Showing posts with label Swelling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Swelling. Show all posts

Monday, April 30, 2012

Pain and Swelling of the Inside Ankle-Ankle Tendonitis and How to Treat


Muscles are attached to bones by tendons, tendonitis of the ankle is a self limiting problem. Most of the muscles that move your feet are in the lower legs. The tibialis posterior muscle originates deep in the back of the lower leg and moves your foot in. The tibialis posterior muscle has a tendon that wraps around your ankle bone and connects to the bones that form the arch of your foot. This muscle and tendon work together to support the inside arch of your foot. Ankle tendonitis is inflammation of the tendon, tibialis posterior most commonly behind the inside of your ankle.

Symptoms

-Symptoms may start gradually with a dull, intermittent pain on the inside of your ankle or arch of the foot.
-Pain, soreness and swelling along the length of the tibialisposterior tendon.
-May progress to a continuous sharp pain to the inside of your ankle or arch of the foot.
-The affected foot tends to be flatter than the other foot.

Causes

-Ankle tendonitis may be caused by direct trauma to your ankle or foot, but most commonly it is an overuse injury.

Triggers can include:

-Exercise such as running, jumping, walking etc.
-Inadequate warm-up prior to exercise.
-Increasing age
-Inflexible calf muscles/Achilles tendon
-Poor footwear

Treatments for Tendonitis of the Ankle Includes:

-Anti-inflammatory medication
-Regular icing of the affected area
-Podiatric treatment is vital to increase strength and flexibility of the affected tendon.
-Rest from any activity that causesthe pain, to avoid further damage.
-Supportive footwear
-Shoe orthotics may be of some help.
-Surgery may be needed if all other treatments fail.

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Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Doctor-I Have Symptoms of Pain and Swelling in My Hands and Feet-What Could It Be?


While there are multiple causes of swelling and pain in the hands and feet, arthritis is probably the most common causes.

The term "arthritis" is derived from the Greek and means "joint inflammation". It refers to more than 100 different diseases that can cause pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. Joints are where the ends of long bones connect and interact. The end of each bone inside a joint has a thin layer of cartilage and is held in place by ligaments, tendons, and muscles. A joint is lined with synovial tissue (comentario) that helps to nourish the joint. It is the comentario that often becomes inflamed in arthritis.

Arthritis may also affect other supporting structures around joints such as the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones. Some serious forms ofarthritis can affect internal organs.

The common symptoms of arthritis are due to inflammation (swelling, heat, redness, pain):

or Swelling in one or more joints

or Stiffness in the joints in the morning or with prolonged inactivity

or Joint pain or tenderness

or Restricted mobility in the joints

or Warmth or redness

Diagnosing arthritis can be difficult because some symptoms are often common to many different diseases. A rheumatologist will first do a complete physical exam, looking for clues. The eyes, ears, nose, throat, heart, lungs, and other parts of the body will be examined along with the joints. Lab tests and imaging procedures such as x-ray, ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may also be ordered.

The most common forms ofarthritis are:

Osteoarthritis (OA) is also referred to as degenerative joint disease. This is the most common type of arthritis. When it affects the hands, it can cause painful swelling in the last row (Heberden's nodes) and middle row (Bouchards nodes) of finger joints. In the feet it will affect the toe joints as well as the mid foot. This disease affects cartilage, the tissue that cushions and protects the ends of bones in a joint. With osteoarthritis, the cartilage starts to wear away prematurely. The swelling of the fingers and toes may lead to bony deformity.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease; the body's immune system (defense mechanism against infection) attacks normal tissues. This reaction causes autoimmune inflammation of the comentario. RA symptomsinclude pain, stiffness, swelling, rapid loss of joint function, and crippling. Rheumatoid arthritis When severe, can also affect internal organs. This is the type of arthritis that most commonly causes severe inflammation in the hands and feet.

