During pregnancy, a woman's body undergoes a number of changes. Almost all expectant mothers know firsthand about such an unpleasant phenomenon as edema. As a rule, the appearance of swelling is completely natural (especially in the later stages), but in some cases it may indicate the presence of kidney disease or cardiovascular disease, as well as the development of gestosis - toxicosis of the second half of pregnancy.
An obstetrician-gynecologist, whom the woman should visit regularly, will help determine whether the situation is normal and whether there is a need for special treatment.
After pregnancy, a woman's hormonal background changes dramatically. The content of progesterone (female sex hormone) in the blood increases tenfold.
The main function of this hormone is to prevent contractility of the uterus, which prevents interruption. Progesterone has an interesting feature - it provokes fluid and salt retention in the body, this is the main reason for the formation of edema. This is why almost all pregnant women experience tissue swelling. Another reason for the appearance of edema can be an increased volume of circulating blood, as a result of which swelling is most often observed on the feet and hands.
Sometimes, at the end of the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, a woman may experience the phenomenon of gestosis - toxicosis caused by spasm of the capillaries and the leakage of the fluid they contain into the surrounding tissues - as a result, swelling occurs. The cause of the spasm is considered to be impaired blood supply to some organs, in particular the brain and kidneys. The disorder may be accompanied by high blood pressure, the appearance of protein in the urine (normally absent), changes in brain function (manifested in the form of seizures, loss of consciousness, and so on). Women diagnosed with gestosis need specialized care. Such patients are treated on an outpatient basis, but if there is no visible improvement, hospitalization may be required. Pregnant women are advised to avoid stress and limit physical activity. As a rule, the attending physician prescribes diuretics and homeopathic sedatives. In addition, preventive measures are indicated to prevent fetal hypoxia and developmental disorders. Over long periods of time, gestosis can cause premature delivery.
Often pregnancy leads to exacerbation and complication of chronic diseases that a woman suffers from. As a rule, the appearance of edema becomes a diagnostic sign of varicose veins, as well as dysfunction of the heart and kidneys.
The cause of varicose veins is overstretching of their walls and stagnation of blood, causing the appearance of blood clots (clots that close the lumen of the veins and impair blood circulation). During pregnancy, the volume of blood increases sharply, it may leak into the surrounding tissues, and this contributes to the appearance of edema. Prevention of varicose veins is the use of special elastic stockings.
Diseases of the heart and kidneys also often cause edema - the organs cannot withstand the increased load. That is why women are recommended to be examined before planned conception and to treat existing diseases to avoid complications after pregnancy.
A pregnant woman can diagnose the appearance of edema herself. Most often, difficulties arise when trying to put on your favorite shoes, remove a wedding ring or fasten a bracelet. In addition, swelling is accompanied by excessive (more than 300 g per week) weight gain. Sometimes there are so-called pastous, or hidden edemas that are not immediately noticeable. Their presence can be suspected only in the case of large or uneven weight gain.
Initially, swelling affects the lower extremities, then the arms, stomach, chest and even the face begin to swell. The eyelids suffer the most due to the anatomical features of their structure - the loose fiber located in this area perfectly retains fluid.
In the morning, swelling is less noticeable, since at night the liquid has time to be evenly distributed throughout the body. During the day, when a woman is on her feet, the fluid sinks down, accumulating in the ankles, on the legs, and in the area of the back of the feet. When pressing on the swollen area, a slowly leveling dimple is formed, while the skin is pale, smooth and tense.
An obstetrician-gynecologist can determine the presence of edema after one look at the patient. In some cases, there is a need for additional tests.
The essence of the event is to compare the amount of liquid a pregnant woman drinks and the volume of urine excreted (examined during the day). The body of a healthy person excretes 75% of the liquid drunk. Therefore, if you drink 2,000 ml per day (you should also take into account the liquid that is included in the first dishes), 1500-1800 ml should normally be excreted in urine. The remaining moisture will come out in the form of sweat and breathing.
