What causes swelling and inflammation?
When inflammation happens, chemicals from your body’s white blood cells enter your blood or tissues to protect your body from invaders. This raises the blood flow to the area of injury or infection. It can cause redness and warmth. Some of the chemicals cause fluid to leak into your tissues, resulting in swelling.
Why does my body swell?
Body parts swell when body fluid is retained, or collects in a certain tissue, joint, or other area. Swelling can be internal or external, localized or generalized. External swelling, typically affecting skin or muscles, is visible and usually due to an insect bite, illness, or injury.
What is dropsy called today?
Edema, also spelled oedema, and also known as fluid retention, dropsy, hydropsy and swelling, is the build-up of fluid in the body’s tissue. Most commonly, the legs or arms are affected.
What doctor treats swelling?
If your family doctor or obstetrician believes the swelling or edema may be caused by heart, kidney or liver disease, you may be referred to a specialist. If the swelling is caused by varicose veins (venous insufficiency), you may be referred to a vascular surgeon.
How do you cure swelling?
Mild swelling
- Rest and protect a sore area.
- Elevate the injured or sore area on pillows while applying ice and any time you are sitting or lying down.
- Avoid sitting or standing without moving for prolonged periods of time.
- A low-sodium diet may help reduce swelling.
Why is swelling bad?
It initially helps by recruiting healing factors that accelerate how quickly cells migrate to the site of injury – but swelling is also bad because it destructs and distends the tissues, and distorts the anatomy. Fluid enzymes within the swollen fluid break-down tissue as well as stimulating it.
Can High BP cause leg swelling?
High blood pressure can impair the function of the kidneys, leading to fluid retention and swelling of the legs, and even kidney failure. High blood pressure can affect the eyes, causing vision loss. High blood pressure can seriously affect the circulation causing pain in the legs with walking, cold feet, and stroke.
How do you treat swelling?
Applying cold immediately after an injury helps reduce swelling by restricting blood flow to the area and slowing down cellular metabolism. You can use ice packs, cold therapy systems, ice baths, or cryotherapy chambers to deliver cold to the affected area.