If there are problems with metabolic processes in the body, a lack of fluid may occur, which will provoke dehydration or, conversely, the accumulation of a large amount of fluid in the tissues, this will be indicated by severe or hidden swelling. The body swells for various reasons, and this does not always happen due to drinking a lot of salt and water. Problems with the metabolism of protein and carbohydrates, disorders of the endocrine system, changes in the amount of hormones produced, infection, allergies, the onset of inflammation - all this can trigger the appearance of edema different shapes and localization. It is important to figure out how to remove excess water from the body.

Main types of edema

Swelling can appear in any part of the body where there are soft tissues that can accumulate a certain amount of water. In this case, fluid accumulates in the body cavity, in the intercellular space or inside cells. The principle of the formation of edema can be completely different, as well as the reasons that provoke it in one area of the body or several at once.

By origin, all edema is divided into the following:

physiological, appearing as a result of changes in external environmental conditions or changes in metabolism in the body, for example, during pregnancy: active growth of the uterus occurs, which provokes compression of the lower vein, which complicates the process of returning blood to the heart through the veins, resulting in stagnation in the lower extremities and pronounced swelling appears;
pathological edema is formed under the influence of various disruptions in metabolism, which provokes fluid retention in certain areas of the body, this disrupts the functioning of organs and the structure of tissues.

What is edema? In itself, edema due to fluid retention in the body is not a disease, but only a symptom of the presence of a pathological process, indicating problems with water-salt balance. They can differ in local (appear on a specific area of the body, cavity or organ, limb, neck and even genitals) and systemic location. At the same time, other parts of the body are not subject to swelling and continue to work at the same pace.

The systemic type of edema is characterized by the spread of fluid stagnation throughout the body, in the area of body cavities and intercellular space. In especially dangerous cases, swelling extends to the intracellular sector.

Definition of edema and its types

What is edema? Based on the factors that lead to the development of swelling and the mechanisms of development of pathology, doctors identify several types of lesions, which differ from each other in their differences in external manifestation.

Main types of pathology:

Inflammatory edema forms in the area of tissue deformation and exposure to the inflammatory process, the spread of bacteria and viruses. Most often, edema of this form affects soft tissues and organs and is formed as a result of an active effect on vascular permeability.
An allergic type, which is very similar in type to inflammatory, but swelling in this case occurs for other reasons. It is formed due to the impact of allergic irritants on the tissue - histamine, bradykinin and others. With their active influence, the lumen of the capillaries changes significantly, vascular permeability increases greatly, the liquid component of the blood passes from the vessels into the tissues and accumulates there in large quantities, forming edema, especially for loose and hydrophilic tissues.
Toxic edema, according to the principle of development, is very similar to inflammatory and allergic, but the reason for its appearance is damage to the human body by poisonous toxins and chemicals, which often reduce blood viscosity and lead to increased permeability. Such swelling is dangerous because it can spread to large areas of the body, including damage to the entire body.
Swelling due to prolonged fasting. This condition occurs due to a violation of protein metabolism, which is very important for retaining water molecules in blood vessels. If there are more proteins in the tissues than inside the vessels, then they attract water molecules to themselves, accumulating them in the tissues. A certain amount of plasma proteins leads to oncotic pressure, which is much higher inside the vessels than in the intercellular space. When protein is lost during fasting, there is a strong change in the oncotic pressure of the plasma relative to the intercellular space. It is in this condition that the liquid passes into the tissues. Because of this state The expression “to swell from hunger” arose.
Lymphogenic edema, which appears due to a problem with the circulation of lymph in the capillaries, its collection and delivery to the venous network. Such processes provoke the appearance of swelling in places with a large number of venous plexuses.
Neurogenic ones appear due to disturbances in the functioning of nerve fibers or sensory endings, due to which the tone of blood vessels and their permeability to fluid are poorly controlled due to expansion or spasm at the right time. This type of swelling forms in diseased areas of the body innervated by a damaged trunk or, if we talk about brain centers (for example, during a stroke), by a projection of the diseased area.

Causes of swelling on the body

The causes and treatment of edema in women are directly interrelated. In most cases, they have a hidden appearance and can occur against the background of other pathological processes in the body: infectious diseases, bruises, intoxication. There are 3 main causes of body swelling.

Idiopathic causes

Idiopathic causes of body edema are considered the most common. It is believed that the development of this condition occurs due to problems with the endocrine system and changes in the amount of hormones in the body (this especially applies to estrogens).

This opinion is based on the fact that this swelling most often occurs in young and older women. Such swelling forms during hot weather outside, excessive physical activity on the body. Water accumulates in those areas of the body that are more exposed to gravity: in a standing position, this includes the lower part of the legs, in a lying position - the lower part of the body.

Heart reasons

This cause of body edema occurs when there are problems with the functioning of the heart muscle (myocardium), which cannot pump blood in a normal volume, which is important for normal blood flow in the arteries and veins. In this case, swelling appears in areas with venous vessels, especially those distant from the heart and small in size. In most cases, swelling manifests itself in the evening, after playing sports or walking for a long time during the day. In heart failure, the swelling is quite extensive and can spread to the abdomen, groin, shoulders and other parts of the body. When resting in an upright position, the severity of the lesion decreases or the swelling spreads across the back and chest.