Rheumatoid arthritis tends to be symmetric-one side of the hot bodt turn being affected just like the other.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disease characterized by generalized aches and pains. The pain is accompanied by stiffness that is worst in the morning but tends to last all day long. Patients may have localized tender points occurring in the muscles and tendons, particularly in the neck, spine, shoulders, and hips. These tender points are called trigger points. Fatigue and sleep disturbances may also occur. There is subjective swellingalong with pain in the hands and feet.

Gout and pseudogout are inflammatory forms of arthritis due to deposits of crystals in joints and other body tissues. Uric acid is the culprit in gout and calcium pyrophosphate is the villain in pseudogout. Both diseases cause painful attacks of arthritis affecting the hands and feet.

Infectious arthritis is a type of arthritis caused by either bacteria or viruses. A relatively common form of Lyme disease arthritis is infectious. Infectious forms of arthritis can cause swelling and pain in the hands and feet. A diagnosis is often difficult to establish. Antibiotics will often be used to treat bacterial infectious arthritis.

Reactive arthritis is an autoimmune arthritis that develops after a person has an infection in theurinary tract or. This problem is often referred to as Reiter's disease. People who have this disease often have eye inflammation (iritis), rashes, and mouth sores. Inflammatory arthritis involving the hands and feet leading to a toe or finger that looks like a sausage (dactylitis) is common.

Psoriatic arthritis. Some people who have psoriasis also have arthritis. This disease often affects the hands and feet. It is usually asymmetric. It also causes deformity of the fingernails and toenails (onycholysis) that is often misdiagnosed as a fungal problem. Sometimes the spine-neck and low back-can be affected. As with Reiter's disease, dactylitis often occurs.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is another autoimmune disease. Lupus can affect many organ systems including thejoints, skin, kidneys, lungs, blood vessels, heart, and brain. This is a cause of swelling and pain involving the hands and feet.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is the most common type of arthritis affecting children. It leads to pain, stiffness, swelling, and loss of function in the joints. A patient can also have rashes and fevers with this disease. Hands, wrists, ankles, and feet are often affected.

Polymyalgia rheumatica. Symptoms include pain, aching, and morning stiffness in the shoulders, hips, thighs, and neck. It is sometimes the first sign of giant cell arteritis, an inflammatory disease of the arteries characterized by headaches, scalp tenderness, weakness, weight loss, and fever. The hands and feet may be affected although less often than other joints. Theerythrocyte sedimentation rate (sed rate), a blood test that measures inflammation, is often greatly elevated.

Bursitis is inflammation of the bursae-the small, fluid-filled sacs that help cushion joints. The inflammation may accompany arthritis in the joint or injury or infection of the bursae. Bursitis produces pain and tenderness and may limit the movement of joints.

Tendinitis is inflammation of tendons (the fibrous cords of tissue that connect muscles to bones) caused by overuse, injury, or arthritis. Tendinitis produces pain and tenderness and may restrict movement of joints.

Not all conditions that cause symptoms of pain and swelling in the hands and feet are due to arthritis. Here are some non-arthritis causes ...

Polycythemia vera (PV) is a disorder thatis due to excessive production of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Some patients with PV will not have any symptoms at all, but many will experience easy bruising or bleeding with minimal trauma. Also, the blood may become thick, causing it to clot in tiny blood vessels. If clotting does occur in the small blood vessels of the fingers and toes, a patient may experience numbness or burning. Swelling and pain in the hands and feet may also occur.

Some medical conditions cause edema ... swelling of the hands, ankles, feet, face, abdomen, or other areas of the body. Swelling is most often seen in the hands, the feet, or around the eyes. The swelling often causes pain.

edema is due to excessive fluid accumulation. It can be caused by abnormal kidney function,chronic kidney disease, congestive heart failure, phlebitis, varicose veins, thiamine deficiency, protein or sodium retention, or cancer.

Other reasons for edema are pregnancy, standing for prolonged periods of time, premenstrual syndrome, oral contraceptives, an injury (sprain), hypothyroidism (low thyroid), anemia, adrenal disease, deficiencies of potassium and B vitamins, or allergic reactions.

The cause of The swelling needs to be determined. Diagnoses such as congestive heart disease, kidney disease, or liver disease should be ruled out.

