Pedal edema (patient information): Difference between revisions
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Painless swelling of the feet and ankles is a common problem, especially among older people. | Painless swelling of the feet and ankles is a common problem, especially among older people. | ||
Abnormal buildup of fluid in the | Abnormal buildup of fluid in the [[ankle]]s, feet, and [[leg]]s is called edema. | ||
==What causes Pedal edema?== | ==What causes Pedal edema?== | ||
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Being overweight | Being overweight | ||
Blood clot in the leg | [[Blood clot]] in the leg | ||
Increased age | Increased age | ||
Leg infection | Leg infection | ||
[[Vein]]s in the legs that cannot properly pump blood back to the heart | |||
Injury or surgery involving the leg, ankle, or foot can cause swelling. Swelling may also occur after pelvic surgery, especially for cancer. | Injury or [[surgery]] involving the leg, ankle, or foot can cause swelling. Swelling may also occur after pelvic surgery, especially for cancer. | ||
Long airplane flights or car rides, as well as standing for long periods of time, often lead to some swelling in the feet and ankles. | Long airplane flights or car rides, as well as standing for long periods of time, often lead to some swelling in the feet and ankles. | ||
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Your doctor will ask questions like the following: | Your doctor will ask questions like the following: | ||
What body parts swell? Your ankles, feet, legs? Above the knee or below? | * What body parts swell? Your ankles, feet, legs? Above the knee or below? | ||
Do you have swelling at all times or is it worse in the morning or evening? | * Do you have swelling at all times or is it worse in the morning or evening? | ||
What makes your swelling better? | * What makes your swelling better? | ||
What makes your swelling worse? | * What makes your swelling worse? | ||
Does the swelling get better when you raise your legs? | * Does the swelling get better when you raise your legs? | ||
What other symptoms do you have? | * What other symptoms do you have? | ||
Diagnostic tests that may be done include the following: | * Diagnostic tests that may be done include the following: | ||
Blood tests such as a CBC or blood chemistry | * Blood tests such as a CBC or blood chemistry | ||
Chest x-ray or extremity x-ray | * [[Chest x-ray]] or extremity x-ray | ||
ECG | * ECG | ||
Urinalysis | * [[Urinalysis]] | ||
The treatment will be aimed at the cause of the swelling. Diuretics may be prescribed to reduce the swelling, but they can have side effects. Home treatment for benign causes of leg swelling should be tried before drug therapy. | The treatment will be aimed at the cause of the swelling. Diuretics may be prescribed to reduce the swelling, but they can have side effects. Home treatment for benign causes of leg swelling should be tried before drug therapy. | ||
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Call 911 if: | Call 911 if: | ||
You feel short of breath. | * You feel short of [[breath]]. | ||
You have chest pain, especially if it feels like pressure or tightness. | * You have chest pain, especially if it feels like pressure or tightness. | ||
Call your doctor right away if: | * Call your doctor right away if: | ||
** You have [[heart]] disease or [[kidney]] disease and the swelling gets worse. | |||
** You have a history of [[liver]] disease and now have swelling in your legs or abdomen. | |||
** Your swollen foot or leg is red or warm to the touch. | |||
** You have a fever. | |||
** You are [[pregnant]] and have more than just mild swelling or have a sudden increase in swelling. | |||
** Also call your doctor if self-care measures do not help or swelling gets worse. | |||
==Treatment options== | ==Treatment options== | ||
Some tips that may help: | Some tips that may help: | ||
* Raise your legs above your heart while lying down. | |||
* Exercise your legs. This helps pump fluid from your legs back to your [[heart]]. | |||
* Follow a low-salt diet, which may reduce fluid buildup and swelling. | |||
* Wear support stockings (sold at most drug and medical supply stores). | |||
* When traveling, take breaks often to stand up and move around. | |||
* Avoid wearing tight clothing or garters around your thighs. | |||
* Lose weight if you need to. | |||
* Never stop taking any [[medicine]]s you think may be causing swelling without first talking to your doctor. | |||
==Where to find medical care for Pedal edema?== | |||
[http://maps.google.com/maps?q={{urlencode:{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|map+top+hospital+Condition}}}}&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl Directions to Hospitals Treating Pedal edema] | |||
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003104.htm | http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003104.htm | ||
{{WH}} | |||
{{WS}} | |||
[[Category:Patient information]] | [[Category:Patient information]] | ||
[[Category:Cardiology]] | |||
[[Category:Physical examination]] | |||
Latest revision as of 23:36, 29 July 2020
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Pedal edema |
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Pedal edema On the Web |
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For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Kalsang Dolma, M.B.B.S.[2]
Overview
Painless swelling of the feet and ankles is a common problem, especially among older people.