Renal edema

This cause of body edema lies in the disruption of the process of filtration and reabsorption of water and salts. The condition can also occur as a result of the loss of large amounts of proteins during inflammation in the body. Kidney function may deteriorate due to problems with blood circulation, hypoxia of the kidney tissue, which provokes the release of biologically active substances, and a sudden increase in pressure. All this helps to remove large amounts of excess fluid into the tissue. in many patients it occurs in the morning, spreads throughout the body from the face to the neck, and then to the limbs.

Linda Lazarides' Water Diet

How to remove excess water from the human body? There are a large number of diuretic diets that help actively fight swelling. Today, Linda Lazarides's drainage diet is considered the most famous and effective. The purpose of using such a diet is to eliminate severe swelling and improve the person’s condition. The essence of the diet: swelling and excess weight appear not because a person consumes a large amount of water, but because some components are retained in the body. You can easily get rid of puffiness if you avoid such substances - this includes carbohydrates and salts.

With this diet it is forbidden to eat following products food: honey, sugar, syrup, eggs, yeast, red meat, dairy products, salty foods, especially smoked sausages, bacon, ham, fatty foods, confectionery, various sweets, potato chips, cream, mayonnaise, products with artificial additives in the composition.

Experts recommend consuming the following foods: soy milk, yogurt, fresh fruits and vegetables, oatmeal, nuts, seeds, lean meat and fish, and legumes. It is allowed to drink freshly squeezed juice, herbal teas and other drinks with a small caffeine content.

The amount of food allowed is not limited; you can eat as much as you want. Already in the first week of such a diet, a person loses about 6 kilograms in weight, which is due to fluid loss. Further results will not be so noticeable, but you will steadily lose several kilograms per week.

If you use such a diet before your period, it will help significantly ease their course.

What to do if there is swelling of the body? To do this, it is best to use the following herbal decoctions:

green tea;
lingonberry tea;
caraway decoction;
hawthorn;
rosehip;
black or green tea with milk;
Melissa;
plain water with lemon juice;
complex herbal collections: knotweed, nettle, bearberry.

Additional list of foods that help eliminate swelling:

celery;
beans;
cucumbers, melon and watermelons;
oats;
beet;
nettle;
rowan and viburnum juice;
low-fat kefir;
green apples;
baked potato.

Any significant swelling on the human body requires timely consultation with a treating specialist. They often report the presence of serious diseases in the body that affect metabolic processes. It is especially dangerous when swelling forms on the neck or face, spreads to the eyes, toes and hands, and interferes with normal putting on shoes and walking.

How to remove excess water from the body? If swelling is present, it is important to draw up a proper diet nutrition and drinking regime, start consuming less salt, drink only purified non-carbonated water, since other drinks only develop swelling. If it continues to persist for two days or actively spreads to the entire body, then a qualified doctor should find out the reasons for this process. First, the specialist conducts an external examination of the patient, identifies the severity of water retention in the body: it is possible to approximately determine the amount of accumulated water if the person knows his weight and how much it has changed after the appearance of edema.

There are special tests and samples that help identify the degree of hydrophilicity of tissues. The blister test allows you to determine the strength of tissue impregnation with liquid, and the identification of a dimple on the lower leg or its disappearance will indicate the presence of hidden swelling.

When visiting a doctor, a patient must tell him about all the drugs he uses. medicines, since they were the ones who could lead to the accumulation of water. It is also important to indicate whether there are problems in the health of the heart and liver, how often edema occurs and what can cause it.

Chronic and acute pyelonephritis most often appears in a child due to an infection that can enter the baby’s body in various ways:

hematogenous: the infection spreads through the blood to the kidneys. This happens when the patient has a sore throat, pneumonia, ARVI and other purulent lesions. Most often, such inflammation occurs in newborns and infants: in this case, the infectious process can also be transmitted to the child’s body from the mother, especially if there were any complications or infectious processes during pregnancy;
lymphogenous pathway (through lymph);
ascending: through the genitourinary system and gastrointestinal tract. Most often, kidney inflammation occurs in a child due to cystitis, colitis and dysbacteriosis.

Common symptoms

Symptoms and treatment of pyelonephritis in children are of interest to all parents of children. Acute pyelonephritis provokes obvious symptoms that indicate problems of the genitourinary system:

frequent urge to urinate, urinary incontinence;
pain when going to the toilet;
in some cases, blood is released along with the urine, and bad smell, which indicates the beginning of a microbial inflammatory process;
pain in the side or lower back;
signs of poisoning: increased sweating, fever, increased body temperature, chills; in infants, this condition can manifest itself as vomiting and moodiness.

Treatment of the lesion

Treatment and symptoms of pyelonephritis in a child are interconnected, therefore, when diagnosing, the doctor first receives all the information about the baby’s condition and signs of the disease.

Treatment includes:

strict adherence to bed rest;
drinking plenty of water, including mineral water, which will stimulate regular urination and natural elimination harmful products from the child’s body;
a properly formulated diet.

The therapy is also based on course admission antibiotics, which are selected depending on the causative agent of the infection. In addition to antibiotics, antiseptics, diuretics and folk recipes are also used in treatment.

Narrated by Vladimir Yashin, general practitioner, teacher at Moscow Medical School No. 13, author of the textbook “Healthy Lifestyle.”

What is edema? According to scientific definition, it is excessive accumulation of fluid in tissues. The human body is 70% water. About 2/3 of it is located inside cells, and 1/3 is in the intercellular space. An increase in the volume of fluid in the intercellular space is, in fact, edema.

