What types of edema exist? How do they differ and what are their reasons for development? You will find answers to all these questions in this article. We will also tell you how to get rid of such unpleasant phenomena.
Swelling Basics
Types of edema depend on their location and causes of development. This condition is characterized by excessive accumulation of fluid in the tissue extracellular spaces and organs of a person. Most often, edema occurs after waking up, as well as at the end of the day.
Description of edema
The types of edema are determined depending on the causes of their occurrence. However, they are all alike. Edematous tissue is a severe or moderate swelling. Very often after contact with it (for example, when pressed with a finger), traces remain on the skin that may disappear after a few seconds or after a few hours.
Causes of edema
Swelling can develop for various reasons. Most often, the lower extremities undergo such a pathological condition. The types of edema of the legs depend on the causes of their occurrence. These include the following:
- large load on the lower extremities;
- excessive fluid intake, including at bedtime;
- flat feet;
- impaired metabolism;
- frequent crossing of legs in a sitting position;
- prolonged sitting on too soft or low seats;
- excess weight;
- poorly selected shoes (for example, with high heels or flat soles, with a tight boot and so on);
- varicose veins (especially often such edema occurs in the evening, and after sleep disappears).
It should also be noted that edema on the legs can develop as a result of impaired blood flow and hydrostatic pressure in the veins.
Other reasons
In addition to the listed causes of the development of edema, their occurrence may be associated with:
- violation of cardiovascular activity;
- kidney disease
- bowel diseases;
- acute respiratory infection;
- impaired lymph flow in the subcutaneous tissue and skin;
- thyroid disease;
- acute thrombophlebitis and the like.
Types of edema
The main types of edema include the following:
- Generalized (congestive or cardiac, as well as renal, endocrine and cachectic).
- Localized (inflammatory, toxic and allergic).
Consider all of the listed types of tissue edema in more detail.
Cardiac edema and their treatment
They arise as a result of the development of heart failure. With such a pathology, the cardiac output decreases, and arterial hypotension also increases.
An important role in the pathogenesis of cardiac edema is played by venous hypertension and venous congestion. The latter violates the normal metabolism in tissues in which under-oxidized metabolic products accumulate, and acidosis also develops. As a result of this, the structure of the cementing intercellular substance of the vessels is disrupted and their permeability increases. This phenomenon, combined with high pressure, provokes the movement of sodium, proteins and water from the capillary cavity into the interstitium. After this, edema develops.
How to treat such a pathology? Treatment of cardiac edema should be aimed at increasing the contractility of the myocardium by taking cardiac glycosides, as well as increasing the excretion of water and Na from the body by the appointment of diuretics.
Renal edema and a way to eliminate them
The reason for the development of this condition is a decrease in oncotic pressure in blood plasma. This process is due to proteinuria, which is observed with damage to the glomerular apparatus of the kidneys. After a significant increase in the filtration of water from arteries and capillaries in the interstitium, its resorption in the veins drops sharply. Thus, fluid accumulates in the tissues, and edema develops. How can it be eliminated?
Renal edema goes away only when taking diuretics. However, it should be remembered that the fight against such swelling is not able to lead to the normal functioning of the affected organs. Therefore, it is better to direct all the main efforts of drug exposure to the direct treatment of kidney pathology.
Marantic or cachectic edema and their therapy
This pathological condition develops in severe and debilitating diseases of the body, as well as extreme conditions, including malignant tumors, severe diarrhea, protein starvation, vitamin deficiencies and more.
The main reason for the occurrence of marantic or cachectic edema is a significant decrease in the synthesis of soluble plasma proteins and the development of hypoproteinemia, as well as a decrease in the synthesis of proteins in connective tissue. Also, this pathological condition is characterized by a significant increase in the permeability of capillaries for electrolytes and water, which subsequently accumulate in the interstitium.
How to treat these types of edema? The treatment of marantic or cachectic pathologies comes down to the treatment of the main diseases that were listed above.
Endocrine edema and methods of their therapy
The reason for the development of this condition is an increase in the hydrophilicity of the protein structures of muscles and skin. Very often, this pathology occurs with myxedema (i.e. hypothyroidism). For such a disease, protein catabolism is characteristic, as well as a distortion of their synthesis. As a result of this process, a huge amount of mucin is formed, that is, a hydrophilic colloid, which, accumulating in the muscles and skin, causes a water retention in them, and, accordingly, the development of swelling.
How are edema of this type removed? To eliminate them, doctors recommend using thyroxine, that is, thyroid hormone.
Now you know the main types of edema. They may not touch their faces, as these are generalized edema that occurs as a result of internal malfunctions in the body. If the swelling is noticeable to the naked eye, then we are talking about localized swelling. Consider its types, features and methods of treatment right now.
Inflammatory edema
Can an allergy precede this condition? Swelling due to such a reaction is quite real. According to experts, inflammatory and allergic swelling occurs due to local disorders of capillary permeability. Also, the cause of this phenomenon may be hypertension in the lesion.
To eliminate such conditions, any contact with the allergen should be eliminated, as well as anti-inflammatory and antihistamines.
Toxic edema
The main types of pulmonary edema are very often caused by inhalation of vapors of toxic chemicals. Also, this pathological condition may be associated with insect bites and bacterial toxins. Under the influence of such agents, vascular permeability suddenly increases and tissue metabolism is disrupted. As a result, components accumulate in the affected tissues, which increase the osmotic pressure and contribute to the swelling of colloids. In combination with increased capillary permeability, this leads to the development of swelling.
Therapeutic measures to eliminate toxic edema should be aimed at normalizing all metabolic processes in the tissues and stabilizing capillary membranes.
To summarize
As you can see, there are many types of edema, which can have completely different causes and require different treatment methods. But, no matter how swelling on the body does not bother the patient, you should first contact the therapist. After examining the patient, the doctor must send him to a narrower specialist who will confirm the diagnosis and prescribe the necessary treatment.
It cannot be said that delaying the treatment of edema can aggravate a person’s already difficult condition. Indeed, generalized and localized edema can even lead to death.