What to do if your legs are swollen?
In order to reduce swelling, it is necessary to reduce physical activity on the lower extremities; ice can be applied to the swollen area. If the vein valves are insufficient, leg bandaging is performed. It is recommended to place a pillow under your feet while sleeping to enhance venous return to the heart. For heart failure, medications are prescribed.
If you find swelling in your legs, contact a cardiologist at the FIRST NEUROLOGY clinic. In our work we use modern diagnostic and treatment methods
Expert opinion
The chief physician of the Clinic of Doctor Shishonin, Alexander Yuryevich Shishonin, notes that edematous phenomena in hypertension have different localizations. Swelling of the legs and face is most common.
As A.Yu. explains Shishonin, the main reason for the appearance of such edema is that the patient constantly increases the dose of drugs to lower blood pressure. At the same time, the work of the heart is disrupted, it begins to get tired, and ceases to perform its main functions. The brain does not receive enough oxygen, myocardial ischemia and brain hypoxia develop. In addition, stagnation and intoxication phenomena are observed.
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Most often, swelling is diagnosed in the legs. Without adequate treatment, the heart wears out over time and ceases to “hold” pressure. For some people, blood pressure drops to 90/60. It is very difficult to restore such a group of patients.
With swelling of the face, stagnation of intracranial blood is observed. This occurs due to the fact that cervical osteochondrosis compresses the vertebral veins so much that it disrupts the outflow of blood from the brain and increases intracranial pressure. This condition can be called cerebral edema because most patients die when diagnosed with cerebral edema.
Most experienced hypertensive patients have a swollen face and a pasty state. Swelling goes away quickly if the heart works normally. In order to force blood into the head, the heart must be very strong.
People with facial swelling are a group of patients who show positive dynamics towards recovery. Specialists of the Club of Former Hypertensives have developed a whole range of physical exercises that help optimize blood pressure and relieve the symptoms of hypertensive edema.
Dr. Shishonin’s physical exercises help unblock the deep muscles of the neck, correct the position of the vertebrae and improve blood circulation in the body. In severe cases, A.Yu. Shishonin recommends using drug therapy.
The doctor notes that most of his patients with facial swelling have vascular spots localized between the scalp and neck. If patients have such spots, headaches, or problems with blood pressure, then they can take Dr. Shishonin’s drug-free course.
Our specialists
Tarasova Svetlana Vitalievna
Expert No. 1 in the treatment of headaches and migraines. Head of the Center for the Treatment of Pain and Multiple Sclerosis.
Somnologist.
Epileptologist. Botulinum therapist. The doctor is a neurologist of the highest category. Physiotherapist. Doctor of Medical Sciences.
Experience: 23 years.Derevianko Leonid Sergeevich
Head of the Center for Diagnostics and Treatment of Sleep Disorders.
The doctor is a neurologist of the highest category. Vertebrologist. Somnologist. Epileptologist. Botulinum therapist. Physiotherapist. Experience: 23 years.
Palagin Maxim Anatolievich
The doctor is a neurologist. Somnologist. Epileptologist. Botulinum therapist. Physiotherapist. Experience: 6 years.
Romanova Tatyana Alexandrovna
Pediatric neurologist. Experience: 24 years.
Temina Lyudmila Borisovna
Pediatric neurologist of the highest category. Candidate of Medical Sciences.
Experience: 46 years.
Zhuravleva Nadezhda Vladimirovna
Head of the center for diagnosis and treatment of myasthenia gravis.
The doctor is a neurologist of the highest category. Physiotherapist. Experience: 16 years.
Mizonov Sergey Vladimirovich
The doctor is a neurologist. Chiropractor. Osteopath. Physiotherapist. Experience: 8 years.
Bezgina Elena Vladimirovna
The doctor is a neurologist of the highest category. Botulinum therapist. Physiotherapist. Experience: 24 years.
Drozdova Lyubov Vladimirovna
The doctor is a neurologist. Vertebroneurologist. Ozone therapist. Physiotherapist. Experience: 17 years.
Prevention of edema
To prevent the development of edematous phenomena, you need to follow some recommendations from your doctor:
- consume less salt in your diet;
- monitor your weight;
- avoid excessive physical activity;
- spend more time in the fresh air;
- include more fruits and vegetables in your diet.