There are local and general edema. The first is tied to a specific organ or section of the vascular bed. It occurs, for example, with diseases of the lymphatic vessels or veins of the lower extremities, allergic swelling of the face. General edema is accompanied by swelling of tissues throughout the body and is characteristic of diseases of the heart, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract. General swelling becomes noticeable when three or more liters of fluid accumulate in the body, most often as a result of retention of salt and water by the kidneys.

In any case, it means that some pathological process is going on in you and it’s time to pay attention to it. There are many reasons why swelling occurs. We will look at some of them, the most common.

Pressure problem

One of the causes of edema is an increase in pressure in the thinnest blood vessels - capillaries. Another reason is associated with a decrease in the content of proteins in the blood plasma, especially albumin. This leads to a decrease in osmotic pressure and the release of fluid from the bloodstream into the tissue. The formation of edema is also due to an increase in capillary permeability, which develops as a result of their toxic damage or inflammation. For treatment of these ailments, you should consult a general practitioner.

Vein diseases

Swelling inevitably accompanies inflammatory diseases of the veins in the legs: phlebitis or thrombophlebitis. In this case, the leg turns red and hurts both at rest and when touched. If your veins do not turn red, this indicates the development of varicose veins. Venous edema is soft to the touch, the skin is warm to the touch, sometimes with a bluish tint.

Fortunately, legs can swell “just like that” - from heat and fatigue. But in this case, the swelling is irregular: if you lie down with your feet up, pamper your feet with warm baths, the swelling goes away and does not return.

A phlebologist can determine whether you have varicose veins and also treat phlebitis or thrombophlebitis.

Allergy

Allergic swelling can occur anywhere in the body. They are dense to the touch, accompanied by itching and redness, and sometimes the appearance of a pinpoint rash. With such swelling, you should consult an allergist and not only treat the symptoms, but also eliminate the root of the problem - the allergy itself.

Heart failure

Swelling in the ankles is a very alarming symptom because it signals impending heart failure. Cardiac edema is preceded by shortness of breath. As heart disease progresses, swelling can gradually increase in volume - from the ankles up, all the way to the hips. The skin in the area of “cardiac” edema is pale bluish, tense, and cold to the touch. If you find such swelling in yourself, you need to consult a cardiologist.

The reason is in the kidneys

The kidneys, unable to cope with their work for one reason or another, can also send water into the intercellular space, forming edema. , dough-shaped, appear most often on the face, and in the morning. The skin in the area of edema is dry and pale. It is noteworthy that renal edema is often “floating”, that is, it quickly moves when the body position changes. Urologists treat kidneys.

Fighting swelling

If the swelling is not associated with any serious disease, the following recommendations may help. First of all, you should limit your consumption of spicy and fried foods, as well as liquids, especially before bed. The menu should include steamed foods, herbs (primarily parsley), fresh fruits and vegetables. It is useful to drink a decoction of flaxseed: pour 4 teaspoons of seeds into a liter of water and boil for 15 minutes. Then strain and take 1/2 cup warm 3 times a day for 2-3 weeks. For taste, you can add a little lemon juice to the resulting broth.

The best way to prevent edema is physical exercise. One of best solutions- swimming. This discipline helps improve blood circulation and strengthen the body's vascular system. Massage of the fingers and toes has a good effect.

In addition, water procedures, in particular contrast showers, help to harden blood vessels. For this purpose, change 5-6 times hot water to cool and vice versa. At the same time, follow the basic rule of hardening, which says: you need to get used to cold water gradually.

Rules of a non-edema person

It is necessary to spend more time in the fresh air and move more. - the phenomenon is stagnant, and the better all metabolic systems are “accelerated”, the less edema.

If your legs swell due to heat and fatigue, try to place them on a slight elevation for at least 10-15 minutes during the day to promote the outflow of fluid. Warm baths with sea salt (one tablespoon per liter of water) also help with swelling of the legs.

For swelling of the face, you need to grate peeled raw potatoes and squeeze out the juice through gauze, which can be used to lubricate problem areas.

Poor health or illness is often accompanied by edema, and this manifestation itself indicates certain problems in the body. After all, in essence, swelling- This is tissue swelling as a result of a pathological increase in the volume of interstitial fluid.

Edema fluid is formed, as a rule, from blood plasma and accumulates during increased transition of fluid from the vascular bed into the interstitial space (in some cases into anatomical cavities). Liquid makes up about 3/5 of the total mass human body. About 70% of it is in cells and 30% is extracellular.

Between the cellular and extracellular fluids there is a constant exchange of electrolytes and metabolic products: amino acids, vitamins, fatty acids, carbohydrates and proteins. At the same time, the volume, composition and location of the liquid components of the body remain unchanged - this is constants. Extracellular fluid is divided into blood plasma, which transports metabolic products to the places of their consumption and excretion, and fluid located in the intercellular spaces.

Through the latter, metabolic products enter the cells from the blood and are delivered from the cells to the excretory organs. Excessive accumulation of fluid in the intermediate space leads to the formation of edema.

General and local edema

It is customary to distinguish between general and local edema. General edema develops in diseases of the heart, kidneys, liver, and gastrointestinal tract.

Local swelling - for diseases of the veins, lymphatic vessels, and allergic inflammation. Local edema is associated with a specific organ or area of the vascular bed and is easily distinguishable from general (generalized) edema.

