Treatment of edema syndrome in chronic heart failure

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10/14/2021 The article was checked by a cardiologist, member of the European Society of Cardiology, the Eurasian Association of Cardiologists, the Russian Society of Holter Monitoring O.A. Lozbineva. , is for general informational purposes only and does not replace specialist advice. For recommendations on diagnosis and treatment, consultation with a doctor is necessary.

When swelling is detected, specialists at the Yauza Clinical Hospital will conduct the most thorough diagnostics to determine its cause and, accordingly, prescribe treatment using pharmacotherapy, lifestyle correction, and water regimen.

• The volume of fluid inside cells may increase by 20–30% during edema caused by heart failure
• Edema becomes visible when more than 2–4 liters of fluid are retained in the body
• Timely treatment of edema not only improves well-being and appearance, but also prolongs the life of patients

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Edema is a symptom of various pathological conditions, which are characterized by excessive accumulation of fluid in the tissues and cavities of the body. To recognize swelling, you need to press for a few seconds on the front surface of the shin. In case of edema, a hole remains in this place, which does not disappear immediately.

Reasons for the development of edema

• Kidney diseases: glomerulonephritis, nephrotic syndrome, renal failure;
• heart diseases: heart failure,
• vein lesions (varicose veins, inflammation, thrombosis);
• liver diseases: cirrhosis of the liver, blockage of the hepatic veins;
• diseases of the endocrine system: hypothyroidism, diabetes;
• severe cancer;
• nutritional dystrophy;
• pregnancy;
• allergic reactions: insect bites, contact with an allergen.

Depending on the type, swelling can lead to retinal detachment, stroke, seizures, and even death. It is unacceptable to ignore the problem. To determine the cause of swelling, sign up for a consultation with specialists at the Yauza hospital.

How to relieve leg swelling due to heart failure using traditional methods

Folk remedies can relieve leg swelling due to heart failure if it appears periodically and the doctor has not diagnosed a severe pathology of the cardiovascular system.

The fact is that some folk remedies have a mild, gentle effect on the heart and blood vessels - they lower blood pressure, stabilize the heart rate, and have a diuretic effect. But they should not be used if the doctor has already prescribed drug therapy - you need to quickly compensate for the condition with drugs and stabilize the functioning of the heart, and only then, after consultation with a specialist, use traditional methods.

The most effective traditional medicine against cardiac edema:

• A decoction of flax seeds. 4 tablespoons of raw material are placed in 1 liter of clean water, brought to a boil and simmered for 5 minutes without active gurgling. Next, the dishes with the broth are removed from the heat, wrapped in a towel and left alone for 3-4 hours.

Drink 120-150 ml of strained decoction 3-6 times a day. The first effect will be noticeable only after 7 days of use.

• Elderberry root infusion. 150 g of finely chopped raw materials need to be poured with 350 ml of vodka, the product is infused for at least 7 days, but it is better to stand for 10 days. The finished infusion is filtered and taken 10 drops three times a day before main meals.

If the swelling is too extensive and pronounced, then in the first 5 days the dose is increased to 20 drops per dose. Duration of therapy is 3-4 weeks.

• Parsley decoction. For 1 liter of milk you need to put 700-800 g of finely chopped parsley. The product is evaporated in a water bath or low heat until the volume is halved. Next, the broth is cooled, filtered and taken 1 tablespoon every hour during the day.

The decoction has a pronounced diuretic effect and already on the 2-3rd day of administration completely eliminates swelling. Contraindicated in case of concomitant renal pathologies.

• Tincture of calendula. You can prepare it yourself, but it is better to buy a ready-made product at the pharmacy. Take it 20-30 drops three times a day before meals. Cardiac activity improves, swelling completely disappears, but only after 2-3 weeks of treatment. But the resulting effect lasts for a long time.

Any folk remedies can provoke the rapid development of an allergic reaction, so before use you need to be sure of the body’s adequate response to such therapy.

If at first traditional methods gave a positive result, and then this stopped, then you should immediately consult your doctor. This lack of results may indicate progression of heart failure.

We treat all types of edema

Specialists at the Yauza Clinical Hospital diagnose and treat edema of various origins.

