Definition of edema - What it is, Meaning and Concept

The Greek word oidēma came to scientific Latin as oedema , which derived in our language in edema .The term is used in the field of the medicine to refer to the inflammation that causes the presence of a fluid in the cellular tissue .

Edema is a flaccid swelling : by exerting pressure on it, it gives in.The concept is associated with dropsy , which is the accumulation or dispersion of serous liquid.

Considered as a clinical sign , edema can be generated for multiple reasons: an increase in the permeability of the vessel walls, an increase in hydrostatic pressure, an alteration in fluid retention of the tissues and a drop in osmotic blood pressure are possible reasons for its appearance.

Edema can be localized or generalized, and appear hot or cold .Once it appears, it requires frequent supervision by a medical professional, who must indicate the steps to follow.

There are multiple types of edema.A pulmonary edema , for example, occurs when there is an atypical accumulation of fluids in the lungs , which swell and cause respiratory complications.

Pulmonary edema is usually caused by heart failure.The pressure recorded by the arteries that reach the lungs increases when the heart malfunctions, causing fluid to break into the alveoli.This, in turn, causes oxygen to not circulate normally in the lungs.

When we talk about an edema that appears on the legs, ankles or feet, it must be taken into account that many can be the causes that cause it.However, among the most significant are standing for a long time or sitting for a long time when It's hot, being overweight, abusing salt intake, suffering sunburn, kidney disease, waiting for a baby...

However, edema may also occur from taking certain medications for blood pressure or even anti-inflammatory drugs.

To avoid the appearance of edema in the legs it is necessary not to spend too much time in the same posture, reduce the consumption of salt in the diet, perform physical exercise that allows to stimulate what is the pumping of the lower extremities, sleep with the legs a little higher and avoid clothing that is too tight and that can exert excessive pressure on them.Also, it is established that it is necessary to give daily massages in the legs and, when showering, to alternate the water cold with hot.

It is important that the edema be treated immediately because otherwise it can lead to adverse consequences and complications as complicated as some difficulty walking, risk of infection in the area that It is affected by swelling, less blood circulation in that area and even less elasticity in both veins and arteries and even in muscles.

Other edemas that can occur in the human being are the cerebral edema (which takes place in the brain), the macular edema ( eye) and the angiodema (mucous membranes and skin).