How to Treat Edema and Reduce Swelling

How to Treat Edema and Reduce Swelling

Introduction

After an exhausting day, have you ever noticed your legs, feet, or ankles feeling swollen? This might be edema. Edema can cause pain and make it hard to carry on with your normal life. The good news is  - edema swelling can be cured with simple lifestyle changes. In this blog, we will break down edema, discuss common causes of edema and edema treatment options. 

What is Edema?

When extra fluid builds up in your body tissues, usually the legs, feet and ankles, it causes edema. Quite a few of us will have felt the puffiness in our feet and ankles once we stand or sit for too long, or throughout travel — especially on long flights. 

Common Cause of Edema

Here are a few reasons you might have edema:

  1. Medical Conditions:
  • Poor Blood Circulation: When your blood doesn’t flow properly, fluid can pool in certain parts of your body, especially in the lower legs
  • Heart Disease: Fluid can build up in your heart when it doesn’t function properly, often leading to swollen feet and ankles
  • Kidney Problems: Your kidneys help regulate fluid in the body. When there is a kidney disorder, it can cause edema.
  • Pregnancy: It’s common to have swollen feet and ankles during pregnancy because your body is holding more water.
  • Medication Side Effects: Certain medications, like those for blood pressure or inflammation, can cause edema as a side effect.
  1. Lifestyle Factors:
  • Standing or Sitting Too Long: Whether you’re at work or traveling, staying in one position for too long can cause fluid to accumulate in your legs and lead to swollen feet and ankles.
  • High Salt Diet: If you’re eating too much salt, your body will retain extra water, which can be a cause of edema. 
  • Obesity: Carrying extra weight puts more pressure on your veins, leading to fluid buildup and cause edema.

How to Treat Edema?

Let us explore some effective ways to treat edema. Edema might require medical treatment depending on its cause. In some cases, simple lifestyle changes can help restore healthier circulation of fluids.

  1. Medical Treatments:
  • Diuretics: Often called “water pills,” these help your body get rid of the extra fluid by making you urinate more. It’s a common treatment for edema caused by medical issues.
  • Compression Garments: Wearing compression stockings or sleeves can improve circulation and reduce swelling in swollen feet and ankles.
  • Treating Underlying Conditions: If your edema is caused by heart or kidney issues, getting those conditions under control can help reduce swelling.
  1. Lifestyle Modifications:
  • Elevating Your Legs: The most effective way to unwind swollen feet and ankles is to simply elevate the legs at a level above the heart. The movement of gravity will push the excess fluid down and help the body absorb all the excess fluid in the swollen area.
  • Cut Back on Salt: Unhealthy eating habits and more salt intake produces more fluid in the body, causing swelling at the extremities (arms and legs). Eating more salt than the body needs makes the body retain more water which leads to swelling.
  • Regular Exercise: Exercising and moving the body as often as possible will enhance blood flow and circulation, thus avoiding the accumulation of fluids within the feet. Stretching, walking or any such movement can help reduce swelling in the feet.
  • Stay Hydrated: It may feel strange to some, but taking a lot of water dilutes sodium levels and helps in lymphatic drainage.

Now that you know how to get rid of swelling in feet, let us discuss ways to prevent edema in future.

Preventing Edema in the Future

Here are some helpful tips to keep the swelling at bay:

  • Regular Exercise: 

Staying active is important to prevent the recurrence of edema. Avoid sitting or standing still for long periods of time. A simple brisk walk or yoga is helpful in increasing circulation and preventing swollen feet and ankles. 

  • Healthy Diet 

Eating low sodium but balanced diet with a lot of vegetables and fruits can prevent fluid accumulation. Potassium-containing foods, such as bananas may also control the amount of sodium salt in the body lowering the chances of getting edema.

  • Keep Health Conditions in Check 

If you have medical conditions such as heart diseases or kidney problems, they may lead to edema. 

By incorporating these healthy habits into your daily routine, you can avoid swollen feet and ankles and keep your body functioning well.

Conclusion

Living with edema is difficult, but now that you know more about it, you can handle it with confidence. Address the root cause and make easy lifestyle changes to manage it. By implementing the correct preventive and proactive methods, you can treat edema and also prevent it from coming back.

FAQ Section

Q1: What is the natural treatment for edema?

To treat edema, eat less salt, keep moving, and stay hydrated to get rid of excess sodium.

Q2: Which deficiency causes edema?

Edema can result from protein, magnesium and potassium deficiencies. They disrupt the body's fluid balance and lead to swelling in tissues.

Q3: Which foods increase edema?

If you have localized swelling around your feet and ankles, make sure to limit the amount of foods high in sodium, such as processed snacks or fast foods, since they are likely to aggravate the condition.

Q4: What are the early signs of edema?

Early signs of edema include slight puffiness, taut skin, and slight pain in that area.