2. Measuring leg circumferences over time
A dynamic increase in the diameter of the ankle joint by more than one centimeter indicates that fluid is retained in the body.
To conduct this study, a small amount of saline solution is injected intradermally into the forearm (using a thin needle). The blister that forms normally resolves within an hour. The greater the degree of swelling, the longer the solution will be absorbed.
Foreign experts consider edema that occurs in pregnant women to be a physiological phenomenon that does not require special treatment. However, there is a caveat that swelling should not be accompanied by high blood pressure and the presence of protein in the urine.
Russian obstetricians, on the contrary, unanimously declare that edema requires special treatment. Dropsy in pregnant women is considered the first stage of gestosis, and, according to research, 90% of cases of swelling are accompanied by the appearance of protein in the urine and increased pressure. Thus, treatment started on time helps prevent the transition of dropsy to gestosis.
The most effective prevention of edema in pregnant women is a proper diet with limited fluid intake per day and salt.
It is recommended not to add enough salt to food, as it has been proven that salt promotes fluid retention in the body. A pregnant woman should consume only 8 g of salt instead of the usual 14-15 g. Spicy and hot dishes, as well as smoked foods, should be excluded from the menu. Preference should be given to steamed, boiled or stewed food, but it is better to avoid fried foods.
During the second and third trimester of pregnancy, it is highly undesirable to consume more than 1-1.2 liters of fluid per day. When planning a menu for the day, you need to take into account the volume of liquid that is consumed with the first course, juicy fruits or berries.
Strengthening the walls of blood vessels is of great importance in the prevention of edema. Thanks to special preparations and vitamins, fluid will not leak into the tissue from the vessels, and swelling will not occur.
You can try to relieve swelling with special diuretics and teas. You can use such products only after consulting a doctor. The following compositions help well:
• Make a mixture of equal parts of bear's ear or bearberry leaves, kidney tea and horsetail. For 3-4 weeks, take a glass of infusion per day, drinking a third of a glass in 3 doses;
• Take one tablespoon of dry apple peel, steam with a glass of boiling water, leave for 5-10 minutes and take half a glass 4-6 times a day;
• Take undiluted birch sap one glass 2-3 times a day;
• 10 g of viburnum (fruit) pour 200 ml of boiling water and heat in a water bath for 15 minutes, then strain, bringing the volume to 250 ml. Take a quarter glass 3-4 times a day;
• 30 minutes before meals, take 1-2 teaspoons of fresh celery juice. Repeat the procedure 3 times a day.
Remember that the use of diuretics is allowed only in cases of severe swelling. It is unacceptable to use such products without a doctor’s prescription.
Another simple but effective way to get rid of puffiness is an active lifestyle. At any stage of pregnancy, you need to devote enough time to physical activity - walking, walking, exercise. Special group classes are held for expectant mothers, which include elements of various techniques - yoga, gymnastics. If your legs swell quickly, you can try lifting them up while lying down.
Most often, edema in pregnant women appears in the second half of pregnancy, this is due to the pressure of the uterus on the pelvic veins. And if there is excess water, it accumulates into swelling. When a pregnant woman's legs swell, she notices it herself, it is more difficult to put on her usual shoes and her legs seem thicker. Swelling of the hands in pregnant women is also a common occurrence. If it becomes impossible to remove the ring from your finger, you are dealing with them.
Edema in pregnant women comes in four stages:
To a certain extent, swelling in pregnant women, the causes of which we have found out, is normal. But they can also be a sign of pregnancy complications. If, in addition to edema, protein is found in the urine, and increased blood pressure is also observed, this indicates gestosis. The occurrence of this complication requires constant monitoring by a doctor, since the fourth degree of gestosis can cause “aging” of the placenta and suffocation of the baby.
Everyone is interested in the question: how can a pregnant woman get rid of edema ? First you need to find out if there is swelling.
