what causes adema?

Question

anybody know what causes edema?

Answer 1

It can be caused by many things!!
Basically, edema is fluid retention...
Heart problems, lung or kidney problems; dehydration(believe it or not!); any kind of electrolyte imbalance; too much sodium...
That's a tough question to answer, without more specifics.
Where is the edema (feet, hands, etc...?) Is it in an elderly person, or young? When did it start? How was it noticed/diagnosed? Is there something that makes it worse? Or better?
EEEK! Wish I could help more, but that is a very broad question!
You can e-mail, or IM me if you'd like.....maybe I could help if I knew more facts?

Answer 2

Edema is an accumulation of fluid between cells in the soft tissue of the body. Any part of the body can develop edema. The underlying cause may be much more serious than the accumulation of fluids. Often times, edema is an early warning sign for a much more profound illness such as:

AIDS
Cirrhosis of the liver
Congestive Heart Failure
Diabetes
Vena Cava Syndrome
Some sort of infection
Allergies

Answer 3

Edema (Oedema if you are in Australia) is a build up of fluid in the tissues of the body.

Most commonly it affects the legs and lower parts as gravity drags the fluid down.

To understand oedema, you will have to understand how the body moves fluid around.

You pump blood around the body with your heart and the blood (with fluid) goes out to the arms and legs and so forth in arteries.

Then the oxygen and nutrients are exchanged in capillaries.

Then the blood comes back in veins.

Fluid leaks out as well - by a process called Osmosis. There is a bit of fluid leaking out of the capillaries where the oxygen and nutrients are exchanged, but usually there is enough stuff (albumin, a blood protein) in the blood to pull fluid back into the blood by osmosis.

Any excess fluid in the tissues is normally mopped up by another system called Lymphatics.

So

If you block the veins (DVT, heart failure and increased venous pressure build up) you can get swelling and more fluid into the tissues

If you block the lymphatics (cancers, operations taking out lymph nodes and such) you can get swelling and more fluid into the tissues

If you decrease the albumin (liver disease, kidney disease, poor nutrition) you can get swelling and more fluid into the tissues

That covers most things that cause edema.


OOOH - I forgot, if you have an injury to the capillary bed making them more leaky you get edema too...

like crush injuries, burns, infection in the area

Answer 4

Medications or substances causing Edema:

The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Edema as a symptom. This list is incomplete and various other drugs or substances may cause your symptoms. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

Oral contraceptive pills
Steroids
NSAIDs
Lithium
Phenylbutazone

Drug interactions causing Edema:

When combined, certain drugs, medications, substances or toxins may react causing Edema as a symptom.

The list below is incomplete and various other drugs or substances may cause your symptoms. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

Actos and rosiglitazone interaction
Avandia and rosiglitazone interaction
Avandamet and rosiglitazone interaction
Indomethacin and dipyridamole interaction
Indochron E-R and dipyridamole interaction

Answer 5

Hi,

Swelling involves the enlargement of organs, skin, or other body structures. It is caused by excessive buildup of fluid in the tissues. This buildup can lead to a rapid increase in weight over a short period of time (days to weeks).

Regds,

Venkat.

Answer 6

Well, I have seen your other question...and since it is in one leg...I would say DVT.

If it was in both legs, fluid retention, heart or kidney problems are the most common problems.

Answer 7

there are lots of causes but most common is due to decreased protein levels in your body. it can be associated in diseases of kidney and heart also.

Answer 8

a lot of things can cause edema
eg heart failure, lymphatic blockage by nematode filaria , nephrotic syndrome etc etc etc