Insect stings can lead to swelling and pain in the hands and feet. The same type of reaction may occur with medications, such as penicillin or wigm. This is referred to as serum sickness.

Acromegaly is a disease where a tumorin the pituitary gland causes an overproduction of growth hormone. This leads to swelling and pain in the hands and feet.

Frostbite is another cause of swelling and pain in the hands and feet.

Blood clots in the veins are another cause of swelling and pain in the limbs. This rarely affects the upper extremities (arms). If it does, diseases associated with clotting abnormalities should be suspected.

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (causalgia) is an unusual disorder that leads to swelling and pain in the affected limb. Generally it occurs in an arm or a leg, rarely both at the same time. The preceding event is usually some type of trauma.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Swelling After the Workout


Most of us have probably experienced muscle swelling or soreness after a workout. Although this doesn't happen all the time, this swelling often happens after having intense workouts. But what causes this pain in the first place?

Muscle soreness or swelling is a common consequence of hard and vigorous exercises like weight lifting heavy, lengthy sessions on a stair climber, and sprinting around the track. When our muscles are working hard, they produce a substance known as lactic acid. Lactic acid can cause irritation and discomfort to the muscles, which can then lead to uncomfortable swelling. However, muscle swelling caused by lactic acid only lasts a few hours after a workout. For the kind of swelling that stays for two days or more, there's a much differentexplanation.

When we try to subject our muscles to workouts far beyond their capacities, the muscles will often tear. When this happens, white blood cells, along with other fluids and nutrients flow to the muscles, to repair the damage. The sudden influx of these elements causes the swelling. These substances continuously flow through the muscles until they are fully repaired. The damage, in this case, is microscopic, and the amount of it depends on the intensity of the workout. This explains why some swelling can last for two days, and some can last for up to five.

A common misconception among some fitness enthusiasts is that muscular swelling is required for better muscle growth. However, muscles still grow and individuals do get stronger even when they don't experienceswelling. Muscular swelling does causes several uncomfortable consequences like difficulty in walking, reduced strength, and being uncomfortable for several days.

An anti-inflammatory agent may come in handy as a remedy for muscle swelling. One thing to keep in mind is that there's a certain difference between taking an anti-inflammatory agent before and after a workout. Several studies have revealed that taking an anti-inflammatory drug (like ibuprofen) before exercise, instead of after, can prevent more swelling and soreness. In some cases, gym enthusiasts rely solely on stretching to help either prevent or reduce muscle swelling following their workouts. But careful investigation exposed that stretching provides no notable contribution to the prevention or reduction of musclesoreness.

Massages can also help in reducing swelling of the muscles. Several studies have shown that those who received massages after their work outs reported 30% less muscle swelling compared to those who didn't receive one. There are some people who still insist on continuing their work outs even when they have muscle swelling. If you're in this group, it is important to determine the specific part of your muscle that has swelling. You may then try making that certain muscle undergo some exercises. If the soreness does not get in the way of your work out, by all means, continue. But if the soreness worsens, it is better to take a rest, rather than overexert your body with some additional exercises, which only causes you to need more time to rest, recover, and grow.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Swelling After Facial Procedures


The makeover shows on television have resulted in a significant upswing in the popularity of facial plastic surgery procedures. They often fail to show, however, the swelling afterwards.

Swelling After Facial Procedures

Choosing to have plastic surgery is always a big step. More people are deciding to have this permanent form of cosmetic change due to the aging population and the amount of Hollywood stars that talk about their procedures. An especially popular form of plastic surgery for women and men over 40 are facial procedures. Here are a few things that you can expect when going in for yours.

Keep in mind that there are many different types of plastic surgeries for the face that can be performed. There are upper and lower lift. There are also lasertreatments, which are also known as laser skin resurfacing. The goal of all facial procedures is to correct issues on the face that can happen as a person ages. Sagging skin, wrinkles, jowls and deep cheek folds are all issues that traditional surgeries can correct, while laser procedures tend to target smaller skins YouTube girls such as small wrinkles.