Press your finger on the skin, if a trace of pressure remains, this is swelling, but if the skin quickly returns to normal, everything is fine. A pregnant woman is thirsty more often, and this is normal in her position, since the body’s needs for fluid have increased. Therefore, swelling of the legs in pregnant women in the evening is a completely natural phenomenon. Such swelling goes away in the morning, when the expectant mother is well rested.
But if the fingers begin to swell, and swelling on the legs is observed around the clock, and a “puffy” appearance of the face appears, you need to ask the question: how to remove swelling in pregnant women, since the development of gestosis is possible.
With the problem of edema, a pregnant woman should immediately contact the doctor who is observing her. Since edema, especially if it appears in the early stages of pregnancy, may indicate the presence of some hidden disease.
It happens that pregnancy helps to “expose” this disease due to the appearance of additional stress on the suffering organ. This situation will require a thorough examination, especially of organs such as the heart and kidneys. In addition, the problem may be associated with the presence of varicose veins. In any case, you should not remain silent about swelling; you need to inform the doctor, who will decide how to relieve swelling in a pregnant woman .
And remember, your health directly affects the health of your baby, so carefully follow the recommendations of your doctor, follow the measures he suggests to prevent edema, eat right, walk more and get positive emotions!
Not so long ago, the old school of obstetricians was afraid of edema in pregnant women: it was immediately strictly recommended to limit the intake of fluids and salt and diuretics were prescribed. After conducting a number of serious clinical studies, it turned out that 80% of pregnant women have swelling of the legs. However, the vast majority of these women give birth to healthy offspring without any complications. The fear of edema was due to the fact that they were considered the first serious sign of “late toxicosis,” or rather, hypertension in pregnancy, which could lead to the occurrence of such a serious condition as eclampsia. But almost all modern schools of obstetrics, as well as a new generation of doctors, no longer consider swelling of the lower extremities to be a sign of hypertension in pregnant women.
There are several mechanisms for the occurrence of edema in pregnancy. Firstly , the growing uterus compresses the venous and lymphatic vessels of the pelvis and impairs the outflow of blood and lymph from the lower extremities. Secondly , with the increase in body weight of a pregnant woman, the load on the legs increases, especially in a standing position. Thirdly , under the influence of pregnancy hormones, body tissues accumulate more fluid. However, it is not so easy to remove this fluid - the level of hormones remains high, and there is no need to remove it, since this will disrupt many metabolic processes of a pregnant woman.
In addition to swelling, women may complain of pain, a feeling of heaviness, nighttime muscle spasms and cramps, numbness, and tingling in the legs . Often, women wake up due to convulsive muscle spasms in the legs, especially in the calf muscles. Such symptoms are observed in half of pregnant women, more often in late pregnancy. The cause of convulsive spasms of the leg muscles is still unclear, although there are many assumptions and hypotheses. Depending on the existing hypotheses, different treatment methods and medications were tried.
Some doctors claim that a lack of calcium causes cramps in pregnant women, but other studies have shown that calcium supplements do not improve the situation. Nevertheless, traditionally, many doctors still prescribe calcium supplements to pregnant women. Other doctors argue that due to compression of the nerve endings by the swollen tissues of the legs, their conductivity is impaired, so additional intake of B vitamins can reduce the frequency of muscle spasms. Unfortunately, this hypothesis has also not been confirmed, however, many women are prescribed additional B vitamins. To reduce the frequency of seizures, doctors also prescribe vitamin D, antihistamines, painkillers, antimalarials, sodium salts, magnesium and a number of other medications. The prescription of some medications is very anecdotal.