Isolated limb edema is usually associated with venous or lymphatic insufficiency (deep vein thrombosis, primary lymphedema, obstruction of outflow due to tumor growth). With paralysis of the lower extremities, edema can also develop as a result of stagnant processes.

Causes of edema

Allergic reactions (angioedema) and obstruction (blockage) of the superior vena cava cause local swelling of the face. Bilateral edema of the lower extremities can also have local causes, for example, narrowing of the inferior vena cava when it is compressed as a result of some pathological process or tumor in the abdominal cavity. General edema is swelling of tissues in most parts or throughout the body. Noticeable general edema in an adult means the accumulation of three or more liters of fluid in the body, most often as a result of retention of salt and water by the kidneys.

The distribution of edema among tissues depends on the cause of its origin. Fluid during general edema is distributed in accordance with the laws of gravity. Thus, in patients with heart failure who are in a semi-sitting position, edema appears first in the lower extremities and the lumbosacral region. If the patient can lie freely in a horizontal position, swelling occurs primarily on the face and hands. It is easy to diagnose only local edema. Clinical research methods make it possible in most cases to identify the cause of their occurrence.

The mechanisms of the formation of general edema are complex. Their diagnosis is based on identifying connections with diseases of the cardiovascular system, kidneys, liver, and gastrointestinal tract. And correct assessment of the driving mechanism is critical for the choice of treatment methods. Most often you have to deal with edema caused by heart disease, which is usually referred to as “heart failure” - 2nd or 3rd degree. Swelling associated with kidney damage (nephrotic syndrome) and liver is much less common.

IN last years There are edemas that appear in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and in people suffering from insufficient protein content in food. The accumulation of fluid in the body is explained by the fact that the kidneys excrete it in smaller quantities. The formation and distribution of intercellular and tissue fluids may also be disrupted as a result of increased pressure in the capillaries. The dependence of the formation of edema on the height of venous pressure is clearly visible in patients with mitral stenosis and left ventricular failure - their edema occurs primarily in the pulmonary circulation.

Hydrostatic blood pressure in individual organs is not the same. For example, the average blood pressure in the pulmonary capillaries usually does not exceed 10 mmHg. Art., and in the capillaries of the renal glomerulus is approximately 75 mm Hg. Art. Even in a single organ, such as a lower limb, capillary pressure varies depending on the position of the person. This explains the appearance of more or less pronounced swelling of the legs in the evening in people who spend the working day standing.

Morning swelling under the eyes is explained by the combined effect of very low interstitial pressure in these areas with a temporary increase in capillary pressure due to prolonged night time in a horizontal position. The formation of edema is also observed when the osmotic pressure of the blood plasma decreases (below 20 mm Hg). Since this pressure is created mainly by albumin, a reduced level of albumin in the blood is often accompanied by the formation of edema.

Edema can be a symptom of the following diseases:

Edema during pregnancy

Swelling during pregnancy is a very common occurrence. The mechanism of edema during pregnancy is associated with changes in water-salt metabolism, as well as as a result of impaired outflow of blood and lymph through the veins of the legs and changes in the blood and vascular wall. You can determine for yourself whether there is swelling during pregnancy: press your finger on the skin, if the skin quickly evens out, then everything is fine, but if there is a hole left, then most likely it is swelling.

There are 4 stages of development of edema during pregnancy:

swelling in the feet and legs;
swelling of the lower extremities, lower abdomen and lumbosacral region;
the addition of edema in the hands, the appearance of a pasty face “puffiness”;
general swelling.

If only your legs (feet and ankles) are swollen, this is natural. Usually, a lack of fluid and constant thirst occurs due to the increased need of the body. They appear in the evening and go away on their own by morning.

However, if swelling of the fingers occurs (the woman notes that she cannot wear a ring), swelling on the legs becomes permanent (shoes become tight), and swelling of the face is observed, then such swelling can be a symptom of a very serious complication of pregnancy - gestosis (late toxicosis).

The appearance of edema from 20 weeks, of course, should alert the pregnant woman and her doctor. Such a woman needs to be examined to determine the cause of the edema, but it should be remembered that not all edema observed during pregnancy is associated with gestosis. Edema in late pregnancy can also occur due to impaired outflow of urine due to compression of the ureters by the enlarged uterus.

Treatment of edema during pregnancy

Treatment of edema during pregnancy is usually prescribed depending on the results of the examination. If left untreated, swelling can spread throughout the body. Edema may be hidden. To diagnose them, regular weighing, blood pressure measurement, and urine analysis are used. The absence of visible swelling does not always indicate well-being.

There are so-called hidden edemas. To diagnose hidden edema, the patient is weighed regularly. The presence of hidden edema is indicated by a weight gain of more than 300-400 grams. per week, which has nothing to do with the amount of food consumed. Timely measures taken can prevent further development swelling.

Prevention of edema during pregnancy

To prevent the appearance of edema during pregnancy or at least reduce it, you need to follow the following recommendations.

For mild edema, treatment can be carried out on an outpatient basis. A dairy-vegetable diet is recommended for pregnant women.

Limit your intake of table salt (to 1-1.5 grams per day); in especially severe cases, switch to a salt-free diet.

Do not abuse sweet and carbonated drinks, which inhibit the removal of fluid from the body.

Do not reduce your water intake, as this may have the opposite effect. When you reduce fluid intake, the body will try to retain it, and swelling will increase accordingly. Drink at least 1.5 liters 2.0 liters of fluid. (including soup, cereals, juices, compotes).