Facial procedure is usually performed by a board certified plastic surgeon under general anesthesia. Cuts are made into the skin at the hairline, and the underlying tissue and muscle is pulled taut. This gives the skin a smoother, more youthful appearance. Sometimes, excess skin is also removed from the facial area. All of this work can be done on an outpatient basis. Patients are often up and moving around very soon.

If youhave a full or partial surgery, you are going to have to deal with some discomfort afterwards. Swelling will be a part of this and you have to have reasonable expectations. You are not going to come out of surgery and immediately look great. The adjustment of muscles, fatty tissue and skin is going to get a reaction from the body. Swelling will be prominent immediately after the procedure as the body forces blood into the area to help with the healing. Frankly, your face will look like a balloon. After a few weeks, however, the swelling should seriously Abbot. This will let you get a better idea of the final look. That being said, some minor swelling can last as long as 10 months, so you have to be patient.

Having plastic surgery on your face requires significant surgical invasioninto muscles, skin and fatty material. The body is going to act to heal itself by pushing blood into the area. This will result in swelling on a large scale. Don't panic when you see yourself for the first time after the surgery. The swelling will go down with time.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Is Your Big Toe Joint Pain and Suffering From Swelling? Gout vs Bunion


Feet and toes are abused daily and taken for granted "until a problem comes up causing you to focus your attention to the problem area. Common problems include redness, dryness and cracking which can be attributed to improper care and poor maintenance. If you are suffering from joint pain and swelling of the big toe, it could be the common bunion.

Bunions are areas of the big toe that can become red and sensitive. Usually the symptoms develop over a period of time and can manifest themselves like:

or The base of the Big toe is swollen and irritated
or The toe is abnormally bent toward the inside of the foot toward the smaller toes.
or The toe is red and can be painful at the joint base.

Usually this is the result of wearing high heeled shoes if you havenarrow toes. Common padding can be used to help relief pain, irritation and potential infection, but surgery may be necessary to align the toe to the proper position. Bunions can occur in one or both feet.

Gout is a form of arthritis and can be felt as an immediate sharp pain in the big toe without notice. You can awake with twinges of pain and soreness in your big toe without knowing the causes. The pain may last for several days and go away but the condition can re-surface at any time as you grow older.

Over 2 million people in the U.S. alone deal with gout and most often it afflicts men more than women. Gout usually develops in men over 30 and can be more likely to occur if overweight and diagnosed with high blood pressure. Women can suffer from gout, but usually postmenopausal women are affected more. Gout most likely affects the big toe first, but can cause issues in wrists, knees and other joints.

In summary, proper sizing of your footwear is important in keeping your feet healthy from issues like bunions. Bunions are preventable where gout is a more serious issue to contend with. If you are dealing with joint pain and swelling in your big toe, your shoes may be the root cause.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Causes of Water Retention-10 Common Reasons For Swelling of the Body


Water retention is a common health problem that greatly affects the day to day activities of the sufferers. Water retention-medically referred to as edema-is the accumulation of excess fluid that leaks into the body tissues. The leakage will lead to swelling in all over the body (generalized swelling) or more localized swelling, such as swelling in legs, feet and ankles or fluid retention in the abdominal, the face, hands, arms, and around the lungs.

Although there are many different conditions and diseases associated with the term water retention or edema, there are several more prominent causes of water retention. And here is some of them:

1. Arthritis
Arthritis, which means joint inflammation ", is described as an inflammation of one or more joints thatinvolves the mechanical failure of cartilage resulting in joint pain, swelling and limited movement. It can affect any body from joints in the hip, spine, shoulder, heel, knee to the big toe.

There are more than 100 different types of arthritis but the three most common types are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis: and gout. Different types of arthritis show different symptoms. Common symptoms of arthritis include: persistent joint pain, fever, tenderness, joint swelling, stiffness, redness, joint inflexibility of malformation, joint and unexplained weight loss.