The appearance of varicose veins in the legs, perineum and vagina is often associated with impaired blood flow from the lower extremities. The appearance of veins does not pose a danger to pregnant women, however, if a woman is at risk for blood clots, it is necessary to monitor the state of blood clotting and a number of preventive measures to prevent the formation of blood clots. Rutoside (rutin) is safe in this regard. Among other medications, heparin drugs are used to thin the blood, since they are not dangerous to the developing fetus, but strict control of blood clotting is carried out. Pregnant women are not recommended to take all other medications.
What should be done if swelling of the lower extremities occurs? First of all, it is necessary to improve the outflow of blood and lymph from the legs. If you spend a lot of time on your feet, it is advisable to ensure they are properly rested. If you sit a lot, you need to take walks, especially in the fresh air, every 45-90 minutes for 15-20 minutes on foot. When sitting, keep your legs elevated and straight. It is better to sit reclining, well relaxed.
Fluid restriction is not recommended, especially in hot weather, when swelling increases. Food should be varied, and limiting table salt is also not advisable if its amount does not exceed the recommended dose. The greatest danger is posed by diuretics, which “our” doctors prescribe to pregnant women. These medications very quickly and significantly disrupt the water-salt metabolism of a pregnant woman, which is more harmful than edema. In addition, they have a number of side effects that are undesirable during pregnancy. Therefore, diuretics are used in obstetrics very carefully, according to strict indications. Among folk remedies, the use of medicinal herbs with a diuretic effect is also not advisable. Medicinal herbs are extremely difficult to dose, their use has a delayed effect, and the effect usually does not appear immediately, but after a certain period of time. The danger is that the effect of most medicinal herbs on the fetus has not been studied, so it is not worth the risk of self-medication with “folk” methods during pregnancy.
To prevent swelling and varicose veins of the lower extremities, many doctors recommend wearing elastic bandages or stockings. The disadvantage of elastic bandages is that they are very uncomfortable to wear in hot weather. Some doctors recommend a relaxing warm (but not hot!) bath, and sleep is also very good for eliminating swelling and removing fluid from the body.
Prevention of muscle spasms in the legs requires additional measures. Cramps occur less frequently when the feet are warm, so it is advisable to sleep in warm, long socks, but not tight ones that do not squeeze the feet. Rubber and tight shoes should be avoided, as they can provoke muscle spasms. Sometimes warm foot baths, including salt baths or aromatic oils, can help relieve heaviness and pain in the legs, improve blood circulation and prevent night cramps.
Swelling of the legs is one of the signs of late gestosis in pregnant women. More often they develop in the third trimester (starting from 20 weeks). In addition to swelling, blood pressure may increase, and protein may appear in the urine. This disease is called preeclampsia. If convulsions are added to everything, this means that everything has developed into eclampsia.
Swelling can occur at any time. The dangerous time is from 37 to 39-40 weeks. At this time, the pregnant woman should be under constant medical supervision.
At the first appearance of any symptoms of the disease, you should immediately consult a doctor. A woman should be under medical supervision, especially in the last week of pregnancy (39-40th week). If you are only worried about swelling, then you can be treated at home, but if high blood pressure or albuminuria occurs, it is better to go to the hospital.
Determining edema is quite simple; you can do it yourself. To do this, you need to press your finger on the skin on your leg and release after 5 seconds. If a depression (pit) remains from the finger, this indicates the presence of edema. This is why you can carry out the diagnosis yourself.
Swelling at the last stage is very dangerous, so you can’t wait for it. At the first stage, you need to report swelling to your doctor. If the disease occurs in the last weeks (37–40), then hospitalization is required.
Naturally, for a pregnant woman it is better to reduce the intake of medications as much as possible, or if the situation allows it, to eliminate it altogether. If the stage is moderate or severe, and drug therapy is needed, then the prescription must be made by a doctor; no independent solutions are provided for in this situation. Especially in the last stages of pregnancy (39-40th week).
In the early stages of edema formation, there are a number of recommendations that will help get rid of them.
