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Swelling

• Overview
• Treatment

Alternative Names:

Edema; Anasarca

Home Care:

Follow prescribed therapy to treat the underlying cause of the swelling. Discuss with your health care provider the options to prevent skin breakdown (for chronic edema) such as a pressure-reducing mattress, a lamb's wool pad, or a flotation ring.

Maintain everyday activities. When lying down, keep limbs above the heart level, if possible, to facilitate drainage. Do not do this if shortness of breath results -- see your doctor instead.

Reduced sodium (salt) in the diet may be recommended.

Call your health care provider if:

If you notice any unexplained swelling, contact your health care provider.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

Except in emergency situations (such as cardiac failure or pulmonary congestion), your health care provider will obtain your medical history and will perform a physical examination .

Medical history questions documenting swelling in detail may include the following:

• Time pattern
  • When did you first notice this?
  • Is it present all the time?
  • Does it come and go?
• Quality
  • How much swelling is there?
  • When you poke the area with a finger, does the dent remain?
• Location
  • Is it overall or in a specific area (localized)?
  • If swelling is in a specific area, what is that area?
• Other
  • What seems to make the swelling better?
  • What seems to make the swelling worse?
  • What other symptoms are also present?

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include the following:

• Albumin levels
• ECG
• Echocardiography
• Serum electrolyte tests
• Urinalysis
• X-rays
• Liver function tests
• Kidney function tests

Treatment may include fluid and sodium restriction, diuretics, or water pills. Your fluid intake and output should be monitored, and you should be weighed daily.

Avoid alcohol if liver disease (such as cirrhosis or hepatitis ) is causing the problem. Vascular support hose may be advised.

• Review Date: 12/15/2006
• Reviewed By: Robert Hurd, MD, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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