The lack of proteins in the body is steadily leading to tissue damage, degeneration, and exhaustion of organs. A pathological phenomenon causes a violation of healthy blood circulation. Fluids begin to stagnate in the tissues. The result is the occurrence of protein-free edema, when the limbs swell, causing a person to feel everyday discomfort. What is the essence of the violation? What are the symptoms of protein-free edema? What treatment methods are used to eliminate the trouble? All of this can be found in our publication.
About the reasons
What are the causes of protein-free edema? Deficiency of an essential microelement in the body can be observed according to a number of prerequisites:
- Following a strict diet in order to lose weight as soon as possible.
- Violation of the patency of food through the esophagus with pathology, which leads to a narrowing of the walls of the organ.
- Slow absorption of nutrients in the tissue in case of gastric ulcer, atrophy of the intestinal wall.
- Loss of proteins due to the formation of malignant tumors, the presence of other diseases leading to cell damage.
- The development of cirrhosis of the liver.
- Malfunctions in the functioning of the brain, endocrine system.
- Exhausting physical activities that cause the body to spend more energy than is required to maintain the stable functioning of organs and systems.
The above factors provoke protein-free edema, since they cause a slowdown in metabolic processes. Starvation of tissues with a lack of trace elements leads to accumulation of fluid in the lower extremities.
Stages of the disease and characteristic symptoms
According to the observations of doctors, protein-free edema develops in several stages:
- Initially, there is a decrease in the concentration of nutrients in the tissues of the body. Appetite increases markedly. A person begins to suffer from constant thirst. Regular urination only exacerbates the situation, forcing the kidneys to work in an enhanced rhythm. There is a decrease in body tone. The body loses weight.
- At the second stage, the muscles are weakened. The lower limbs swell significantly, the temperature rises. The feeling of constant hunger and thirst does not disappear anywhere. Dystrophy of the extremities develops. The problem of protein starvation of tissues negatively affects the work of all organs and systems. Mental health worsens.
- The last stage in the development of pathology is characterized by the splitting of stores of subcutaneous fat. Internal organs atrophy. Exhaustion of the body along with puffiness affects the impossibility of movement.
Diagnostic measures
How is pathology diagnosed? To find out whether swelling is protein-free in nature, doctors resort to palpation of problem areas of tissues. Persistent dents after pressing on the extremities will indicate the presence of trouble.
The progress of the disease can be determined by injecting saline under the skin. If, after half an hour has passed, the substance will completely dissolve in the tissues, then there is no reason for concern. In the case of preservation of the edematous region, the doctor is obliged to record the patient for tests, which are ways to confirm the protein fasting of the body.
Protein-free swelling of the feet with oncology
During treatment aimed at eliminating cancer, swelling of the limbs is often formed. A prerequisite for the formation of trouble can be chemotherapy, the inability of damaged digestive organs to break down protein from food. Protein deficiency in the body during oncology often causes the use of hormonal preparations, all kinds of steroids.
In itself, the pathological phenomenon does not pose a critical threat to life. However, the process of cell renewal slows down significantly. The result may be the occurrence of infectious manifestations.
Failures in the body after cesarean section
Edema after cesarean section is a fairly common occurrence. Surgery becomes a serious stress for a woman's body. Blood gains increased density. Possible endocrine disorders. To improve well-being, a woman can resort to taking warm foot baths containing sea salt, as well as rubbing her feet and self-massage.
Food
It is quite difficult to achieve weight gain and high-quality saturation of tissues with proteins during the development of pathology due to a balanced diet. Therefore, it is extremely important to consult a doctor to develop an individual diet. The main focus should be on regular intake of protein foods in small portions with limited physical activity. If the disease is in an advanced stage, it is advisable to resort to intravenous administration of nutrients into the tissues. These measures potentially make it possible to restore a healthy concentration of nutrients in the body.
Drug therapy
How to treat protein-free edema with drugs? Here are a few solutions:
- Intravenous injections of glucose, albumin, vitamin complexes.
- The use of diuretic medications for patients.