You need to normalize your diet. It is worth giving up alcoholic and carbonated drinks, drinking a minimum of tea and coffee. Fermented milk products (yogurt, kefir, cottage cheese, etc.), cocoa, and various compotes are welcome. You need to drink 1.5-2 liters of water per day. It is necessary to limit the amount of salt and sugar, avoid fried, smoked, and spices.
Don't forget about vitamins. Fresh vitamins are, without a doubt, better; sometimes, for women with hypovitaminosis, the doctor prescribes vitamin preparations. You shouldn't choose them yourself. It is also not recommended to overeat; it is better to eat food more often, but in small portions.
Sleep and wakefulness mode. There is no need to lie down for a long time or, on the contrary, move like a clockwork. The regime should be divided almost equally. A walk in the fresh air should be followed by rest. It will be enough to lie down for half an hour and you can continue to go about your business, but it is advisable to choose a time to rest for 1–1.5 minutes.
During the day, lying in a horizontal position, you need to raise your legs slightly higher than your head (put a pillow or blanket, but not too high). A woman needs to get enough sleep, so don’t go to bed late. The optimal sleep schedule is 7–8 hours, but in principle, the time allotted for rest may be different for everyone.
Physical exercise. Naturally, you should give up hard workouts in the gym, but this does not mean that you can’t do anything. Light exercise, walks in the fresh air, and just walking are normal physical activities during the day, which will help relieve swelling. The main thing is to observe the “rest - work” regime.
According to indications, the doctor may prescribe diuretics (or herbal infusions). They must be taken for as long as the doctor says, no more. You cannot self-medicate. It must be remembered that almost all drugs pass through the placenta to the baby.
It is advisable to wear shoes with low heels, but it is better to wear no heels at all. Clothes should not be tight. The freer a woman feels, the better. Neither trousers nor tights should be too tight for a pregnant woman. Doctors also recommend compression stockings and tights for pregnant women. Your doctor should tell you the wearing rules.
Water procedures. You can do cold foot baths (37°C), or use a contrast shower. This will help narrow the blood vessels.
You can massage your feet. It will help disperse the blood. It can be done either independently or with someone’s help.
Massage can be performed at a time convenient for the pregnant woman. You can use a warm terry towel, or just warm your hands well. It is necessary to start the massage from the feet towards the knees (following the lymph flow).
Of course, the last months of pregnancy (especially the 37–40th week) will be difficult, there is a huge load on the legs. And a pregnant woman will need help with massage.
Using massage balls will be helpful. They can be used while sitting at your desk or just on the couch. They will also help reduce swelling in your legs.
Water massage is great for relaxing, and a hot tub will help with this. To enhance the effect, you can use a couple of drops of chamomile oil.
If edema is not treated and everything is left to chance, then you can endanger not only your health, but also your baby’s, and perhaps even your life.
Edema may be followed by: nephropathy, preeclampsia, eclampsia.
That is, at the very first stage, when only swelling of the legs occurs, the condition requires treatment. If nothing is done, blood pressure may increase and protein may appear in the urine - this is nephropathy. This condition requires hospitalization.
Preeclampsia also affects the brain and fundus of the eye. Treatment must be immediate, otherwise everything will turn into eclampsia. This condition threatens the life of the mother and fetus. First, slight twitching of the nerves begins, followed by convulsions.
Why does this complication occur? The answer is simple! Failure to consult a doctor in a timely manner in the early stages of the disease. Eclampsia does not develop immediately; the precursors come first, then it.
Everything can result in dire consequences if you show negligence not only about your health, but also about the health of the baby.
It is better not to wait until the last stages of pregnancy (37, 39–40 weeks), but to start preventing edema at least in the first months. To prevent the appearance of edema, it is enough to follow simple rules. Proper nutrition, adequate sleep, and most importantly, equal distribution of physical activity and rest.
A woman should not radically change her life with the onset of pregnancy. You just need to give up bad habits and follow these fairly simple rules.
