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What is edema - how to treat lymphedema and other types of edema

By edema there is an accumulation of fluid in the whole body or body parts. Most often the accumulation of fluids is  between the cells in the body tissues. This accumulation causes the body or body parts to swell.

The symptoms of Edema

Swelling of a body part or the whole body is the main symptom of edema. By a localized cause, the symptoms will be seen in the specific body part. When the cause affects the whole body, the legs are often the most swallen body parts. Edema affecting a limb, will give the limb a puffy appearance. Edema affecting the abdomen, gives abdominal bloadting.

The skin on an affected body part will often look thickened, swampy and inelastic. If you press down at the skin, there will be a press mark taking some time to go away.

About the fluids in the body and their circulation

The body has three main bulks of fluids. The blood is one. The other is fluid inside the cells. The third is the fluid between the cells. There are two fluid conducting systems in the body, the blood cystem and the lymph system. The blood circulates through the whole body. During this circulation the blood is distributed througout the body by the great arteries, and then distributed more finely by the smaller arterioles, and at last distributed throughout all tissues by the thinnest vessels, the capillaries. Then the blood is assambled again in steadily thicker veins and goes back to the heart and lungs.

Fluid with oxygen and nutrients also go through the walls of the capillaries into spaces between cells. In this way the cells get oxygen and nutrients. The other system of vessels, the lymph system, gather this fluid in steadily thicker lymph vessels and carry the fluid back to the greatest vein of the blood sustem again.

When the ballance of this fluid transportation is disturbed or the transportation is hindered, edema can be the consequence. This is especially through if the transportation of fluid in the lymph vessels back to the blood circulation is hindered. It also often occur when the heart do not mangage to pump blood effectively enough out into the body.

The causes and process of Edema

Lymphedema: A common type of edema is lymphedema, caused by impairment of the lymphe drainage. The condition occur often in the legs. Any kind of disease or injury that injures the lymphatic vessels or lymph nodes, can cause lymphedema, for exanple chronic infections. Lymphedema is a common consequence of surgery where lymphe nodes are taken out or lymph vessels cut. Serious lymphoedema can cause gross distortions of a limb, impairment of movement and serious infections in the affected areas.

Edema is a natural occurance by acute infection or by injury. However edema can become chronic or occur without any infection or injury. Since edema is a component of inflammation, any disease causing inflammation will also cause edema.

By inflammation edema is caused by tissue fluid leaking out through the walls of the smallest blood vessels ( capillaries) into the area between cells. The affected body part or region will therefore swell.

However some anti-inflmmatory drugs, like steroids, do not work well against this component of the inflammatore process, but can in the long run cause edema.

Edema by general water retetion: An impaired secretion of urine from the kidnies kan also cause edema. This can occur by kidney diseases. Edema caused by kidney disease usually affects greater areas of the body or the whole body.

An imbalance of mineral salts can also cause edema by impairing the excretion of urine from the kidneys, for example by too high consumption of ordinary salt - NaCl or too law intake of potassium and magnesium. Edema of these causes usually affects greater areas of the body or the whole body.

Edema by heart failur: By conjestive heart failur, the heart is not able to pump the blood through the body, and fluid accumulates causing generalized edema.

Edema by venous failur: If the veins in the limbs are not able to carry blood back towards the heart effectively, blood can fill up in the weins and cause edema.

The treatment of Edema

By edema, the underlying disease must be determined and treated if it is possible. Often this is not possible to get totally rid of the disease, or the causal treatment takes a long time. In these cases treatment has to be directed against the edema itself.

Practical measures, such as holding legs elevated during rest, elastick stockings or exercizes will often help against the problem.

Diuretics, that is drugs increasing the urine production, are often used to control edema.

To correct an imbalance in the dayly nutrition, for example redusing salt consume or furnishing extra potassiom and magnesium, is also an important measure.

A practical physical message are elastic glowes, stocking or inflatable garments  to keep the swelling down and help the circulation of lymph and blood back towards the heart.

Still another practical treatment are air pumps combined with inflatable garments that excert a pumping action around a limb and thereby help the flow back of lymph and blood.

