Occasional Edema
- Occasional Edema Icd 10
- Occasional Edema Treatment
- Occasional Edema Symptoms
- Occasional Edema
- Occasional Edema Meaning
- Edema Edema is a buildup of fluid somewhere in the body. When it builds up in the legs, it is called peripheral edema. “Fluid”, in this context, is a general catch-all term that can include lymphatic fluid, blood, water, or other substances.
- Mild, occasional swelling of your legs and feet can be caused by temporary fluid build-up. Gravity can play a role. For example, if you have gone on a long car ride or airplane flight, or have been standing for a long period of time, then fluid may collect in your calves, ankles and feet.
Left leg swelling is not an uncommon occurrence since it can arise from a collection of different causes. These causes are, however, highly varied and most indicate a potentially serious—or at least problematic—underlying issue. Generally speaking, anything capable of causing left leg swelling has the potential to also make your right leg swell.
The distinction of whether one or both legs are swollen can help in the diagnoses since certain conditions are more likely to affect just one leg at a time.
Angioedema is swelling under the skin often appearing around the eyes and lips. Dehydration (Children) Dehydration, or not getting enough fluid, causes dry and sticky mouth, tearless crying, and more in children. Burn (heat or fire) Burns caused by heat are called thermal burns and can cause pain swelling, skin changes, blisters and more. Many conditions cause the body to respond by swelling in certain areas due to inflammation. Dactylitis is when such swelling occurs in the fingers and causes a sausage-like appearance.
What Causes Left Leg Swelling?
Although there are several possible causes for left leg swelling, they all fall under one of two umbrella categories:
Edema
Edema is a buildup of fluid somewhere in the body. When it builds up in the legs, it is called peripheral edema. “Fluid”, in this context, is a general catch-all term that can include lymphatic fluid, blood, water, or other substances.
Inflammation
Inflammation is a type of tissue swelling that arises due to injury or illness as part of the immune reaction.
Causes of Left Leg Swelling: Edema
Sitting or Standing
Sitting down or standing up for a prolonged period causes your body to retain water and can cause temporary swelling. This is most often seen in passengers on long airline flights. For the most part, this kind of swelling is harmless other than a wobbly sensation when you start trying to walk again.
Kidney Damage
In addition to waste, your kidneys also filter excess water out of the body. If something has impaired the kidney’s ability to function, then this extra fluid has no way to escape the body. Gravity dictates that it passes downwards, hence swelling in the legs. The potential causes of this type of damage are too extensive to get into here but can include infection, cancer, heart attack, direct injury, vascular disorders, and autoimmune conditions.
Congestive Heart Failure
When the heart weakens enough that it cannot pump blood effectively, congestive heart failure will occur. The “congestive” part of the name is from how blood will become congested and pool in various parts of the body without the full strength of the heart to move it around. Blood pooling in the legs, ankles, and feet will cause swelling. Congestive heart failure can arise due to hardened arteries, damage from a heart attack, coronary heart disease, damage from infection, and similar causes.
Blood Clot
This is one of the few edema-related causes of left leg swelling that may only affect one leg at a time. A blood clot can form under various conditions, such as if you have a clotting disorder or are immobile for extended periods like after an injury or during a hospital stay. Age, being overweight, smoking, family history, and pregnancy can also affect likelihood of developing a clot. Regardless of why it happens, a blood clot will partially or fully obstruct the vein in your leg. Without anywhere to go, the blood will pool and cause swelling in the affected leg. Pain is also a common symptom, but one that doesn’t always occur. If it does, the pain will start in the calf and feel like an intense cramping or sore sensation. Signs of a blood clot should always be brought to your doctor’s attention since there is the potential for the clot detaching and traveling to one of your organs.
Medication
Some drugs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can cause fluid retention and result in left leg swelling. The likelihood of this increases with long-term use. Some diabetes and blood pressure pills can also cause edema due to the way they affect circulation and blood flow.
Causes of Left Leg Swelling: Inflammation
Occasional Edema Icd 10
Injury
Any sufficient injury to the leg, ankle, or foot is capable of producing an inflammatory response. Potential injuries can include breaking the leg or foot, snapping a tendon, or a sprained ankle. These events usually follow a physical injury, accident, or some form of intense exertion. In addition to swelling and redness, the affected leg will have trouble bearing weight and be painful to the touch.
Cellulitis
Cellulitis is a type of skin infection that can happen when bacteria (usually staph or strep) get into the skin through a break or cut. It creates a swollen, red area of skin that will be tender and hot to the touch. Although cellulitis can appear anywhere on the body, the lower legs are where it is most commonly seen. Cellulitis is always a concern to doctors since it has the potential to develop into sepsis if the infection reaches the blood stream. If you have a red, swollen, painful rash that is changing rapidly along with a fever, seek emergency medical care immediately.