Swelling during pregnancy can occur for a number of reasons. The question is: what to do about it? Of course, you need to tell your doctor. It is he who must explain all the nuances and tell the pregnant woman how to behave.
Edema in the early stages is easier to treat than in the last week of pregnancy (39–40th week). If the disease is neglected, serious consequences may arise that will threaten the lives of mother and baby.
Most pregnant women are susceptible to edema. But before starting treatment, it is necessary to find out what is the cause of constant swelling. Why pregnant women's legs swell and how to deal with this problem, we will tell you in this article.
Most often, swelling is associated with increased needs for water. The volume of amniotic fluid gradually increases, and more blood is needed. Changed hormonal levels often provoke severe thirst. As a result, a woman is racking her brains, deciding how to get rid of swelling in her legs during pregnancy. As a rule, the body itself retains water, storing it for future use. This is normal. But there are other reasons for which it is necessary to undergo examination:
The question of how to get rid of swelling in the legs during pregnancy should definitely be asked to your gynecologist. Only he will be able to determine whether swelling is normal or pathological. If a woman is not susceptible to chronic diseases, discomfort can be significantly reduced by using standard recommendations that are useful for any pregnant woman. So, what should you do during pregnancy so that your legs don’t swell so much:
This term hides a symptom of various diseases, expressed in excessive accumulation of fluid in the tissues of the lower extremities. Seeing a doctor with dropsy of the legs is a reason to conduct an examination of the cardiovascular and urinary systems. Dropsy of the legs can be narrowly localized only in the extremities or be part of a violation of the water balance of the entire body.
Dropsy, or swelling, occurs due to an imbalance between the flow of fluid into the tissues of the legs and their removal through the venous network or through the lymphatic system. Another cause of dropsy is increased vascular permeability, their pathological expansion, and, as a result, increased release of water into the surrounding tissues.
Violation of the osmotic properties of blood is the reason for the appearance of edema of the lower extremities. Violation of blood biochemistry, a decrease in the concentration of sodium, chlorides and proteins, a decrease in the amount of hormones that regulate metabolism, lead to a disorder in the drainage function of the lymphatic and venous systems.
Dropsy is not a separate disease; on the contrary, functional disorders of the cardiovascular system, liver and kidneys are manifested by swelling of the legs.
Most often, such swelling appears when the circulation of lymph and venous blood is disrupted. The outflow of interstitial fluid is impaired in cardiovascular pathologies, diseases of the urinary system, and intoxication.
Diseases of the lymphatic system of the lower extremities - filariasis, idiopathic elephantiasis. These pathologies stimulate the accumulation of interstitial fluid and problems with its removal.
Chronic heart failure is a violation of blood pumping and its stagnation.
Thrombophlebitis, blockage of the lumen of the veins by a blood clot.
Violation of water-salt metabolism in pathologies of the thyroid gland (hypothyroidism).
Violation of the osmotic properties of blood, changes in its biochemical parameters due to liver pathologies, fasting, gastrointestinal diseases, nephrotic symptoms.
Venous insufficiency causes stagnation of blood in the vessels of the legs. The constant supply of arterial blood and disturbances in the outflow of interstitial fluid provoke the appearance of severe edema.
Nephrotic syndrome - glomerulonephritis, amyloidosis, pyelonephritis contribute to excessive excretion of protein from the body through the kidneys. The vessels cannot retain water, their walls become more permeable, so the liquid fraction of the blood penetrates into the surrounding tissues and accumulates in them, causing dropsy.
Intoxication – the ingestion of toxins from drugs, pesticides, radioactive substances, salts of heavy metals, toxic gases into the body provoke damage to organs that regulate blood circulation and blood composition (heart, brain, liver, kidneys).
Arthritis of the knee joints - inflammation of the knee, ankle joints of the legs due to injuries, infections, allergies, tumors and autoimmune factors cause severe swelling.