However, we must remember that the amount of urine excreted should be 50% -80% of what was drunk.

Avoid situations that require you to stand or sit for long periods of time. Try to raise your legs to the top as often as possible. Try to stay in a hot place as little as possible.

Use kidney tea and other herbal infusions only as prescribed by a doctor.

If swelling occurs during pregnancy, you should definitely consult a doctor. He will establish the causes of this unpleasant phenomenon and help cope with it.

Edema in children

Swelling in a child is an alarming symptom that requires consultation with a specialist. The first thing you need to pay attention to when edema appears is small child is a kidney condition. An important diagnostic sign is the establishment of fluid retention.

This can be determined by measuring the amount of fluid consumed and excreted or by measuring weight. You should know how much liquid a child should drink according to age. If your urine is cloudy or foul-smelling, you should immediately consult a doctor.

In case of fluid retention, acute or chronic heart failure, disruption of the hormonal system, renal, hepatic, lymphatic or venous insufficiency are assumed. In the case of nephrotic syndrome, edema develops gradually.

Most often, parents pay attention to a sudden weight gain in their baby. Swelling may be noticeable around the eyes - so-called “bags under the eyes” appear; then the swelling progresses, affecting new areas of the body.

With diseases of the heart and blood vessels, swelling of the legs and general edema develop. The child experiences shortness of breath, wheezing in the lungs, and rapid pulse. If any of the listed symptoms are detected in a child, you should immediately consult a doctor.

However, edema in a child may be associated with other reasons:

incorrect daily routine;
lack of walks in the fresh air;
staying in one position for a long time;
excessive consumption of salt or sugar;
initial stage of development of diabetes mellitus;
allergic reactions of various etiologies.

In addition, swelling can be caused by poor diet. For example, in the absence of protein in the child’s diet, general edema develops, the child grows poorly and gains little weight, muscle dystrophy is observed, weak mental development. Vegetarian parents need to remember this.

Local swelling often develops around the eyes. They can form after strong crying, allergies, conjunctivitis. Facial swelling is most often caused by allergic reactions to cosmetics, food, and medications.

Experts associate the formation of bags under the eyes in children with several reasons:

genetic factor;
lack of sleep;
salt abuse;
diseases of the kidneys, blood vessels, heart;
anemia;
metabolic disease;
allergy;
inflammation of ENT organs;
eye diseases;
general fatigue;
individual features of the eye structure;
excessively hot weather;

Parents should remember that the child should sleep a lot and spend as much time outdoors as possible. You should not strictly adhere to the eight-hour sleep norm; your baby may need to sleep 10 or even 12 hours. All children are ready to exchange healthy porridge for sweets.

Be careful, your baby needs to be fed properly. Food should be varied and contain vitamins. Many parents note that in the summer, when children walk a lot, the circles under the eyes disappear, since the child sleeps enough, walks a lot, moves, eats a lot of vegetables, fruits and berries.

Symptoms of edema

Symptoms of edema depend on the amount of swelling and the part of the body affected. Swelling in a small area with infection or inflammation (such as from a mosquito bite) may not cause any symptoms at all.

On the other hand, major local allergic reactions (eg, from a bee sting) can cause swelling affecting the entire upper limb, or other areas depending on the location of the lesion. In this case, the symptoms will be: tense skin, pain and limited mobility.

Food allergies can lead to a swollen tongue or swelling of the throat, which can be life-threatening due to the risk of blocking the airway.

Swelling of the legs of any origin can lead to an increase in the size of the limb and, as a result, difficulty in walking (an example is heart disease, in which the legs can swell very much, increase in size, thereby making it difficult for a person to move). Severe swelling of the legs can lead to pinching of blood vessels and, as a consequence, the occurrence of a trophic ulcer.

Pulmonary edema leads to difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, which can lead to low oxygen levels in the blood. In some cases, with pulmonary edema, a cough with foamy sputum may be observed.

How to relieve swelling

It is best to combat swelling in a comprehensive manner: healthy eating+ more than 1 l clean water per day + 8 hours good sleep+ periodic medical examination so as not to miss minimal disorders in the body. But this is ideal, but in practice it happens that even a few sleepless nights will do their dark work - swelling of the eyelids will appear... How to relieve swelling of the face and legs - read on.

Mask for lower eyelids from bags

Grate a small piece of parsley root. Add strong tea leaves to it. The ingredients should be in equal proportions (for example, 1 tbsp.). Stir well and apply to the area under the eyes for 15-20 minutes. You can also use parsley without any additives.

Herbal ice cubes

An ice massage will quickly relieve puffiness under the eyes and even remove puffiness from the entire face. In addition, the skin will become toned. To do this, you need to prepare a decoction of herbs - chamomile, linden, green tea, sage, mint, St. John's wort, etc. Cool and pour into molds. Use as needed, preferably every morning, then the effect will be more pronounced and lasting.

Potato mask for puffy face

Grate raw potatoes on a fine grater and apply the mixture to the face, including the lower eyelid area. Wash off after 20 minutes. Potato juice is equally effective. Just soak a gauze pad in it and apply it to your face for 15-20 minutes.

Baths for swelling of the feet

An ice bath can improve blood circulation in the legs, but not everyone can withstand cold water. You can make a one-component decoction from the herbs of chamomile, rush, mint, linden, and oak bark. Cool it until room temperature and lower the legs for 15-30 minutes. Herbs can be replaced with sea salt.

