- Edema - disturbances in water management
- Various causes of problems with edema
- 11 remedies for leg swelling
Where do the puffiness come from? They appear when excess serous fluid accumulates in the tissues. And it depends on how the body's water control system works. Edema may be the result of various diseases, e.g. kidney, liver, thyroid, as well as diet and lifestyle errors. Learn effective ways to treat puffiness.
We are most often troubled byswellinglegs, which are the result of microcirculation disorders. If we're he althy, there's nothing to worry about. General swelling can also be caused by long work at a desk, traveling by car or plane. However, it is worth knowingeffective methods for puffiness .
Edema - disturbances in water management
The water balance in our body is controlled by the central nervous system, a specific dispatcher, from where information is sent to receiving stations, i.e. baroreceptors located e.g. in arteries, whether there is an adequate amount of fluid in the vessels. The main recipients of this information are three systems: vascular, endocrine and urinary. Proper water management depends on complex physiological and chemical processes. The more water there is in the body, the more the heart and venous valves have to pump it. If the body sends (for whatever reason) false signals to the brain, heart, and kidneys, the vessels are ischemic. The nervous system determines that they need more blood. But the body cannot make enough blood. He has to find another way to meet the needs of vital organs. Thus, it increases the volume of blood circulating in the body by absorbing water from the intestines, chyme and feces. But this action does not help us. The diluted blood moves around the body, and when it reaches the bottom of the body, it has a hard time returning to the top. The venous valves in the legs cannot pump all the blood. So it stays in the limbs, but tries to get out in a different way. Overfilled vessels seem to have holes in them, and excess fluid begins to leak through them into the surrounding tissues.
Various causes of problems with edema
They can be caused by uncomfortable shoes, alcohol, trauma, and also some diseases. If we urinate frequently at night, there is pain and pressure on the bladder, and in the morning we get up with swollen legs - it should be assumed that the kidneys or liver are not working properly. General puffiness will be us tootease when we suffer from malnutrition or thyroid disorders. If swelling occurs around the ankles and does not disappear after rest with the legs raised, the right ventricle is not a problem. If the left ventricle is not working properly, we may feel short of breath because excess fluid builds up in the lungs. Another reason may be the change in oncotic pressure, i.e. the force with which water is retained in the vessels by proteins, i.e. albumin. If there is too little protein (e.g. due to a strictdietslimming diet), body fluids leak freely through the vessels.
11 remedies for leg swelling
- Soak your feet in water with table s alt or s alt for your feet . Some unnecessary water will escape through the expanded vessels. Then bring your legs higher than the rest of your body. This will facilitate the drainage of blood and after 1-2 hours you will go to the bathroom more often, the swelling will go down and you will feel a lot of relief.
- Use gels or ointments . Their main advantage is vasoconstriction. They become tighter, more flexible and let less water pass to the outside. Ointments containing horse chestnut extract, diethylammonium s alt or preparations counteracting inflammation of the veins are recommended. Agents containing large doses of routine are also helpful, because they seal the vessels, improve blood circulation and reduce blood clotting.
- Wear special stockings or anti-varicose tights- the most modern form of such products are those with a variable degree of compression or the so-called intermittent pneumatic compression. Alternating pressure on the calves and shins effectively increases the speed of blood flow in the leg veins. Blood flow stimulates the body to produce substances that help dissolve small clots.
- Start to move- the sedentary lifestyle that many women lead makes the so-called the vascular pump in the legs does not work. Fluid begins to accumulate in the subcutaneous tissues, and this causes swelling. This is why you have swollen feet, ankles or calves after a long day in the office, car and chair. Exercise causes the blood vessels throughout the body to dilate, and more fluid begins to pass through the kidneys to be removed from the body. So train at least 2 days a week and walk every day, e.g. while talking on the phone. You don't even expect how many steps you can take in that time!
- Limit s alt in your diet- although s alt is essential for electrolyte balance and proper muscle function, excess s alt is harmful. It retains water in the body and thus increases the pressure in the arteries. Slowso eat no more than 5 g of s alt a day, meanwhile most of us exceed this dose at least three times. We often do this unconsciously. This spice is found in almost all food products: bread, cold cuts, cheeses … When you add s alt, which you use in cooking, you find that you are exceeding the recommended dose every day. So if you feel swollen and your weight is constantly increasing, set aside s alt for a day. Choose only those products that do not contain it, and season your dishes with herbs.
- Take dietary supplements before your period- start doing this one week before your period. This is when a change in the hormonal balance and an increase in the amount of estrogen most often cause swelling and water retention. It is felt especially by women in the menopausal period, when there are large hormonal changes in the body. Then it is worth reaching for dietary supplements containing couch grass, nettle and green coffee, which support the removal of water from the body. Pharmacies also offer two-phase preparations for swallowing throughout the month. But beware: you should tell your doctor about all dietary supplements you are taking.
- Drink more water- it may surprise you, but to get rid of too much water, you need to … increase the amount of water you drink during the day. Why? When you skim your body with fluids, it starts to store them in the tissues in order to prevent dehydration. Lack of water also impairs the proper functioning of the kidneys and prevents them from getting rid of excess toxins and sodium from the body. And s alt, which is a sodium compound, retains water in the body. So start drinking still mineral water throughout the day, and on an empty stomach drink a glass of warm water with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.
- Dip your feet in water with vinegar- but only with the apple vinegar, which is great for reducing foot swelling. After returning from work, pour cool water into the bowl and add a glass of vinegar, mix and dip your feet in this solution. Relax for 10-15 minutes. Then pat your skin dry. Such a bath also helps to get rid of the unpleasant smell of feet after a whole day. Apple cider vinegar not only improves the removal of excess water. It also contains potassium, which supports the kidneys, so it's a good idea to drink a tablespoon of vinegar with water twice a day.
- Eat parsley- is one of the most diuretic plants, it will help keep your legs from swelling. This is another valuable advantage of parsley, next to the high content of vitamin C and beta-carotene. It is most effective when eaten raw - sprinkle it over salads and soups. On warm days, prepare yourself an Arabic tabbouleh salad. With couscouschopped parsley, lemon juice and garlic is the perfect way to prevent heat-induced puffiness. You can also use green parsley to prepare vegetable cocktails or smoothies that are so fashionable now. A tea made of 2 teaspoons of dried parsley in a glass of boiling water also works well. After 10 minutes, strain the infusion and drink it. Repeat this 3 times a day until you notice an improvement.
- Reach for watermelons- these delicious fruits not only have a diuretic effect, but also contain a lot of potassium. And it is potassium that helps remove excess water and sodium from the body. In turn, potassium deficiency causes swelling. Watermelons, including tomatoes, also have the advantage of providing the body with a lot of water which is needed for the "drainage" mechanism to function efficiently. Fruit and vegetable salads will be perfect not only in summer, but throughout the year.
- Drink herbal infusions- especially nettle, horsetail and dandelion. They are natural diuretics, i.e. plants with diuretic and dehydrating properties. Two glasses of infusion of dried or fresh herbs a day will keep your legs light all the time. Remember, however, that drinking herbs should be consulted with a doctor, because they are not indifferent to the body. Be especially careful if you have kidney problems as there may be times when they can't cope with excess fluid. If that's the case, choose fresh parsley, as there's no way to overdose it.