Leg Edema Treatment

If you are suffering from leg edema, try these remedies and medications to reduce swelling.

Leg swelling is caused by abnormal fluid retention in the tissues of the lower extremity. The medical term for leg swelling from excess fluid is edema.

The common causes of leg swelling, such as prolonged standing or sitting or an injury, are relatively harmless in the long term.

The less common causes of leg edema include diseases which cause thickness of the layers of skin, such as eosinophilic fasciitis and scleroderma.

Edema may affect both legs and may include the calves or even the thighs. Due to the effect of gravity, swelling is mainly noticeable in the lower part of the body.

What Are The Causes of Water Retention:

Leg edema, caused by the accumulation of fluids in tissues, is known as peripheral edema. Several body systems, including the circulatory system, the lymphatic system and the kidneys, help maintain the appropriate balance of fluids in the body. A problem with any one of these systems may contribute to the retention of fluids.

Leg edema can be caused by several factors: acute kidney failure, chronic kidney failure, cardiomyopathy, hormone therapy, heart failure, prolonged standing, nephrotic syndrome, or thrombophlebitis.

Other Causes of Leg Swelling:

Leg edema may also be caused by others factors such as achilles tendon rupture, broken ankle/broken foot, osteoarthritis, infection or wound in the leg, broken leg, baker's cyst, and sprained ankle.

Certain medications may also cause swelling in the legs. These include antidepressants, MAO inhibitors, blood pressure medicines, birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy.

Home Remedies to Treat Leg Edema:

Elevate your legs with the help of a pillow to support your knees and ankles while lying down. This can help you get rid of water retention. Also consider getting enough leg exercise as this will pump fluid from your legs, back to your heart.

Follow a low-salt diet to reduce fluid retention and swelling. There are several foods that you must avoid, such as white flour foods, processed foods, sugary foods and drinks, coffee, black tea, and alcohol.

You may wear compression stockings to avoid buildup of fluids. The support stockings stimulate proper circulation and reduce swelling associated with edema.

Avoid wearing tight clothing and lose weight if you need to. Furthermore, never discontinue any medicines which you think may cause swelling, without first talking to your doctor.

Medications to Treat Leg Edema:

Over-the-counter diuretics are the most common medications used for the treatment of leg swelling. They stimulate the kidney to remove excess water from the body.

Some of the common diuretic medications used to treat leg edema are acetazolamide (diamox); bumetanide (bumex); chlorothiazide; furosemide (lasix); hydrochlorothiazide (hydrodiuril); methyclothiazide; and metolazone (zaroxolyn).

When to Contact a Medical Professional:

If you have a heart disease or kidney problem, and the swelling gets worse, call your doctor immediately. You must also consult your health care practitioner before taking any medication if you are pregnant and have more than just mild swelling in your feet.

To learn more about the various treatment options for edema, read these articles: Acupuncture for Edema, Edema Massage, and Drugs For Edema.