2. Kidney disorders
Certain forms of kidney disorders such as kidney failure and glomerular disease will lead to swelling throughout the body as well as localized swelling in the abdominal, ankle, feet and legswelling. This occurs because the kidneys have lost its normal functions including to efficiently removing salt and water out of the body. This will in turn cause the body to retain fluid and over time, get accumulated in the body tissues.

3. Chronic lung disease
Chronic lung disease is a general term of persistent lung disorders that damage the function of the lungs. Severe chronic lung disease will cause water retention in the body include fluid retention in lungs (pulmonary edema), ascites, face, neck, ankle and feet swelling. Chronic lung disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), smoke inhalation injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), lung cancer, mesothelioma, etc. may lead to pulmonary edema, ascites, abdominal swelling/fluid retention inthe neck and face, swelling in the ankles and feet.

4. Cirrhosis of the liver
Cirrhosis of the liver usually causes abdominal fluid retention. It also causes low protein albumin synthesis by the liver and results in legs and abdominal fluid retention.

5. Congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy and heart valve disease disease
Congestive heart failure obstructs the normal circulation of the blood and often leads to water retention. Two most common causes of water retention in congestive heart failure patient are: (1) the blood flow to the heart backups and leaks into the lung and vein; (2) the kidney retain fluid due to the insufficient amount of blood flow. Both cardiomyopathy and heart valve disease are a variety of heart disease and lead to heart failure.

6.Excess sodium intake
In people who are more sensitive to sodium, excess sodium intake will raise the blood pressure and lead to water retention especially in the lower extremities such as swelling in the ankles and feet.

7. Gravity
Standing or sitting too long in one position because of occupation necessity or after long trips may cause fluid retention in legs. This is usually worsened by high temperatures.

8. Pregnancy
In some cases, the uterus in pregnant women developing may press the vena cava leading to fluid retention in the legs. Hormone imbalances and increased amount of blood flow also responsible for water retention during pregnancy. The most affected areas of swelling during pregnancy are in the lower extremities especially the ankles and feet.

9.Side effects of certain medication
Certain medication such as anabolic steroid, calcium channel blockers, levitra, methadone, etc. may affect the normal functions of the body and lead to swelling particularly in the legs, feet and ankles.

10. Venous Insufficiency
Venous insufficiency is a disturbance of the blood flow in the leg veins because of the damage of the vein itself or the valves causing the fluid to leak into the backup and surrounding tissues. This disorder is one of the most common causes of water retention in legs.

Look over the list of water retention causes and decides if you are indeed experiencing one or more. Remember, many diseases take years to appear after the symptom does. Thus, you should speak to your doctor if you have any questions regardingwater retention in any parts of your body. Your doctor is the one who can tell you just what exactly the cause of your swelling and what treatment options will work best for you.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Ankle Swelling-Home Remedies for Ankle Swelling


Swelling of the lower leg and ankle is a common problem. Determining the causes of ankle swelling is the first step to finding effective treatment. Once the cause of the ankle swelling is determined, effective treatment can be initiated. Painless "swelling of the feet and ankles is a common problem, particularly in older people. It may affect both legs and may include the calves or even the thighs. Because of the effect of gravity, swelling is particularly noticeable in these locations.

When you severely injure an ankle, that once-quiet joint becomes a hotbed of activity, according to Gary m. Gordon, D.P.M., director of the Running and Walking Clinic at the University of Pennsylvania Sports Medicine Center in Philadelphia. "Nerves, muscles and other tissues become aggravated.Vessels and capillaries tear, leaking blood. More blood rushes to the area to begin the healing process. Fluids accumulated faster than they can be removed, and you have swelling. "

Home Remedies for Ankle Swelling

Lift ankle so that the leg is straight in front of you on the sofa or on a chair. Place an ice pack or ice in a plastic bag wrapped in a clean dish towel on the raised ankle.

Salt Around the time you expect your period, drastically reduce your salt intake. Sodium increases fluid retention, so don't use the salt shaker. And if recipes call for salt, try adding more pepper or another spice instead. But, most importantly, cut down on processed foods and fast foods, all of which are overflowing with salt.

