What is edema?
Edema is a liquid in the tissues of certain places of the body, while the volume of the skin cavity increases, the organs subject to edema cease to function normally.
There are hydrostatic and hypoproteinemic edema. The first type includes edema, in which the pressure in the capillary increases.
With the second type of edema, the content of blood proteins in the plasma decreases, in particular albumins. Oncotic pressure decreases, this occurs in the blood plasma when fluid enters the tissues of their bloodstream.
There is another type of edema – membranogenic. In this case, the capillaries are toxically damaged and their permeability increases.
Causes of edema
In a healthy state of the body, the liquid part (plasma) of the blood has an exit into the intercellular space. With edema, this function is disturbed and edematous fluid is formed from the plasma.
The pressure exerted on the vessel wall by the fluid pumped into it by the heart is called hydrostatic pressure. If this pressure is increased, then a lot of water leaves the blood vessel. This force is directed away from the vessel. In the veins, water returns back to the same vessels, to the blood, since the hydrostatic pressure is negative. With increased pressure, fluid in the veins begins to accumulate and some fluid enters the blood through the lymphatic vessels. Therefore, sometimes proteins enter the blood from the tissues through the lymphatic vessels. When this path is blocked, edema occurs.
There is an osmotic pressure, which depends on the amount of large protein molecules in the blood plasma. There are much more such proteins in the blood than in tissue fluid. They are able to retain moisture in the bloodstream and act in the same direction as salts.
When these three forces are out of balance, more fluid comes out and less comes back. Therefore, swelling occurs. Also, with allergies or vascular disease, the permeability of the vascular wall of the capillaries changes, and this fact also matters.
The state of the autonomic nervous system, kidneys, endocrine glands also affects the occurrence of edema. These organs secrete substances that retain salt and fluid in the body. And this is the main cause of edema.
With edema of an external nature, a defect in the appearance of a person occurs. If swelling of the legs occurs, then this prevents a person from living in peace, he cannot normally wear shoes, walk, pain occurs, sometimes it comes to the formation of trophic ulcers. Edema of the internal organs disrupts their working function.
Treatment
The doctor prescribes the treatment of the disease that caused the swelling. Treatment is also prescribed in order to remove the edema itself, if it is common. With edema, a person must observe bed rest, limit the intake of table salt. The consumption of this salt should now be about one or one and a half grams per day. You should also limit your water intake.
If the patient has cachectic edema, he will be prescribed protein and vitamins. Diuretics are recommended. With this treatment, the doctor clearly monitors the amount of urine per day, the patient’s body weight, and the dynamics of electrolytes in the blood. If the potassium content is lowered, a diet rich in this substance is prescribed. Potassium is a part of prunes, potatoes, dried apricots.