Violation of the outflow of lymph and venous blood, combined with pain, usually provokes an inflammatory process. Swelling caused by inflammation occurs when there is bacterial infection and injury to the extremities.
Causes of dropsy accompanied by pain:
Filariasis – causes inflammation of the lymphatic vessels and lymphostasis.
Thrombosis of the lower veins - disturbances in the removal of toxic metabolic products provoke their effect on nerve endings. Metabolites cause inflammation, tissue swelling and pain.
Myositis – inflammation of the muscles of the lower extremities damages the nerve endings that innervate them. The muscles become inflamed and increase in size and swell.
Lymphangitis - stagnation of lymph in inflamed vessels irritates nerve endings, because swollen tissues cause mechanical compression of the nerves.
Fatty edema - the growth of adipose tissue provokes periodic inflammatory phenomena in the subcutaneous tissue and the appearance of pain.
Mechanical damage to the extremities - trauma contributes to damage to the structure and functionality of blood vessels, nerves, skin, muscles of the leg bones, which causes an inflammatory process in these tissues. Symptoms include pain and swelling.
Pregnancy is not the cause of leg swelling in a woman expecting a baby. However, changes occur in her body that help her adapt to the increased load - this is an increase in blood volume and an increase in venous pressure. If the normal course of adaptation is disrupted, swelling in the legs appears.
To increase the volume of circulating blood, the hematopoietic system stimulates an increase in the proportion of plasma. In addition, the influence of progesterone and estrogen causes vasodilation, increasing fluid retention in the body. The colloid-osmotic properties of the blood of a pregnant woman also change, an imbalance occurs between the excretion and retention of water in the vascular bed, which causes swelling of the legs.
During increased stress, extragenital pathologies may appear, causing swelling of the legs:
With these diseases, stagnation of venous blood and the development of hydrops of pregnant women most often occur.
Preeclampsia, or late toxicosis, provokes excessive secretion of hormones that cause vascular spasm and increased blood pressure. Loss of protein in the urine and impaired permeability of the vascular walls lead to blood plasma sweating into the surrounding tissues, causing swelling of the legs. This swelling is localized on the legs and feet of a pregnant woman and does not cause pain.
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To eliminate the causes of swelling of the legs, both conservative and surgical treatment methods are used.
Basic conservative treatment methods:
Drug treatment is the main method of treating dropsy of the legs. Medicines eliminate the cause of the disease, act on the mechanism of edema, and have a symptomatic effect.
Pharmacological groups of drugs for the treatment of dropsy:
Antibiotics – eliminate pathogenic microflora;
Antiseptics – neutralize the effect of pathogenic bacteria;
Antiparasitic drugs - used for filariasis;
Anti-inflammatory drugs – eliminate swelling, pain, reduce the intensity of inflammation;
Anticoagulants – reduce blood clotting;
Fibrinolytics – destroy blood clots;
Diuretics – remove excess fluid from the body through the kidneys;
Cardiac glycosides – stimulate the work of the heart muscle;
ACE inhibitors – lower blood pressure;
Angioprotectors – increase the resistance of blood vessels to damage;
Hepatoprotectors – strengthen the walls of liver cells;
Detoxifying agents – remove toxins from the body;
Sclerosing agents – regenerate pathologically dilated veins.
Physiotherapeutic methods are used to treat and prevent edema, reduce inflammation, restore lymphatic drainage, and immunostimulate:
Radon and iodine-bromine baths,
To reduce the negative manifestations of dropsy, wear compression hosiery (socks, stockings, tights), and bandage the legs with an elastic bandage. This treatment method creates uniform pressure on the vessels of the lower extremities and does not allow fluid to move back into the tissue from the vessels.
If conservative methods are ineffective, surgical treatment of diseases that provoke edema is used:
Installation of a pacemaker, replacement of artificial vessels, heart transplantation in the treatment of heart failure;
Sclerosis and removal of superficial veins for varicose veins;
Removal of leg vein blood clots;
Removal of liver cysts and tumors;
Treatment of fractures and wounds resulting from trauma;
Joint puncture for arthritis.