Birch compress for feet

An ancient but effective remedy is birch leaves. Rinse them thoroughly and dry them. Place your feet in fabric bags (easy to sew yourself) and fill them with leaves. It is better to do the procedure at night, as it will take you about 5 hours to get the effect.

Treatment of edema

You can get help traditional medicine and brew special herbal infusions that promote the outflow of excess fluid. Take equal parts of bearberry leaves, birch buds, lingonberry leaves, crushed juniper fruits.

Pour boiling water over one tablespoon of this mixture and keep on low heat for 15 minutes. Then cool the broth, strain and consume 2 tablespoons 5-6 times a day.

In the fight against edema, you can use dandelion leaves, which are not only an excellent diuretic, but are also so rich in potassium that they perfectly compensate for its reserves in the body. This way, you can immediately solve two problems: reduce the intensity of swelling and maintain potassium levels. Dandelion leaf tea should be drunk three times a day, one glass at a time.

These herbs can also be used to solve the problem of kidney edema, which can appear not only on the legs, but also on the face, under the eyes. This type edema often signals problems with the kidneys, which are caused by past infectious diseases, or a disruption in their functioning.

In this situation, constant monitoring of the condition of the kidneys is very important, so patients with this pathology must often undergo a general urine test and a biochemical blood test.

Some drugs used to treat high blood pressure, arthritis, and osteochondrosis can cause peripheral edema. In this case, you should stop taking the medications and consult a doctor. Any type of edema must be treated with due attention, since quite often they are the first signals of the onset of the disease and can help in its early diagnosis.

Questions and answers on the topic "Swelling"

Question:During my second pregnancy, I began to swell a lot, the swelling persists even now, 3 years later. Tests show that everything is fine with the kidneys. They said that the swelling was most likely related to the blood vessels, because not only the legs, but also the arms swelled. I am 37 years old, I am not taking any medications at the moment, I took Duphaston during pregnancy.

Answer: Hello. It is necessary to examine not only the veins of the lower extremities, but also the whole body: check blood tests, kidneys (ultrasound), thyroid gland (ultrasound, hormones). Consult an endocrinologist. If everything is in order in this regard, contact a phlebologist (examination, ultrasound).

Question:Hello. I am 23. I swell very much, and not in certain areas of the body, but in my entire body. I practically don’t go to the toilet, all the fluid goes into the body. I was checked by a doctor, had many tests, had an ultrasound of my kidneys and abdominal cavity, and everything was fine with me. The swelling is accompanied by dizziness, nausea, even loss of consciousness (especially at night). At the same time, I gain a lot of weight up to 5 kg a day, especially when I am in an upright position. I noticed that all this intensifies before my period. I talked to me on the doctors forum They said that you may have idiopathic edema syndrome. Is this true? What it is? The cause of this syndrome? Is it possible to completely cure it? What tests should I take and for what purpose to confirm this diagnosis? And how long will it take to cure this? Please answer all the questions if you can, this is very important to me!

Answer: In this situation, especially if swelling increases during the premenstrual period, you should pay close attention to the level of sex hormones and, especially, estrogen. Since with a sharp increase in the level of estrogen in the blood, sodium ions and water may be retained in the body. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the level of these hormones in the blood and undergo an examination by an endocrinologist-gynecologist.

Question:Good afternoon Now I’m 37-38 weeks pregnant, I’ve had uterine hypertonicity throughout my pregnancy, since 22 weeks I’ve been taking ginipral 2t/day (now I’m reducing it to 0.5) and there’s pronounced swelling in the legs, abdomen, and arms. Blood and urine tests are normal. IV magnesium 20 ml inf. helped, but some doctors began to worry about uterine hypotension during childbirth. Eufillin - fetal steal syndrome. Orthosiphon and canephron do not help. Isn’t it better to take Triampur (after all, it’s prescribed for babies!), there are no contraindications in the 3rd trimester - why isn’t it prescribed? Is it advisable to take Triampur? How will it affect the baby?

Answer: Triampur is contraindicated during pregnancy, as a drug that can have a pronounced hypotensive effect.

Question:Hello! My son is 4 years old, he has bags under his eyes very often, his urine test is normal. What could it be? Thank you.

Answer: Swelling under the eyes can occur with some heart diseases, therefore, it is necessary to show the child to a cardiologist and undergo an ECG; if necessary, an ultrasound of the heart will be required. It is advisable to do an ultrasound of the abdominal organs to exclude pathologies of the liver and kidneys.

When we talk about excess weight, it is worth highlighting two main reasons: the first is associated with excess fat deposits, and the second is associated with swelling of the body. Surely, many do not know and have not even heard about the second reason, which is the reason for the recruitment excess weight. Swelling of the body- this is not uncommon in today's time, and quite often, in 60-70% of cases, it is swelling, accompanied by water retention in the body, becomes the cause of dissatisfaction with one’s body and reflection in the mirror. So today we will reveal such a very interest Ask why exactly does it occur body swelling, how to deal with it, and what products cause it swelling?

What is swelling?

Swelling– is an excessive accumulation of fluid in the organs, cells and tissues of the body. The cause of impaired fluid outflow may be the following:

Decrease in blood plasma albumin (blood proteins);
Increased capillary permeability due to toxic damage;
Increased pressure in capillaries;
Problems with the kidneys;
Consumption of large amounts of salt and all kinds of preservatives;
Casein protein;
Insufficient clean consumption drinking water.