Edema in cardiovascular diseases

“Cardiac” edema develops slowly - over several weeks or months. They are characterized by symmetry and increase in size in the evening. They first appear on the lower extremities or lower abdomen, in severe cases they spread throughout the body and are accompanied by the accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity (ascites) and enlarged liver. In this case, the skin most often feels cold to the touch and the swelling is dense. When pressed, a hole remains.

Patients complain of shortness of breath, which worsens when lying down, and low exercise tolerance. They have wheezing in the lungs, tachycardia, pallor of the lips, and cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle. As circulatory failure is compensated, swelling decreases or disappears.

Swelling due to venous insufficiency also becomes more pronounced in the evening, causing the sensation of shoes suddenly becoming tight (due to swelling of the feet), and the legs become visually thicker, often asymmetrically. Swelling in the legs is accompanied by a feeling of heaviness, fatigue, and pain in the legs. Spider veins and an enhanced pattern of veins are noticeable on the skin. In severe cases, swelling persists constantly, cramps in the calves are possible, trophic changes develop - thinning of the skin, persistent redness, peeling, itching, and poorly healing ulcers. Timely professional medical care helps prevent or reduce the risk of such progression of the disease.

Edema due to kidney disease

“Renal” edema can develop very quickly - in less than a day. Swelling appears mainly on the face. Swelling under the eyes is noticeable in the morning. They can also be localized on the limbs and abdominal wall. When changing postures, bodies quickly shift. Fluid accumulation often occurs - ascites or hydrothorax. Edema skin is soft or dense, pale, dry.

Swelling due to kidney disease may be accompanied by a decrease in the amount of urine excreted, a change in its color, and possibly the appearance of blood (red blood cells) and protein in a urine test. Pain appears in the lumbar region. Nonspecific manifestations include headache and weakness. Shortness of breath and liver enlargement, characteristic of circulatory failure, are not observed. Renal edema can be a consequence of an infectious disease (tonsillitis, viral infection, etc.) and requires observation and treatment by a specialist (nephrologist, rheumatologist, therapist).

Allergic edema

Allergic edema develops quickly (in a few minutes) and is regional in nature. They arise as a result of contact with an allergen or an insect bite. They develop most often on the face (eyes, eyelids, mucous membranes, lips), arms (fingers, hands), elbows and knees.

The development of allergic edema is accompanied by itching and rash. In severe cases, due to bronchospasm, attacks of difficulty breathing are possible, usually in the exhalation phase. Swelling of the larynx can lead to suffocation and pose a threat to the patient's life. Therefore, patients prone to such a reaction should be prepared for a dangerous situation.

It is necessary to discuss in advance with the doctor what medications will help the patient safely wait for the ambulance to arrive (delivery to the hospital) in case of an acute allergy attack and always have them available.

Prolonged swelling causes stretching of the skin, makes blood vessels less elastic, and impairs blood circulation. Swelling negatively affects the joints and causes difficulty moving. Ulcers may develop at the site of swelling, which are subsequently difficult to treat. Don't take things to the extreme. Make an appointment with a doctor and get rid of the problem.

Edema in heart failure can be distinguished from others by what signs?

Edema occurs not only in heart failure, so you need to know the main signs that will help differentiate them.

Diagnostic stages

• Consultation and examination by a therapist. After a detailed conversation and medical examination, the patient can be referred for consultation to other specialists depending on the etiology of the disease: cardiologist, allergist, endocrinologist, nephrologist, urologist, etc.
• Laboratory research. First of all, the following are carried out: general (with leukocyte formula) and biochemical blood tests;
• general urine analysis.

To effectively eliminate swelling, you need to know exactly what disease is causing it. Edema is not an independent disease, but a symptom. Diagnostics using modern equipment will allow us to determine the cause of the pathology. The information obtained allows the doctor to choose the most effective treatment. Don't put off taking care of your health until later. Schedule a consultation with your doctor today to stay energized for years to come.