Vinegar To soothe tendinitis, sprains, strains, andgeneral foot aches, alternate hot and cold vinegar wraps. First, heat equal amounts of vinegar and water. Soak a towel in the mixture, wring it out, and wrap it around your foot. Leave it wrapped for five minutes. Then mix equal parts vinegar and cold water and follow the same procedure. Repeat this entire sequence three times.

Elevate the injured area to reduce swelling and promote the draining of fluids. Elevation is especially important if the injury is to an arm or leg.

Boil 1-2 glass of water containing half tablespoon molasses (gud) and one tablespoon saunf, and boil it down to half. Drink this natural homemade drink everyday for 2-3 times. This will reduce swelling of feet during pregnancy.

Bend and Swinging your arms pump: while you walk is a good way to loosenup, but the centrifugal exp force it creates can make blood pool in your hands, causing swelling. "Try bending your arms at the elbows 90 degrees, and use them as pistons," suggests Dr. Duncan. "Raise them up higher than you normally would and swing with the cadence of your walking gait." While you're doing that, keep your hands loosely open.

Ice should be applied to the sprain immediately for 15 minutes after every 2 hours for 2 days, to reduce bleeding, inflammation and pain.

Drink plenty of water: Water moves through your kidneys and bladder, diluting the urine. And since your urine has some fluid-retaining salt into it, the more it's diluted, the easier it is to remove salt and prevent or decrease edema.

Exercise is very important for reducing swelling. Exercise regularly bywalking or swimming helps to remove the swelling.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Home Remedies to Prevent Foot Swelling During Pregnancy


Among the many changes that occur during the pregnancy months of the female is the swelling of feet. The whole feet may swell up, or just some parts like the ankles or the shins may swell.

Swelling of the feet generally starts becoming apparent during the fifth month of the pregnancy, though this time limit can vary from one woman to another. It occurs due to the accumulation of fluids in the feet of the woman. Swelling of the feet can be painful to some women, due to which they may not be able to move about or do their normal work as the months pass on. In some women, the swelling of the feet is very temporary; it subsides when the woman takes rest for a while, or massages the feet.

This article tells some of the home remedies you can use when pregnant to prevent the swelling of feet.

Simple Remedies to Prevent and Treat Swelling of Feet during Pregnancy

- Drink a lot of water when you are pregnant. You must drink at least six to eight glasses of water per day. Water is the most natural therapy to flush out the excess toxins from the body. Thus, the water will expel all the toxic fluids of the body which would otherwise settle in the feet and cause them to swell. Drinking a lot of water could increase the frequency of urination in pregnant women, but that is actually a good sign, as urination is a way to expel the wastes from the body.

- Avoid remaining in a standing position for long periods of time. This gives direct access for the fluids to enter into the lower parts of the body and cause the feet to swell up.

- Hot temperatures are not good during pregnancy. Hot temperatures can reduce the water content of the body, due to which the proportion of the fluids increase proportionately in the body. Therefore, going out when there is a hot climate must be avoided as much as possible.

- It is a misconception that swelling of feet during pregnancy is caused by excessive intake of salty foods. Though over-intake of salt is definitely not good, eliminating salt totally from the diet also does not help. Salt must be taken in moderation. The same idea applies to spicy foods also.

- Keep your diet well-balanced. This is extremely important for a pregnant woman. If the diet is deficient in any kind of food, or if the woman takes the wrong kind of food, then there is more chance of undigested toxic wastes accumulating in the body, and causing the feet to swell.

- Do not wear tight trousers or jeans when you are pregnant, as this would increase the pressure on the legs. Instead, you could wear somewhat loose stockings or pantyhose to give good support to the feet.

- While sleeping, try to change your position frequently. Lying in a single position for a long time will increase the pressure on one side of the body and increase the chances of the feet getting swollen up. You can put some elevated support for the feet, such as propping them up on cushions or pillows, so that the fluid does not accumulate into the feet region.