In many cases, a combination of conservative and surgical methods is used to treat dropsy of the legs.
Urticaria and Quincke's edema in pregnant women
Urticaria is a disease of allergic etiology. Due to contact of the allergen with the body, a large amount of histamine is released into the blood. The vessels dilate, the permeability of the vascular walls increases. The main clinical manifestations affect the skin and mucous membranes. The skin manifestations are very similar to the skin reaction to a nettle burn, hence the name.
- Skin itching. Sometimes there is a rash that is not accompanied by itching or just skin itching without bright rashes.
- In mild to moderate forms of allergic urticaria, slight swelling of the lips and nasal congestion may occur.
Urticaria - spots on the skin
Urticaria rashes are painless. Acute allergic urticaria lasts from 1 day to 6 weeks. The spots disappear under the influence of treatment or spontaneously, without leaving behind pigmentation, peeling or other residual effects.
Allergic urticaria always appears after the body comes into contact with an allergen. Another thing is that during pregnancy, due to changes in a woman’s immunity and hormonal status, even familiar and well-known foods and substances can turn into allergens. And you shouldn’t try exotic or previously unused foods during pregnancy, as they can easily cause hives.
On the other hand, the increased level of cortisol in the blood of a woman expecting a child allows us to hope that most of the harmful substances that can cause allergic urticaria in pregnant women will be neutralized at the stage of entry into the body.
Quincke's edema is a more severe, pronounced allergic reaction that involves the deep layers of the skin and subcutaneous fat. The predominant symptom of this disease is extensive deep swelling. May be accompanied by urticaria.
Quincke's edema - swelling of the face
The main symptom is rapid swelling of the subcutaneous fat. Most often it is localized on the face and neck, and swelling can also appear on the palms and feet. The process involves not only the deep layers of the skin, but also the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx, larynx, and upper respiratory tract.
The swelling is very rapid, the skin at the site of the swelling is pale, sometimes painful, and there is severe itching. If immediate medical assistance is not provided, an attack of bronchial asthma or even asphyxia may occur.
Depending on the individual characteristics of a person, on his tendency to be allergic to a particular irritant, anything can become an allergen. But most often urticaria and angioedema are caused by the following allergens:
- Insect bites. The most dangerous bite is from a bee, wasp or bumblebee.
— Medicines, especially penicillin antibiotics, local anesthetics, vaccines.
— Food products. Particularly noted were milk, honey, seafood, nuts, egg whites, cheeses, sea fish, spices and seasonings, and chocolate.
-Household and street dust, dust mites.
-Pollen from flowering plants.
-Pet fur, cockroaches.
- Household chemicals. Washing powders, detergents, conditioners, rinse aids, shampoos - the more concentrated the product, the more pronounced the smell and color, the greater the risk that there may be an allergy to contact with this product.
— Cosmetics and perfumes, creams, hair dyes.
— Chemical compounds used for processing agricultural products, clothing, paints and varnishes.
Hives can occur under the influence of cold, water, sunlight, and mechanical friction.
As with all major diseases, treatment of urticaria and angioedema is based on three principles:
- stopping contact with the allergen;
During pregnancy, it is necessary to use medications with caution; among antihistamines, it is permissible to use Claritin, Zyrtec, L-cet during pregnancy. To reduce vascular permeability, calcium gluconate is used orally or in the form of intravenous injections. A single injection of Prednisolone or Dexamethasone has a good effect.
In case of Quincke's edema, immediate medical attention , since rapidly growing edema can lead to suffocation and asphyxia. Prednisolone, calcium gluconate and aminophylline are used as emergency medications. Everything is administered intravenously. The choice of these drugs is based on their speed and effectiveness, while the benefits to the mother significantly outweigh the possible risks to the fetus.