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Associated symptoms

The pathology is dangerous to human health. It is accompanied by characteristic symptoms. The following manifestations can be distinguished:

1. Pain in the heart area. This symptom is not observed in all patients. In heart failure, the main muscle itself suffers from oxygen starvation. Tissue cells die. The pain may also radiate to the shoulder or hypochondrium. The presented symptom appears even before the formation of edema, or accompanies it.
2. Increased blood pressure. This condition develops due to stagnation and accumulation of large amounts of blood in the vessels.
3. Enlarged liver and pain in the right hypochondrium. The organ itself cannot hurt. Unpleasant sensations appear due to stretching of its capsule. Swelling also appears on the liver.
4. Muscle weakness. Since blood circulation deteriorates in heart failure, muscle fibers are subject to oxygen starvation. Over time, lack of nutrition causes gradual weakening of tissues. If left untreated, the muscles atrophy.
5. Dyspnea. Heart failure contributes to the overflow of blood vessels located in the respiratory organs. Gas exchange in the lungs deteriorates. There is a disruption in the breathing rhythm, resulting in shortness of breath. The patient additionally has a subjective feeling that he does not have enough air. Pulmonary edema appears.
6. Arrhythmia or tachycardia.
7. Pale skin with acrocyanosis. The patient develops a characteristic blue coloration of the ears, wings of the nose, fingertips, and lips. The color change remains for a long time.
8. Decreased ability to withstand physical activity.
9. Fingers of Hippocrates (similar to drumsticks). This symptom indicates the onset of a late stage of chronic heart failure.
10. Dizziness. Due to oxygen starvation, nerve cells also suffer. The patient's attention decreases and deterioration occurs in the cognitive sphere (thinking, memory, perception).

The manifestation of even one additional symptom should force a person to see a doctor.

Treatment of edema

Treatment of edema is carried out in accordance with the cause of its development. Here are some general recommendations.

• You should limit your fluid intake to 1.5 liters per day, and sometimes less.
• You also need to reduce your salt intake to 1–1.5 g per day.
• Diuretics should be taken only under the supervision of a doctor who monitors the patient’s condition and monitors the level of electrolytes in the blood. Diuretics can lead to a decrease in potassium levels in the body, so it is recommended to eat dried apricots, raisins, rice, baked potatoes and other foods rich in this trace element.

For cardiovascular diseases, a cardiologist, after diagnosing “cardiac” edema, selects therapy to maintain a stable state of the vascular system. A patient with heart failure should visit a cardiologist regularly throughout his life. In case of venous insufficiency, conservative or surgical treatment is carried out by a vascular surgeon-phlebologist.

If the swelling is caused by kidney disease , in addition to relieving the swelling, the doctor (therapist or nephrologist) prescribes therapy for the underlying disease, which may include antibiotics, anti-inflammatory hormonal drugs, etc.

In case of allergic edema , which is accompanied by difficulty breathing, urgent medical attention is required. Before help is provided, you should take an antihistamine, if the condition is severe - prednisolone or dexamethasone. In case of an attack of suffocation of an allergic nature, take 1-2 breaths from an inhaler recommended by your doctor (allergist).

Degrees of manifestation of cardiac edema of the legs, abdomen, face and symptoms

Cardiac edema of the legs, abdomen and face has varying degrees of manifestation, the most severe is considered to be anasarca - a condition in which swelling spreads to the entire body, pulmonary edema and cardiomegaly are detected. All this leads to an increase in the size of the heart muscle and death. With such a severe degree of cardiac edema, the patient requires resuscitation measures.

There are three degrees of manifestation of cardiac edema:

• first - only the superficial layer of the skin swells;
• second – swelling spreads into the subcutaneous layer;
• third - the liquid begins to penetrate into muscle tissue and tendons.

Why us

• Doctors. We welcome specialists of the highest qualification category, holders of academic degrees, with extensive experience in leading Russian clinics.
• Individual approach. The doctor will develop an individual treatment plan for each patient in accordance with the cause of development and clinical picture of the disease.
• Complexity. Effective treatment of edema and the diseases that cause them is possible thanks to the close cooperation of our clinic’s specialists - therapist, cardiologist, allergist, endocrinologist, urologist, etc.
• Expert equipment. All studies are carried out using modern equipment and are highly accurate.
• Comfort. All consultations, studies and treatment are carried out within our hospital, which allows our patients to save

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