Table of Contents
What causes edema all of a sudden?
Medications, pregnancy, infections, and many other medical problems can cause edema. Edema happens when your small blood vessels leak fluid into nearby tissues. That extra fluid builds up, which makes the tissue swell. It can happen almost anywhere in the body.
What is the most frequent cause of edema of the lower extremities?
Venous insufficiency means that the veins in your legs are damaged or weak, and don’t adequately pump blood up toward the heart. The blood then pools in your lower legs. You may have it in one or both legs. Venous insufficiency is the most common cause of peripheral edema.
What causes edema in legs in elderly?
Edema (or swelling) of the lower limbs is common in older adults. The most common cause (about 70\%) of leg edema is due to Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI). Other serious causes of edema include congestive heart failure, kidney disease, and liver disease.
What does edema look like on legs?
Signs of edema include: Swelling or puffiness of the tissue directly under your skin, especially in your legs or arms. Stretched or shiny skin. Skin that retains a dimple (pits), after being pressed for several seconds.
What is bilateral lower leg edema?
Lower limb edema is a common and challenging diagnostic problem often with a significant impact. It is defined as swelling caused by an increase in interstitial fluid that exceeds the capacity of physiologic lymphatic drainage.
What is systemic edema?
Edema is caused by either systemic diseases, that is, diseases that affect the various organ systems of the body, or by local conditions involving just the affected extremities. The most common systemic diseases associated with edema involve the heart, liver, and kidneys.
What do doctors prescribe for edema?
More-severe edema may be treated with drugs that help your body expel excess fluid in the form of urine (diuretics). One of the most common diuretics is furosemide (Lasix).