- The use of steroid hormones in order to increase degrading muscle mass.
- Injections of calcium chloride to prevent convulsive conditions.
These measures should complement the main treatment. If anorexia nervosa is at the root of the pathology, the patient should be observed by a psychiatrist. In the presence of malignant tumors, drug treatment of protein deficiency should be performed in a hospital. In case of disorders of the digestive system, drugs to eliminate puffiness should be used under the supervision of a gastroenterologist.
Treatment with diuretic products
Minor, mild swelling of the extremities that arose due to protein starvation of the body can be eliminated thanks to a special diet. For these purposes, a number of fruits and vegetables can be used, one of the properties of which is the removal of fluid from the body. Known diuretic foods to relieve swelling:
- Watermelon - has long been used as a means that activates the kidneys. The use of the product makes it possible to significantly reduce swelling of the extremities. To achieve the goal, it is enough to eat about 2 kilograms of fruit pulp during the day.
- Pumpkin is another useful product with a pronounced diuretic effect. It is recommended to consume per day about one and a half kilograms of pulp. In order to saturate the body with useful micronutrients, it is worth adding dried fruits thermally processed in a steam bath to pumpkin puree.
- Grapes - the use of berries allows not only to remove from the tissues an abundance of stagnant liquid, but also to saturate the tissues with vitamins. With protein starvation, it is advisable to start with the use of 0.5 kilograms of product per day. If a negative reaction of the body is noted, it is worth abandoning the grapes.
Alternative methods of treatment
With protein starvation of the body, which causes swelling of the limbs, it is useful to use flaxseeds. Based on the product, you can prepare a healing broth. For these purposes, about four tablespoons of flax seeds are poured with a liter of boiled water. The remedy is insisted for several hours. The fluid is decanted and combined with lemon juice. The medicine is absorbed 5-6 times a day, 100 milliliters. The disappearance of puffiness is usually observed after a week.
Perfectly removes stagnant fluid from the body of onions. Vegetable is cut into large rings and covered with a glass of sugar. The product is left in the container overnight. In the morning, the resulting juice is decanted and consumed in a tablespoon 2-3 times a day.
Helps to remove puffiness decoction of viburnum. A few large tablespoons of berries are poured with a glass of boiling water. The composition is heated at minimum heat for half an hour. The drink is absorbed on an empty stomach, before lunch and before bedtime, a third of a glass.
The healing properties of a decoction based on cherry stalks are different. The ingredient in the amount of a tablespoon is brewed in a glass of boiled water. The tool is insisted until completely cooled. During the day they drink a third of the serving. In order to relieve puffiness, the medicine is taken for a month.
A cornflower plant acts as a good natural diuretic. To prepare an infusion against protein-free puffiness, a tablespoon of dried picking grass flowers is poured with boiled water in an amount of 200 milliliters. The medicine is insisted for an hour. Take the drug three times a day. The one-time rate is half a glass.
To remove puffiness will allow the use of infusion from parsley root. The product is ground into a meat grinder. A few tablespoons of the ingredient is poured with boiling water. The container with the composition is covered with a lid, wrapped in a warm cloth and left in this state overnight. In the morning, the liquid is carefully filtered and combined with fruit juice in order to improve the taste. The drug is gradually drunk during the day. Then take a break for 2-3 days and repeat the treatment. Resorption of puffiness will be noticeable after the second course of taking the medicine.
Massage and gymnastics
One of the most important rehabilitation solutions for protein-free swelling of the limbs is massage. Due to the regular study of pathological tissues, the outflow of fluid is significantly accelerated. Lymph is constantly updated, congestion is reduced. However, resorting to such events should only be after approval by the attending physician.
As for gymnastics, much depends on the degree of development of pathology. If the progress of the disease has reached a critical point and caused dystrophy, it is worth resorting to minimal physical exertion. Activity needs to be increased gradually. Gymnastic procedures will accelerate the metabolism, which will positively affect the absorption of protein in tissues. As in the case of massage, only a specialist can create a suitable, safe training program for protein-free puffiness.