At swelling of the body It’s useless to drink, and even the most powerful fat burners won’t help here, it’s also not worth killing yourself for hours on cardio, but following all the rules proper nutrition, alas, will not lead you anywhere... Edema syndrome will still prevail over all your efforts and ways to “lose weight,” because the problem here is not the excess subcutaneous fat layer, but water retention, and this is completely different concepts, and the approaches to them are also completely different.

From the point of view of proper nutrition, we are most interested in the last four reasons, which are closely interrelated. It is the excessive intake of salt and casein protein that leads to swelling of the body, as well as insufficient consumption of clean drinking water, which also leads to the accumulation of excess fluid in the body, and as a result, extra pounds on the scale. And all these reasons are regulated by our organ alone - the kidneys. Exactly excretory function The kidneys are responsible for the normal water-salt balance in our body and the absence of edema.

SALT. PRESERVATIVES. WATER

Nowadays, when there are practically no limits to the abundance of products, and the lack of conscience among the producers of these products is a normal phenomenon, the situation is such that the average person consumes an excessively large amount of thickeners, stabilizers, flavorings and other substances that your body does not need with food. This also includes SALT. If these preservatives enter your body day after day, then the excretory function of the kidneys simply may not cope with such a volume of work, ESPECIALLY if there is insufficient outside help in the form of clean WATER.

Water helps the kidneys remove all toxins and dangerous waste products from the body. She is the SOLVENT where all these harmful substances dissolve, then they enter the kidneys, which safely remove them from your body.

If there is a lack of water in the body, then toxins begin to accumulate in the body, and their favorite place, what do you think? That's right, adipose tissue! It is in adipose tissue that the accumulation of all toxins and breakdown products of protein, fat and carbohydrate metabolism occurs. Then water gets into this adipose tissue, which is why body swelling, and you begin to rapidly gain weight.

Therefore, the role of water in our body cannot be underestimated, I have always said this, I say it and will continue to say it. Each person needs to drink a MINIMUM of 1.5 liters of clean drinking water per day, this is the minimum, and with increasing physical activity this norm increases by 1.5-2 times.

CASEIN PROTEIN

In short, casein (milk protein) and lactose (milk sugar) can cause fluid retention in the body, which is the cause of your extra pounds. But if you dig deeper, these overweight may not be fat at all, but simply swelling from consuming your (and me too!) low-fat cottage cheese, which, by the way, has a very high concentration of casein, because when milk curdles, albumins pass into milk whey, and all the casein remains in milk... Just like that. And if you love cottage cheese as much as I love it, then try to eat it at least every other day in the morning and cottage cheese with a fat content of at least 2-3%. And if you want to completely get rid of edema syndrome, then you will have to completely give up any dairy products either temporarily (2-3 weeks before the vacation/celebratory event) or forever.

Signs of swelling

If you don't know swelling you or it's really extra body fat, then I advise you to see if you have the following signs:

Weight fluctuations during the day (one weight in the morning, and plus 1-2 kg in the evening)
Fluctuations in body volumes during the day (waist, hips, arms, etc.)

If based on these signs you cannot understand whether you have body swelling(since, in principle, weight fluctuates for all people during the day, even for those who do not suffer from edema syndrome), then you need to take a test for bioimpedansometry (BIA), where your complete body composition will be measured with a special device: fat and lean mass, as well as the total fluid content in the body. Based on the results of this diagnosis, you will know for sure whether you have swelling or not.

So, now you know that the reason for your extra pounds may not only be excess fat, but also water retention in the body, accompanied by general swelling of the body. If you haven’t thought about it before and tried to lose weight with everyone possible ways, but the weight never came off, then the reason may not be in fat deposits, but in edema syndrome, which must be dealt with using completely different methods. First, reduce your consumption of salty and stuffed foods. various kinds food preservatives, secondly, increase your daily intake of clean drinking water, thirdly, remove completely or reduce as much as possible the consumption of dairy products from your diet, and fourthly, examine your kidneys. These are the methods that will help you remove body swelling and see the long-awaited flat tummy and slender legs.

Sincerely yours, Janelia Skripnik!

Edema is an excessive amount of fluid in the body. Most often you can find swelling of the legs, eyes, i.e., individual parts of the body. Swelling can be general (whole body) and localized (only the forearms, for example). Edema of the entire body occurs much less frequently, and this indicates the presence of a serious pathology. So, why does swelling occur and how to get rid of it?

Causes

It should be understood that the disease in the initial stage will not lead to swelling of the entire body. This complication occurs in serious pathologies and advanced forms of various systemic diseases.

heart diseases;
kidney diseases;
liver diseases;
allergy;
arterial pressure;
thrombophlebitis;
extensive burns;
infections;
preeclampsia, eclampsia;
some inflammatory diseases

Depending on the etiology, the pathogenesis of edema may differ. Cardiac pathologies account for almost 90% of all others in terms of the frequency of occurrence of symptoms such as body edema. These are chronic heart failure, infective endocarditis, etc.

In heart disease, swelling begins in the legs; the left and right sides swell equally. They first appear on the feet and legs, and then rise higher. Anasarca, ascites, hydrothorax, and hydropericarditis occur. The patient has noticeable shortness of breath and acrocyanosis.

Kidney diseases are statistically on par with heart pathologies. These include: nephritis, chronic and acute renal failure, malignant kidney tumors, and the development of diabetic nephropathy.