You also find on  the market herbal medicines that intend to help for edema by several actions: Improving the water and salt balance, stimulating the heart and blood vessels to work more dynamically, stimulating tissue repair in blood and lumph vessels and reducing inflammation.

Pycnogenol, an extract from the bark of the French Maritime pine has shown promising effects against edema according to scientific studies.

A serious case of edma, the type lymphedema, before treatment

A serious case of edma, the type lymphedema, after treatment
 

LYMPHEDEMA TREATMENT PUMPS AND GARMENTS

System 7500 Sequential Extremity Pump and accessories - This product is used together with garments or sleeves to place around arms or legs. The garment and adaptors you want tu use can be found together with the pump itself in the online collection and be added to the purchase order.

The product makes a pumping action at the limbs and thereby improves the circulation of blood and lymph, and alleviates this way edema. It pumps on the limb in three sequencial steps, starting with the part of the limb that is the longest way from the heart.

To be used you need the pump itself, tubing and one garment of prefered type: arm garment, medium leg garment, long leg garment. You can treat two limbs simultaneously if you have two garments two tubings and an adaptor to separate the air stream. This product is bound to prescription in this store that can be faxed or sent right after the order.

System 7500 Sequential Extremity Pump System 7500 Sequential Extremity Pump

Flowtron Hydroven FPR pump - This is another product to be used together with garments or sleeves to place around arms or feet. The product makes a pumping action at the limbs and thereby improves the circulation of blood and lymph, and alleviates this way edema.  The product is bound to prescription from this shop, but

Flowtron Hydroven FPR Pump Flowtron Hydroven FPR Pump

Shop.com - Lymphedema pumps and garments -Shop.com is a general shopping portal with products in all categories. The shop also have lymphedema pumps and garments that are not bound to prescription.

Flowpress Sequential Compression Pump Flowpress Sequential Compression Pump-Sturdy, dependable pump is unsurpassed for enhancing lymphatic and venous flow. Distributes air sequentially to three garment compartments. Garments sold separately. May be used to treat 2 extremities simoutaneously (requires connector for second garment.) One year warranty, parts and labor. HCPSC Code = E0651

Console Garments - Leg Console Garments-Inflatable garments with washable polyurethane-impregnated nylon, woven outer layer and knitted inner layer for improved comfort. Feature zip closures and quick-pull pressure ring. 120 day warranty. HCPSC Code = E0666

Console Garments - Arm Console Garments Inflatable garments with washable polyurethane-impregnated nylon, woven outer layer and knitted inner layer for improved comfort.- Feature zip closures and quick-pull pressure ring. 120 day warranty. HCPSC Code = E0666

 

 

Elastic gloves, stockings, bandages

Edema Glove, Full Finger, Fore - Left Glove Full Finger Forearm Edema Glove - Home Health Care Provides gentle compression to help control edema. These comfortable, economical gloves provide gentle compression to help control edema.All are washable and sold individually. Latex free. To determine size, measure the circumference of the hand through the thumb web space. One size fits all. Available for right and left hands. See our other edema glove options: A12075 Full finger glove, over the wrist length A12076 Full finger glove, shoulder length A12077 Open finger glove, over the wrist length A12078 Full finger glove, wrist length A12079 Open finger glove, shoulder length Due to hygiene purposes, this item is non-returnable. - Full Finger Forearm Edema Glove - Home Health Care Provides gentle compression to help control edema. These comfortable, economical gloves provide gentle compression to help control edema.All are washable and sold individually. Latex free. To determine size, measure the circumference of the hand through the thumb web space. One size fits all. Available for right and left hands. Left Glove

Full - Shoulder Edema Glove - Medium, Right Edema Gloves, Compression Gloves Six different glove styles provide the perfect solution for everyone. These comfortable, economical gloves provide gentle compression to help control edema.All are washable and sold individually. Latex free. To determine size, measure the circumference of the hand through the thumb web space. Small = 8" or 20.3 cm. Medium =9" or 221.9 cm. Large = 10" or 25.4 cm. A12075 Full finger glove, over the wrist length A12076 Full finger glove, shoulder length A12077 Open finger glove, over the wrist length A12078 Full finger glove, wrist length A12079 Open finger glove, shoulder length Due to hygiene purposes, this item is non-returnable. - Edema Gloves, Compression Gloves Six different glove styles provide the perfect solution for everyone. These comfortable, economical gloves provide gentle compression to help control edema.All are washable and sold individually. Latex free. To determine size, measure the circumference of the hand through the thumb web space. Medium, Right