Arthritis
Arthritis comes in a few different flavors depending on the exact cause and area affected. The general idea remains the same, though: something is affecting the integrity of the joints and your bones are beginning to rub directly against one another. In addition to making mobility painful and difficult, the joints and surrounding area can become swollen. If this happens in the knee or ankle, you can get a swollen left leg as a result. Incidentally, gout is a type of arthritis caused by an accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints rather than the bones themselves coming into contact.
Treating Left Leg Swelling
Treatment for the left leg relies heavily on the underlying diagnoses. If you believe your left leg swelling warrants treatment, then it is imperative that you bring it to your doctor’s attention along with any associated symptoms in order to get the proper care. Almost every cause of left leg swelling can lead to deformity, disability, impaired quality of life, intense pain and discomfort, or death if left unaddressed. The exact treatment you get will vary wildly depending on the root cause, but a few recurrent elements can be seen:
- Diuretics to make you pee out excess water
- Low-salt diet to help maintain fluid balance
- Compression stockings to force excess fluids out of the leg
- Surgery
- Antibiotics
- Anti-inflammatory drugs
- Rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE for sports injury)
- Lifestyle changes
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Water retention is a common problem associated with pregnancy, diabetes, menstruation, periods of prolonged heat, and inactivity due to injury or illness. Water retention (edema) often manifests in the legs. Discomfort and occasional pain from swollen feet or legs most often arises after period of prolonged sitting or bed-rest.
Tips to Reduce Swelling in Legs
Occasional Edema Treatment
Along with the sensation of heavy legs, many people struggle with swollen ankles, calves, and feet. Edema, or excess water accumulating in body tissue, though uncomfortable, is generally considered non-threatening. Swollen legs resulting from water retention, however, can signal more serious health conditions related to kidneys or the heart. Anyone suffering from protracted edema should consult with a physician.
Engaging in physical activities such as walking can reduce swelling in legs.
What Causes Swollen Legs
All other conditions aside, swollen legs due to water retention are often the result of a lack of regular physical activity. Due to periods of prolonged inactivity and/or other health or hormonal conditions can cause capillaries to leak water into the surrounding tissues. Increased pressure in the capillaries prevents water from returning to the bloodstream. The resulting decrease in water in the bloodstream prompts the kidneys to withhold water to compensate for the imbalance.
When the kidneys withhold more fluid, more fluid seeps through the capillaries, thereby prompting further water-retention in the Kidneys. The cycle continues, and swelling accelerates rapidly in an affected region, such as the legs.
Lack of physical activity often causes swollen legs
Many potential factors contribute to the development of edema. Hot weather, hormone fluctuations, and a high sodium diet can contribute to increased fluid secreting into surrounding tissues. Edema may also arise as a side effect of certain medications. Although it seems to arise suddenly and without warning, water retention often takes much longer to subside, many times lasting for several days.
When to Consult a Doctor
Occasional Edema Symptoms
In most cases, edema is completely harmless. Usually, the condition disappears within 24 hours. If the conditions is persistent or recurring, consult your physician immediately. Persistent edema may signal serious kidney problems, diabetes, or cancer. Consult with a physician immediately if there is sudden swelling of the legs and/or the swelling is accompanied by a hot sensation or direct pain. If there are other symptoms, such as fever, shortness of breath, or chest pain you may need immediate emergency care.
Even in cases where serious causes of edema have been ruled-out, the condition should not persist without intervention. Swelling often arises with pain, itching, and sometimes skin rashes. In addition, water weight can increase the risk of infections, pressure sores, ulcers, and the development of blood clots in the legs, as clots are a bi-product of increased capillary pressure.
What you can do to reduce swelling in legs and water retention:
Reduce swelling in legs with a food bath using warm and cold water
Occasional Edema
- When the legs feel swollen, firm, or tight, it helps to tread cold water and use foot baths that alternate between hot and cold water.
- Elevating the legs relieves some of the pressure and promotes the flow of fluids from the body’s extremities.
- A low-sodium diet prevents excessive water retention and promotes the efficient exchange of bodily fluids.
- Engaging in regular physical activities such as jogging, stretching, yoga, walking, cycling, and resistance training support healthy blood flow and promote excretion of harmful substances from the tissues.
- Avoiding prolonged periods of sitting and/or recline.
- Wearing compression stockings on swollen legs help to apply pressure to the legs and prevent water accumulation in those effected regions.
- Consuming naturally diuretic foods and drinks and medications may be prescribed by a doctor to flush the kidneys and thereby relieve uncomfortable leg swelling.