Abnormal buildup of fluid in the ankles, feet, and legs is called edema.
What causes Pedal edema?
Foot, leg, and ankle swelling is common with the following situations:
Being overweight Blood clot in the leg Increased age Leg infection Veins in the legs that cannot properly pump blood back to the heart Injury or surgery involving the leg, ankle, or foot can cause swelling. Swelling may also occur after pelvic surgery, especially for cancer.
Long airplane flights or car rides, as well as standing for long periods of time, often lead to some swelling in the feet and ankles.
Swelling may occur in women who take estrogen or during parts of the menstrual cycle. Most women have some swelling during pregnancy. More severe swelling during pregnancy may be a sign of preeclampsia (also called toxemia), a serious condition that includes high blood pressure and swelling.
Swollen legs may be a sign of heart failure, kidney failure, or liver failure. In these conditions, there is too much fluid in the body.
Certain medications may also cause your legs to swell:
Antidepressants, including MAO inhibitors (such as phenelzine and tranylcypromine) and tricyclics (such as nortriptyline, desipramine, and amitriptyline) Blood pressure medicines called calcium channel blockers (such as nifedipine, amlodipine, diltiazem, felodipine, and verapamil) Hormones like estrogen (in birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy) and testosterone Steroids.
Diagnosis
Your doctor will take a medical history and do a thorough physical examination, paying special attention to your heart, lungs, abdomen, lymph nodes, legs, and feet.
Your doctor will ask questions like the following:
- What body parts swell? Your ankles, feet, legs? Above the knee or below?
- Do you have swelling at all times or is it worse in the morning or evening?
- What makes your swelling better?
- What makes your swelling worse?
- Does the swelling get better when you raise your legs?
- What other symptoms do you have?
- Diagnostic tests that may be done include the following:
- Blood tests such as a CBC or blood chemistry
- Chest x-ray or extremity x-ray
- ECG
- Urinalysis
The treatment will be aimed at the cause of the swelling. Diuretics may be prescribed to reduce the swelling, but they can have side effects. Home treatment for benign causes of leg swelling should be tried before drug therapy.
When to seek urgent medical care?
Call 911 if:
- You feel short of breath.
- You have chest pain, especially if it feels like pressure or tightness.
- Call your doctor right away if:
- You have heart disease or kidney disease and the swelling gets worse.
- You have a history of liver disease and now have swelling in your legs or abdomen.
- Your swollen foot or leg is red or warm to the touch.
- You have a fever.
- You are pregnant and have more than just mild swelling or have a sudden increase in swelling.
- Also call your doctor if self-care measures do not help or swelling gets worse.
Treatment options
Some tips that may help:
- Raise your legs above your heart while lying down.
- Exercise your legs. This helps pump fluid from your legs back to your heart.
- Follow a low-salt diet, which may reduce fluid buildup and swelling.
- Wear support stockings (sold at most drug and medical supply stores).
- When traveling, take breaks often to stand up and move around.
- Avoid wearing tight clothing or garters around your thighs.
- Lose weight if you need to.
- Never stop taking any medicines you think may be causing swelling without first talking to your doctor.
Where to find medical care for Pedal edema?
Directions to Hospitals Treating Pedal edema
Sources
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003104.htm Template:WH Template:WS