- Here's a recipe for preventing the swelling of feet during pregnancy. Take two cups of water and add a teaspoonful of palm sugar in it. Add two teaspoons of fennel seeds to it. Boil this mixture, till the volume reduces to half; i.e. only one cupful of water is left. Drink this mixture thrice in a day. It will help protect the feet from getting swollen.

- Add a few tablespoons of coriander in two cups of water. Boil this mixture till it reduces to half its quantity, i.e. to one cup. Drink this coriander decoction thrice in a day. It will prevent from swelling of feet during pregnancy. In order to improve the taste, you can add sugar and milk to it, so that it becomes like a herbal tea.

- The most important thing to prevent feet from swelling up during pregnancy is to keep them exercised often. Pregnant women tend to reduce their normal activities in the fear that it would harm the fetus. But in fact, the opposite is true. Walking for half an hour per day is ideal. Keep your feet moving about. This is a very sure way of preventing the accumulation of fluids in the feet.

- While sitting, do not press your legs by crossing them. Keep them free and separated so that there is no undue pressure on them.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Cold Sore Care - How to Lessen Cold Sore Swelling Quickly


Cold sores or fever blisters can be annoying, not to mention unsightly. Such sores are the products of the herpes simplex virus. They will begin as red dots, then start puffing out, all itchy and tingling and cold sore swelling will take place. As the blister gathers moisture and water, it gets larger, and even more embarrassingly conspicuous. Cold sores actually come from any contact of the herpes simplex virus with your mouth, perhaps early in your childhood. The virus picked out a host cell and moved into it. The cell, perhaps a nerve, then suffered to become the puppet of the virus, as the viral DNA gave orders to the host to produce more of the herpes simplex virus.

As cold sore swelling takes place, the numbers grow, the virus multiplies, and the cold sores replicate. Such cold sores can turn up wherever they wish in your body, wherever their host cells lead them. If you have ever been disturbed and aggravated by a cold sore, you know how irritating cold sore swelling can be, and how ashamed you can feel whenever cold sores suddenly choose to wreak havoc. You might also have been tempted to prick it or pop it. Such methods, however, are dangerous, and can lead to cold sore swelling and more infections.

Here are a few methods you can use to lower cold sore swelling and have it disappear quickly. For more tips, consult with your doctor and find ways by which you can prevent even more cold sores from bugging you in the future.

- Because cold sores like moisture and dirt and need more water and bacteria to keep swelling, they can fade away if they are kept dry and clean. Wash the area around the cold sore regularly and pat it dry to lessen cold sore swelling.

- Buy a new toothbrush to prevent cold sore swelling and recurrence. Toothbrushes can incubate such cold sore-causing viruses for days at a time, so you can be infected once again after your last cold sore heals. Studies have shown that patients with cold sores were less likely to get them again if they replaced their toothbrushes after they discovered that they had a cold sore, and then after the cold sore healed.

Not only do toothbrushes make good homes for the cold sore-causing virus, so do toothpaste tubes. As you stick the bristles of your toothbrush against the toothpaste tube opening, you transfer the herpes simplex virus onto the toothpaste tube, where the virus can incubate for quite a while. To prevent this from happening, you can buy smaller toothpaste tubes, or avoid sticking your toothbrush bristles against the opening of the toothpaste tube.

- Herpes simplex thrives in moist conditions, so if you keep your toothbrush exposed in your bathroom, chances are you will get cold sores again and again and cold sore swelling will not be healed. Take your toothbrush out of the bathroom, and wash it before and after you use it.

- Shield the sore with petroleum jelly to avoid cold sore swelling. Use a cotton swab to apply the petroleum jelly onto the cold sore, and throw the swab away immediately.

- According to research, zinc can heal cold sore swelling quickly. Ask for tubes of zinc sulfate or zinc gluconate at your local pharmacy or health food store the minute you feel the familiar tingling of a cold sore.

