Treating Edema With Compression

ByChristine M Harrell

Edema can affect any area of the body, but usually if affects legs, ankles, feet, arms and hands. The swelling is caused when tiny blood vessels leak fluid that is trapped in the surrounding tissue.

Prevention and Control
Occasional mild forms of edema can be controlled by ingesting less salt and by wearing compression garments, but may go away without treatment. Recurring edema or severe swelling of the tissue should be monitored by a doctor, as an underlying disease such as kidney disease, cirrhosis of the liver or heart failure could be the cause. The swelling could also be caused by pregnancy or as a side effect of medication.

Symptoms
A puffiness or swelling of tissue right under the skin is one of the symptoms. It can also present itself with shiny, stretched skin or increased abdominal size. If the skin is pressed for several seconds and retains a dimple when the pressure is removed, edema could be present. If chest pain, shortness of breath or any difficulty in breathing occurs, immediate medical attention is needed. Make sure that the medical responders are made aware of the other symptoms, no matter how mild they may seem.

Remedies
Raising the affected limb above the heart is the most effective edema treatment for mild cases. In most instances the swelling of the tissue will go away with no other treatment. A doctor may choose to prescribe drugs to treat cases that are more severe. Compression sleeves, stockings or gloves will help to keep the fluid from collecting in the tissue of a limb that affected and a medical care professional may recommend that the patient use them. Compression garments increase the resistance to the fluid leaking out of the vessels and work especially well for treating cases of peripheral edema.

Compression Sleeves
If compression sleeves are recommended as treatment or prevention, it is important that a comfortable sleeve is found so that it will be worn as directed. If the condition is not treated, it could lead to complications. The swelling may become increasingly painful, stiffness of the limbs may occur, walking difficulties may arise and the stretched skin affected by the untreated edema can become itchy and uncomfortable with a risk of infection. The skin of the affected limb may also face a higher risk of skin ulcers. The proper compression sleeve will be comfortable enough so that the need to wear it will not be ignored and the leaking and swelling can be relieved.

Author is a freelance copywriter. For more information about compression stockings, please visit http://www.brightlifedirect.com/.

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Christine M Harrell

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MLA Style Citation:
Harrell, Christine M.".".24 Apr. 2012EzineArticles.com.25 Apr. 2012 .APA Style Citation:
Harrell, C. M. (2012, April 24). . Retrieved April 25, 2012, from http://ezinearticles.com/?Treating-­Edema-­With-­Compression&id=7021439Chicago Style Citation:
Harrell, Christine M. "." EzineArticles.com. http://ezinearticles.com/?Treating-­Edema-­With-­Compression&id=7021439EzineArticles.com© 2012 EzineArticles.com
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