Types of Edema

Edema is the medical term for buildup of excess fluids in the body’s tissues. This occurs when the body fails to excrete excess fluid through kidneys or skin. 

Some of the common causes of edema may be trauma, a change in your body’s chemical composition, allergy, or other factors. 

There are different types of edema. Some of them are specific to certain parts of the body, while others may be more generalized. 

Generalized Edema: 

Generalized edema is a condition when you notice swelling, puffiness, and water retention in various body parts, including your abdomen, arms, legs, face, and feet. 

Symptoms include bloating, tightening of skin, and skin that holds an imprint or looks pitted. This type of edema may be caused by trauma, illness, pregnancy, or chemical imbalance in the body. 

Pitting Edema is a severe case of edema which exists if the skin retains an indentation after being pressed for 10 to 20 seconds. 

Skin Edema: 

Skin edema mainly occurs in the tissues and cells of the skin. It is usually harmless, but it can be very painful. In this type of edema, some parts of your skin may seem tight, puffy, and have fluid retention. 

You may experience skin edema after having a surface allergic reaction caused by mosquito bites, detergents, chemicals, or other irritants. Skin edema is also referred to as cutaneous. 

Peripheral Edema: 

Peripheral edema mainly occurs in the legs, feet, and ankles. This is the most common type of edema and it causes swelling in the lower extremities. 

This type of edema may be caused by increasing age, pregnancy, hypertension, congestive heart failure, kidney problems or other health conditions. 

You also may experience peripheral edema if you have been sitting or standing for extended hours. Some medications may also cause peripheral edema:

• Calcium channel blockers
• Pramiprexole
• NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen)
• Pioglitazone and rosiglitazone
• Corticosteroids (prednisone, methylprednisolone)

Corneal Edema: 

When there is water retention in the cornea, it causes corneal swelling, which is an eye problem known as corneal edema. 

This type of edema is caused by dehydration, endothelial disorder, ocular surgery, viral infections, traumatic injury, increased ocular pressure, and toxins. 

What Are The Treatment Options: 

The treatment mainly depends on the type of edema. Most health care providers will recommend you to follow a low-sodium diet and take the prescribed diuretics. You may also try some home remedies such as: 

• Regular exercise
• Reduce salt consumption
• Elevate legs while sleeping
• Avoid standing or sitting for extended hours
• Lose weight if required
• Wear support stockings
• Limit your alcohol, sugar, caffeine intake
• Avoid salty food

You may try alternative remedies such as acupuncture, oxygen therapy, and massage therapy. You may also consider taking Capisette, a natural fluid retention remedy which contains powerful ingredients such as dandelion extract, horse chestnut, ginkgo biloba, and buchu.