasma proteins. For diagnosis, laboratory tests are carried out: urine analysis, blood test and others. The Zimnitsky test allows you to determine urine density, quantity, night and daytime diuresis. Protein in the urine may indicate the presence of nephrotic syndrome, toxic effects, nephropathy of pregnancy and other conditions.
Treatment of kidney edema is carried out only after a complete examination of the patient by a nephrologist based on clinical data. First of all, the main cause that caused the appearance of renal edema should be eliminated. To do this, the patient must undergo a series of additional examinations and consultations with other specialists in order to clarify the diagnosis.
The prognosis for renal edema is usually favorable, and they disappear as soon as the patient begins treatment. All patients, regardless of the established diagnosis, are prescribed a salt-free diet for the entire course of treatment, since salt only promotes fluid retention. In this case, you should eat as many vegetables as possible, a sufficient amount of protein (preferably boiled breast, lean meat or fish). To eliminate excessive amounts of fluid in the body, the patient is prescribed diuretics. Long-term use of diuretics may have some side effects. Therefore, along with them, the patient should take panangin or asparkam. These drugs are necessary to maintain the functioning of the heart and to prevent potassium from being removed from the body.
In some cases, you can resort to traditional methods of treatment. Many herbs help quickly remove excess fluid from the body, even without taking medications.
You can prepare this simple collection of herbs: you will need to take equal quantities of birch buds, juniper fruits (chopped), lingonberry leaves, and bearberry leaves. Take 1 tablespoon of the mixture, add boiling water and place on low heat for 15 minutes. After this, the herbal decoction should be cooled and filtered. It is necessary to take 5 times a day, 2 tablespoons at a time.
You can also remove kidney swelling with dandelion tea. The tea is made from the leaves of the flower. You should take 1 glass three times a day. Dandelion has a good diuretic effect and compensates for potassium reserves in the body.
Herbal treatment should only be started with the permission of the attending physician, when there are no special contraindications and the cause of edema is not too serious.