Jobst Lymphedema Lower Extremity Kit Jobst Lymphedema Lower Extremity Kit Everything you need for lower extremity lymphedema care This kit includes the following items: Eight 5 1/2 yard-long (5M) rolls of Comprilan(R) Short Stretch Medical Bandage One roll of 2 3/8" (6 cm) wide Artiflex(R) Underwrap One roll of 3 1/8" (8 cm) wide Artiflex(R) Underwrap Three rolls 4" (10 cm) wide Artiflex(R) Underwrap Three rolls 4 3/4" (12 cm) wide Artiflex(R) Underwrap Two 10' long (3m) rolls Artiflex(R) Underwrap - two 4" (10cm) wide and two 6" (15cm) wide Four 4 yard long (3.7m) and 1" wide (2.5cm) rolls of Elastomull(R) Bandage One 8 oz. (237 ml) bottle of Eucerin(R) lotion Due to hygiene purposes, this item is non-returnable.

Full Arm Lymphedema Kit Full Arm Lymphedema Kit Convenient kit with all the bandaging supplies commonly used with lymphedema of the arm This kit includes: Five rolls of Comprilan(R) Short Stretch Medical Bandage; specifically Two 2.3" (6 cm) rolls Comprilan(R) Short Stretch Medical Bandage Two 3" (8 cm) rolls Comprilan(R) Short Stretch Medical Bandage One 4"(10 cm) rolls Comprilan(R) Short Stretch Medical Bandage One roll of 16 1/2" (5 meters)Tricofix Two rolls of 4" x 10' (10 cm x 3 meters) Artiflex(R) Underwrap One bag of Elastomull Paper Tape Kit components are latex free. Due to hygiene purposes, this item is non-returnable.

Help against other health problems

PRODUCTS FOR PREVENTION, CURE OR SUPPORT BY A LOT OF OTHER DISEASES - Medicines to be taken by mouth: Acne, aging symptoms, AIDS, allergies, Alzheimers disease/dementia, angina, arthritis (osteoarthritis), arthritis (rheumatoid arthritis), asthma, attention deficit disorder (ADD), breast cancer, burns, carpal tunnel syndrome, cholesterol, cronic bronchitis, chronic cough, chronic fatigue sydrom, cognitive problems, colds and flue, congestive heart failure (CHF), Crohn`s disease, depression, diabetes mellitus type 1, diabetes mellitus type 2, eczema, edema, endometriosis, fatigue, fibromyalgia, hair loss, herpes simplex, hyperlipidemia, hypertention, obesity, otitis media, urinary tract infection, yeast infection, vitiligo.

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PRODUCTS FOR PREVENTION, CURE OR SUPPORT - Many topical medicines: - Many diseases respond to topical treatment, as well as to medicines taken by mouth, especially skin conditions and rheumatic ailments. Sometimes there is a need to combine systemic and topical treatment. Here you find many good topical remedies and also some systemic ones.

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About the ingredients of Capisette

Magnesium- One study used magnesium to see if it could be helpful with edema in premenstrual women. The women participating reported a more significant reduction in swelling, weight gain, and bloating compared to the women taking placebo. (1)

 

Potassium- One of the three major electrolytes in your body which may be helpful for edema by regulating the flow of fluids into and out of your tissues and cells.

 

Uva Ursi Ext.- Has been used worldwide as a diuretic while also supporting the kidneys and urinary tract. (6) 
 

Dandelion Ext- Has diuretic properties that may be helpful with edema. It is one of the few diuretics that does not create a potassium deficiency (much like the ones caused with prescription drugs). (2)

 

Gingko Biloba- Has been used in edema centers to enhance circulation while improving blood flow. (3)

 

Horse Chestnut- Studies report that horse chestnut may be able to reduce leakage of fluids from the capillaries caused by edema while promoting overall circulatory health. (4, 5)
 

Buchu Ext.- A mild diuretic. 

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is nutritional in nature and should not be construed as medical advice. This notice is required by the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.