When the kidneys fail to cope with their function, edema begins to appear. First, they can be detected in the morning under the eyes; if nothing is done, the swelling will spread throughout the body.

As a result of liver cirrhosis, fluid may be retained in the body, which sweats into the abdominal cavity, thereby causing ascites. The skin becomes yellow and a venous network appears on the abdomen (this is called the “head of the jellyfish”). Soon your legs and lower back may swell. There may be a low amount of protein (albumin) in the blood.

Angioedema is the body's reaction to an irritating factor, an allergen. Quincke's edema is a generalized edema. As a result of the action of the allergen, histamine and serotonin are produced in the body. in this case, the pathogenesis will be as follows: the permeability of the capillary walls increases.

The swelling develops extremely quickly, the lips, entire face and neck swell. Emergency help is required, minutes count, and if you do not help in time, swelling can block access to the airways, which will lead to respiratory arrest.

Swelling can develop as a result of allergy tests; in the place where the test was done, a reaction from redness to swelling of the forearm is possible.

Swelling can appear as a result of increased blood pressure and a decrease in the amount of protein (albumin) in the blood.

Thrombophlebitis is one of the causes of edema. The bloodstream must move, and for this reason, when a vessel is blocked, fluid seeps through the walls and accumulates in the tissues. When you press on the swelling, the skin will be red, over the place where there is thrombosis, it will be inflamed and painful.

Extensive burns and some serious infections can cause swelling of the body. They cause a reaction throughout the body, the permeability of the vascular walls increases, and fluid enters the intercellular space.

Preeclampsia and eclampsia are severe gestosis in pregnant women. This toxicosis manifests itself in late pregnancy. Swelling can spread throughout the body in just a couple of hours. Fluid accumulates on the back, lower back, abdomen, external genitalia, and legs. These diseases are characterized by the appearance of seizures. Why they occur is not entirely clear, but the condition is very dangerous. Treatment should be carried out exclusively in a hospital, under constant medical supervision.

In addition, the following diseases can lead to edema in pregnant women: chronic glomerulonephritis, cardiovascular failure.

In some diseases, swelling of the airways may occur. Pulmonary edema is also an emergency. The patient develops foamy red sputum. When providing first aid, it is necessary to use defoamers. Swelling of the upper respiratory tract occurs during an allergic reaction.

This pathology also occurs in children.

There are several serious infectious and inflammatory diseases that lead to swelling of the entire body and threaten the baby’s life. These are pathologies of newborns: bacterial sepsis and congenital viral infections(rubella, neonatal herpes, cytomegalovirus infection).

Intrauterine infection of the fetus occurs and the child is already born with a serious illness. There are cases when a woman does not bear a child and a miscarriage occurs.

All therapeutic measures are aimed at fighting infection, normal functioning of the respiratory tract, cardiovascular system, and, in general, a speedy recovery of the baby.

Symptoms

Looking at a person who has swelling of the body, it is clear that parts of the body are swollen, as if increased in size. The skin ceases to be elastic; if you press the skin with your finger and release it, a depression (pit) will remain on it.

The location of the swelling will depend on the disease. In cardiovascular patients, edema is located on the legs (lower leg, ankle). If this is a bedridden patient, then the swelling covers the lower back and sacrum. Sometimes, such diseases lead to the development of ascites, i.e. there will be swelling of the anterior abdominal wall.

Kidney diseases leave swelling first on the face, then on the ankle, lower leg, knee, abdominal cavity, genitals, sacrum, lower back.

Quincke's edema spreads to the entire face, neck, and also swells internal organs, this is the tongue, the larynx, the airways are being blocked.

Treatment

The first step is to find out the causes of edema. The location of edema, instrumental and laboratory tests will help diagnose the disease.

Treatment of the underlying disease must be prescribed first. Treatment will depend on the pathology. For allergies, for example, antihistamines and hormones are prescribed; it is necessary to act quickly so that the airways are not blocked. When there are inflammatory processes - anti-inflammatory ones.

If the swelling is severe and extensive, diuretics are prescribed to get rid of it. In cases where there is no strong need, you can wait to prescribe diuretics, since they remove salts and water from the body. When water is quickly removed from the body, blood viscosity increases, which consequently threatens the formation of blood clots.

Along with diuretics, you can prescribe antiplatelet agents (help reduce the adhesion of blood cells) and potassium supplements.

Nutrition plays an important role in the treatment of edema. It is impossible to get rid of edema without changing your diet. Appointed special diet, which includes diuretic products, reducing the amount of salt and fluid. Alcoholic drinks should be completely avoided for a while.

Prevention

The main prevention is timely treatment of diseases (causes of edema). Swelling does not appear overnight; it is a consequence of an advanced disease. Of course, you need to avoid injuries, allergens, etc. If a person has allergies, you need to try to eliminate contact with the allergen. If no one is nearby and help is not provided in time, swelling of the airways may occur.

To avoid congestion in the vascular bed, it is worth remembering physical activity. Even if your job requires you to spend a lot of time at your desk, you should take breaks and move as much as possible. Stagnant processes do not appear in a healthy body.

Bad habits negatively affect the condition of the body. Overweight people should watch their diet; they should try to eat more vegetables and less flour products.

You can get rid of edema, but nothing goes away without a trace for the body. Therefore, it is better to prevent such a condition than to deal with the consequences later.