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Causes and symptoms of edema
The etiology of swelling on the legs and face is associated with the following reasons:
- genetic predisposition;
- allergic reactions;
- arrhythmia;
- obesity;
- varicose veins;
- hypotension;
- passive lifestyle;
- poor nutrition;
- severe heart disease;
- hormonal imbalance;
- lack of treatment for hypertension at an early stage of its manifestation;
- renal failure;
- drug, alcohol, nicotine addiction;
- uncontrolled use of certain medications;
- cirrhosis.
As you can see, there are quite a lot of reasons that provoke the formation of edema. They can develop as a result of thyrotoxicosis, coarctation of the aorta (congenital pathology), stenosis of the renal arteries, etc. Therefore, only an experienced specialist can determine the etiology of the appearance of edema in different parts of the body after conducting appropriate studies.
Symptoms
Swelling in arterial hypertension can manifest itself as the following symptoms:
- pain (discomfort) in the chest;
- increased sweating;
- feeling of pressure in the eyeballs;
- throbbing headache;
- chills;
- muscle weakness;
- dizziness;
- difficulty concentrating;
- vision problems;
- memory impairment;
- nausea;
- dyspnea;
- uneven pulse;
- chronic fatigue;
- periodic panic attacks;
- feeling of heaviness in the legs;
- insomnia;
- decreased amount of urine excreted;
- increased irritability;
- anxiety;
- swelling of the limbs and face;
- impaired coordination of movements (observed extremely rarely).
With facial swelling, patients often experience elevated levels of protein in their urine. In the initial stages of the disease, swelling on the face is detected only in the morning. Without adequate therapy, facial swelling does not go away within a day.
Advice.
If you experience the symptoms described above, consult a doctor immediately. If hypertension is not diagnosed in time and effective treatment is not prescribed, the disease will become chronic, which is fraught with the development of various kinds of complications.
Causes of edema in cancer
The development of edema occurs as a result of an imbalance in the release of plasma cells into the tissue from the bloodstream.
Normally, the liquid should be completely absorbed by the venous capillaries, only in a “waste form”. Only 1/10 of the plasma should remain in the intercellular space, leaving a little later into the lymphatic channel. Malignant processes occurring in the body cause an imbalance. Vascular structures become “clogged” with cancer cells, and lymphatic vessels stop “pumping” lymph. This mechanism is typical mainly for cervical cancer, when metastases have already spread to the pelvic and inguinal lymph nodes. A similar process occurs after surgery on the mammary gland for lymphedema (lymphostasis with complete removal of the lymph nodes of the armpits).
Swelling due to cancer also occurs in the case of an inoperable tumor, if there is an enlargement of regional lymph nodes due to metastasis. They stop functioning properly, squeezing large vessels. This condition is often aggravated by a bleeding disorder.
The mechanism of edema in cancer wasting
With cancer cachexia, “hunger” edema develops. This occurs against the background of a decrease in the level of proteins circulating in the blood. This condition is called hypoproteinemia, which is accompanied by the release of a large amount of plasma into the intercellular space. This results in a decrease in blood pressure.
An increase in blood pressure may also occur if the compensatory mechanism is “turned on.” Due to an increase in vascular pressure, the liquid part of the blood is released into the interstitial space - this is fraught with even greater swelling of the tissues. The considered principle of formation is characteristic of kidney diseases in the presence of renal and liver failure, as well as cirrhosis of the liver.
In the terminal (final) stage of cancer, malnutrition is associated with deterioration of liver function - the required amount of proteins ceases to be produced. Malignant cells need increased amounts of energy, so they “rob” healthy tissues of the body. In other words, a vicious circle is formed in which, with insufficient synthesis in the liver, increased protein burning occurs by cancer cells.
Excessive accumulation of fluid in tissues and a lack of circulating plasma leads to the release of biologically active substances and hormones in the body that maintain blood pressure. This leads to suppression of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, which can worsen the condition of the cancer patient.
Anasarca (diffuse swelling of the lower part of the body) and hidden edema due to cancerous depletion of the body require immediate therapeutic measures. In this case, one dropper with a protein solution is not enough. There is a need to stop pathological reactions. At the Medscan clinic, pathological reactions are treated using individually developed, pathogenetically oriented treatment programs.
