What to do for swelling?

Edema is essentially an excessive accumulation of fluid in the body (or organ), the appearance of edema is always associated with a pathological process in the body. There are quite a few reasons for edema, and what to do with edema depends on what provoked the pathology.

Read also:

• What to do if your throat is swollen?
• What to do if your face is swollen?
• What to do if your legs are swollen?

What to do about swelling during pregnancy?

More than half of women experience swelling during pregnancy. Swelling usually begins in the last months of pregnancy and doctors consider this to be the first sign of gestosis (a serious complication of the normal course of pregnancy). According to doctors, swelling that occurs against the background of high blood pressure and the appearance of protein in the urine is especially dangerous.

Such conditions require immediate treatment. The first thing to do with edema is to adjust the diet of a pregnant woman. She should reduce salt intake to 8 g, completely eliminate spicy, fried, smoked dishes. It is better to steam, stew or boil food. You should also reduce the amount of liquid you drink per day - it is recommended to drink no more than 1.2 liters, taking into account the liquid that comes with first courses, berries, fruits, etc.

If necessary, the doctor can prescribe medications to strengthen the walls of blood vessels, vitamins that will prevent fluid from leaking into the tissue.

Diuretic teas or infusions are also good for reducing swelling, but they should only be taken after consulting with your gynecologist.

For a diuretic effect, use dry apple peel (15g), steamed with boiling water (250ml). The peel should be infused for about ten minutes and taken half a glass several times a day (up to 6 times).

Undiluted birch sap is also a good diuretic; you can drink a glass 2-3 times a day.

Diuretics are used only after a doctor's prescription; usually the need to use such drugs arises in cases of very severe edema.

It is worth noting that an active lifestyle, regular physical activity (slow walking, special gymnastics) help prevent swelling in pregnant women, or at least make swelling less pronounced.

Pregnant women who experience swelling in their legs are advised to elevate their legs above body level while resting (or while sleeping), which will help drain fluid from the extremities.

What to do if you have swelling after childbirth?

Some women may continue to have swelling after childbirth. Usually, the causes of swelling after childbirth are associated with vascular diseases, but in any case, a specialist consultation and examination are necessary, after which the doctor will recommend what to do with swelling and how to improve the condition.

If you have swelling in your legs, you need to rest more. In this case, when lying down, your legs should be slightly higher than your body. You can also regularly do a few simple exercises (rising on your toes, making circular movements with your feet, rolling from your toes to your heels).

During night rest, it is recommended to lie on your left side, which will help improve blood circulation.

It is also not recommended to cross your legs while sitting on a chair, and do not stand for long periods of time (if this is unavoidable, you can do simple exercises that will help improve blood circulation in your legs).

Diet also plays an important role during swelling. You need to add blood thinning foods to your menu (viburnum, lemon, grapes, tomatoes). You need to eat small portions, eat steamed, stewed or boiled dishes.

After consultation with a specialist and examination results, vitamins or minerals may be prescribed to improve the condition of blood vessels, thin the blood, etc.

Tea, cocoa, coffee, carbonated drinks should be strictly limited, you can drink herbal tea, grape juice, cranberry juice, clean water. A decoction of dried apricots helps well with swelling (dried apricots should be poured with boiling water for 12 hours, you can leave it overnight, and drink it in the morning half an hour before eating).

A foot massage, baths with juniper berries, sea salt or mustard will help improve the condition a little. Contrast baths are effective for swelling, to which herbal decoctions can be added to enhance the effect.

What to do if your body swells?

General swelling (throughout the body) can occur as a result of high blood pressure, allergic reactions, heart failure, or kidney problems.

What to do with body edema depends on the cause that provoked the pathological process. With body edema, there is an accumulation of a large amount of fluid in the tissues. Usually, treatment begins with the prescription of diuretics, which stimulate the kidneys and help remove excess fluid from the body. Further treatment depends on the disease identified during the examination.

It should be noted that swelling can occur in women during menopause, as well as 8-10 days before menstruation, which is a physiological process and does not require additional treatment.

Also, swelling of the body can be caused by the abuse of salty foods, alcohol, and obesity.

What to do if your hand is swollen?

Swelling of the hands occurs as a result of accumulation of a large amount of interstitial fluid in the limbs. Swelling can affect one or both limbs, the pathology can develop gradually or can occur suddenly. If the hand (hands) is immobile, swelling can increase, with movement, in particular when raising the hands or doing physical exercises, swelling decreases.

What to do with swelling of the hands should be recommended by a doctor. Treatment is aimed at preventing the accumulation of fluid in the hands. The cause of the pathology is determined after a full examination.

Usually hands swell due to cardiovascular diseases, improper functioning of the kidneys, liver, endocrine disorders, congestion, and also poor nutrition.

Depending on the cause of hand swelling, treatment is prescribed.

Usually, after the primary disease is eliminated, swelling of the hands no longer bothers the patient.

In case of edema, it is important to balance your diet, exclude foods that promote fluid retention in the body, and reduce salt intake.

To remove excess fluid from the body, diuretics (furosemide, triphas) and herbal infusions are prescribed.

What to do in case of severe swelling?

What to do with swelling depends on the reason for its appearance. Severe swelling is a signal that the functioning of organs or systems in the body is disrupted, so if swelling occurs systematically, you should undergo an examination and determine the cause.

Severe swelling may be the result of an allergic reaction, in which case urgent hospitalization is recommended. Before the ambulance arrives, it is necessary to eliminate the allergen, provide the victim with fresh air, and, if necessary, give an antiallergic drug or an injection with an antihistamine (tavegil, fenistil).

What to do with pulmonary edema?

Pulmonary edema is a rather serious condition that can occur as a result of inhaling certain gases, heart defects, blockage of the pulmonary vessels, air entering the pleural cavity, acute respiratory failure, etc.

Pulmonary edema manifests itself as chest pain, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, rapid heartbeat, and cold sweat.

If you suspect pulmonary edema, you should call an ambulance immediately.

It is also important to know what to do with pulmonary edema before the emergency services arrive. If the person is conscious, you need to sit him up, remove any clothes that are constricting his breathing (unbutton the collar), open the window for fresh air, and you can also give him a furosemide and nitroglycerin tablet.

What to do if there is swelling due to a burn?

Swelling after a burn is the body's natural response to injury.

Everyone should know what to do with swelling from burns. First of all, the burn site is washed with a large amount of cold water, then the surface is treated with an antiseptic (severe burns cannot be treated with alcohol-based solutions).

If the burn covers a large area and is deep, you should seek help from a specialist.

Levomekol ointment helps relieve swelling after a burn; it is applied to the affected area (preferably at night); after treatment, the wound should be covered with a sterile napkin.

What should you do if you have swelling?

What to do with swelling, in most cases depends on the cause that provoked the pathological process in the tissues. Excess fluid in the body can accumulate for various reasons, in some cases you can cope with swelling on your own, for example, by changing your diet, daily routine, etc. However, some conditions require a specialist consultation and a full examination, so if the swelling does not go away for a long time, even after changing your lifestyle, then the cause is a disease of the internal organs.

It is important for everyone to know what to do in case of swelling, since in some cases, severe swelling, especially of an allergic nature, which develops quickly, requires quick action, on which a person’s life may depend.