For products against edema, please see further down

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 often be a press mark taking some time to go away. Edema which gives such a press mark is called pitting edema. Edema not leaving a press mark is called not-pitting edema. Pitting edema is easier to treat than not-pitting edema.

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.

Lymphedema is often of the non-pitting sort that do not give a press-mark when a pressure is applied to the surface of the edematous limb or body part.

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.

Lifestyle advices to help against edema and other simple measures

Reducing the consume of salt is an effective advice if you have a high salt consume.

Furnishing extra potassiom and magnesium in the diet may help.

Hold the legs or other swallen body parts high during rest.

Change frequently position when you sit or lie.

Elastic stockings or gloves can be useful for edema in the limbs.

Have some daily exercize adjusted to your health condition.

Having a daily healthy diet that reduces inflammation and supports good digestion is an important measure. Such a diet is based on natural ingredients like vegetables, fruit, whole corn bread and cereals, fish, foul, nuts almonds and lean meat. The diet contains olive oil, flax oil, and other fat sources that give omega-3-fat and mono-unsaturated fat, but little of other types of fat.

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.

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

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
 

Edema / Lymphedema treatment pumps and garments

Sequential Extremity Pumps and accessories - Here are examples of lymphedema treatment pumps and inflatable garments to use together with the pumps. Please click at the product links to read about the exhibited products or to find other products that exactly fulfills your need. To do treatment with inflatable pumping garments you need one or more garments to use on the whole or parts of legs or arms, a pump with the capsity for the garments you choose, and tubing to connect the pump with the garments. You find all those things through these links.

Huntleigh Flowtron Hydroven 3 Lymphedema Pump Hydroven 3 Full Leg Garment 36.75" Length / Circumference Is 28" Upper Thigh - 21" At Ankle The Huntleigh Flowtron Hydroven 3 offers single chamber uniform compression or three chamber gradient sequential compression pump therapy.

Huntleigh Flowtron Hydroven 3 Lymphedema Pump Hydroven 3 Full Leg Garment 33" Length / Circumference Is 28" Upper Thigh - 21" At Ankle The Huntleigh Flowtron Hydroven 3 offers single chamber uniform compression or three chamber gradient sequential compression pump therapy.

Huntleigh Flowtron Hydroven 3 Garments & Inserts Hydroven Full Arm Insert 26.75" length adds 7" to the top and 6" to the bottom Hydroven 3 garments are three chamber garments that provide gradient segmental compression, with 10% reduction in pressure in each chamber distally to proximally. They replace the old Flowplus system.

Huntleigh Flowtron Hydroven 3 Garments & Inserts Hydroven Full Leg Insert 36.25" length adds 7" to the top and 6" to the bottom Hydroven 3 garments are three chamber garments that provide gradient segmental compression, with 10% reduction in pressure in each chamber distally to proximally. They replace the old Flowplus system.

 

 

ELASTIC STOCKINGS, GLOVES AND BANDS

Orthopedic equipment store: This is a special collection of orthopedic equipment of all kind. Among other products you can also find a lot of bandaging and compression wearings to alleviate edema, like elastic gloves, stockings and throusers.

Examples of edema products form DocOrtho: By clicking at any product link or the banner above you can find the product that exactly fits your need.

Activa Thigh High Light Compression Ultra Sheer 9-12 mm Hg "Thigh high with light graduated compression prevents mild leg fatigue and discomfort and ankle and foot swelling. especially for those who sit or stand for long periods. Activa brand. Non-returnable once opened. Great Looking and Healthy Legs!Ideal for anyone wanting great looking and feeling legs. especially those who sit or stand for long periods of time. This ultra light graduated compression hosiery prevents mild leg fatigue and discomfort and ankle and foot swelling by improving circulation in the legs. Experts recommend wearing compression hosiery during air travel to prevent ""Economy Class Syndrome"". a medical condition associated with the inactivity during flights (also known as deep-vein thrombosis).Elegant in its sheerness. this hosiery gives comfortable. ultra-light support while still remaining fashionable. Feels and looks silky smooth. No one will know its compression hosiery. Features a lace top with silicone and sheer sandal foot. Colors: Suntan. Black. Nylon/Spandex. Activa brand."

Activa Thigh High w/ Lace Moderate Compression 20-30 mm Hg "Thigh high with moderate graduated compression is designed to prevent venous disorders such as varicose/spider veins and ankle/foot swelling. Soft Fit from Activa brand. Non-returnable once opened. Fashion Tights with Medical Benefits!Designed to prevent venous disorders of the leg such as varicose/spider veins and ankle/foot swelling. Provides moderate graduated compression to increase circulation in the legs. Ideal for frequent or long air travel to prevent ""Economy Class Syndrome"". a condition causing blood clots and embolism formation due to inactivity during flying.Knitted with Microfibers. this hosiery has a cotton-like softness that wicks moisture away. Elegant in its sheen and softness. it has the feel and look of tights. Relieves leg fatigue and heaviness. ankle and foot swelling. mild spider and varicose veins. and for Post Sclerotherapy. Lace top thigh high with silicone strips. Reinforced balloon comfort toe. Also available in Queen size. Colors: Barely Beige. Black. Soft Fit from Activa brand."

Activa Knee High Light Compression Sheer 15-20 mm Hg "Knee High with light graduated compression prevents mild leg fatigue and discomfort and ankle and foot swelling. especially for those who sit or stand for long periods. Activa brand. Non-returnable once opened. Easy and Comfortable to WearIdeal for anyone wanting great looking legs. this graduated compression hosiery prevents leg fatigue. ankle and foot swelling. and mild spider/varicose veins by improving circulation in the legs. Experts recommend wearing compression hosiery during air travel to prevent ""Economy Class Syndrome"". a medical condition associated with the inactivity during flights (also known as deep-vein thrombosis).Elegant in its sheerness. this hosiery gives comfortable. preventative support while still remaining fashionable. Knee High length. Non-binding top band. Reinforced foot and heel. Nylon/Spandex. Colors: Nude. White. Black. Sheer Therapy from Activa brand."

Activa Mens Dress Socks Moderate Compression 20-30 mm Hg "Men's dress socks relieve leg fatigue. ankle and foot swelling. and mild spider/varicose veins by improving circulation in the legs. especially for those who sit or stand for long periods. Activa brand. Non-returnable once opened. Trouser Dress SocksRecommended for those who sit or stand for long periods of time. these socks are designed to prevent venous disorders of the leg by providing firm graduated compression to help increase circulation. Relieves leg fatigue and heaviness. ankle and foot swelling. and mild spider/varicose veins. Ideal for wear during air travel. which is associated with ""Economy Class Syndrome"". a medical condition associated with inactivity during flight (also known as deep-vein thrombosis).Attractive ribbed dress styling. Non-constricting top band and comfort balloon toe. Nylon/Spandex. Colors: Black. Brown. White. Tan. Navy. Firm Graduated Therapy from Activa brand."

Shop.com - Lymphedema treatment wear -Shop.com is a general shopping portal with products in all categories, among others edema treatment bands, gloves and stockings.

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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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.