- Some studies also show that the amino acid lysine can help heal cold sore swelling quickly. Supplement your diet with as much as three thousand additional milligrams of lysine by drinking supplements, or eating potatoes or dairy products to heal cold sore swelling. Be careful, however: lysine can interfere with infant development and growth, so if you are pregnant or nursing, you need to find other ways to treat your cold sores. If you can have the lysine-rich diet, however, stay away from arginine-rich foodstuffs such as sodas, peanuts, chocolates, grains, beer, and cashews. Herpes simplex relies on arginine to multiply.

Although you can lessen cold sore swelling and it naturally disappears after a few weeks, it is still best to find the best permanent treatment for cold sore. Cold sore is not only contagious but it also has high tendencies to come back on the same spot. It is important to stop cold sore at the root of the problem, instead of treating cold sore swelling or just masking the symptoms.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Anasarca - What is This Form of Generalized Swelling?


Anasarca is a form of swelling which is generalized in the body of the patient. It is considered as a massive edema. A minor amount of swelling in one localized spot on the body is not considered the same as anasarca. The swollen area itself occurs by means of fluid build up in the tissue.

Different causes can lead to anasarca, as well as swelling in general. Below are some conditions and issues that can lead to one type or the other, or potentially both. This list is not exhaustive and does not contain all potential underlying medical causes.

Congestive heart failure - Typically occurring in instances of low cardiac output, or when the body begins to require more resources than the heart is able to give.

Kidney disease - This can occur due to chronic conditions like diabetes mellitus or high blood pressure, as well as others.

Clarkson syndrome - A rare condition involving the pores of the capillaries, this is also known as capillary leak syndrome.

Different measures can be used for diagnosis in the case of anasarca or more localized swelling. Some tests used may include electrolyte levels and blood albumin levels. Tests of the liver and kidney function, as well as measurements via urinalysis, might also be done. Echocardiogram and electrocardiogram, along with X-ray procedures, are a few other options.

Once the condition has been diagnosed, treatment may be considered. Depending upon the underlying medical issue or issues, as well as other factors, different selections for treatment may be chosen.

Monday, September 19, 2011

Lymphedema Armsleeves - Fashionable Relief From Painful Arm Swelling


Lymphedema is a condition that causes the soft tissues of the body to retain fluid. Any area of the human body can be affected, but the typical areas of swelling are in the arms and legs. Although this condition isn't life threatening, there can be a great deal of discomfort involved. Limbs and extremities can become painfully bloated and sore.

Who Is At Risk For Lymphedema?

There are several factors that can contribute to this ailment. Any medical procedure that cuts into or near the glands of the lymphatic system can damage lymph gland function. Women who undergo breast cancer surgery can be at risk as well as those patients with heart problems and circulatory issues. Genetics can also play a part. Some people are simply predisposed to fluid buildup in their bodily tissues.

Living with Lymphedema

Dealing with an arm, leg or foot that has ballooned to twice its normal size can be extremely difficult. The skin becomes tender to the touch and can actually split open. Open wounds can lead to infection and put a person in grave danger of contracting gangrene. Just moving from place to place can be a huge challenge. Affected limbs can become as hard as a rock, making simple movement almost impossible. There are special lymphedema bandages available for these wounds.

People who suffer from these symptoms have difficulty getting dressed. Sleeves, pants legs and socks have to be cut to allow for the bigger limb. Shoes sometimes have to be special ordered for puffed-up feet. In many cases, puffiness can be relieved with a diuretic medication and exercise. The diuretic increases kidney function and allows the body to get rid of excess liquid. In other cases, a person may need to use a specially designed sleeve to decrease retention.

Lymphedema Armsleeves

The medical profession has invented special sleeves for arm swelling made out of the same type of materials as compression stocking edema treatment uses the gentle compression of the stretchy fabric to increase body heat to the capillaries. This brings improved circulation and reduced swelling. The amount of time a person would need to wear their sleeve will depend on the advice of their treating physician. Typically, they are worn every day until the symptoms are under control.

Armsleeves are made of woven mesh fabric that can be washed either by hand or in the machine using a mild detergent without bleach. They can be hung to dry or put in the dryer on the delicate heat cycle. With care, they should keep their compression qualities for 6 months.