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Dealing With Peripheral Edema For A Healthy And Active Life 

by Ben Beukes

Swollen legs can be attributed to factors like strain, prolonged standing, or pregnancy. However, the sudden onset of leg swelling can indicate a serious medical problem.

Atur Kasha DO, and his expert team offer comprehensive evaluation and diagnosis to determine the cause of leg swelling and provide treatment to relieve the symptoms.

What is meant by peripheral edema?

An abnormal accumulation of fluids in your lower extremities (legs, ankles, and feet) is known as leg swelling, or peripheral peripheral edema. This often results when there is a disruption in the usual balance of fluids in your cells, resulting in the abnormal collection of fluids in your tissues (interstitial space).

Symptoms may include:

  • Swollen, puffy legs
  • The feeling of pain and heaviness
  • Bruised or discolored, and warm skin
  • Pitting
  • Difficulty walking

What are the contributing elements for peripheral edema?

Peripheral edema can be caused due to several factors that are mentioned below.

Temporary conditions

  • Prolonged sitting or standing
  • Injury
  • Pregnancy
  • Excess salt intake
  • Certain medications like steroids, antihypertensive, antidepressants, and diabetic drugs
  • Allergic reactions
  • Obesity
  • Wearing tight clothing

Systemic causes

  • Chronic venous insufficiency
  • Blood clot
  • Heart failure
  • Pericarditis
  • Preeclampsia
  • Restless leg syndrome
  • Cirrhosis
  • Pulmonary hypertension
  • Renal failure
  • Inflammation
  • Cellulitis
  • Malnutrition
  • Chemotherapy or radiation therapy
  • Certain diseases like Cushing syndrome

How can your doctor diagnose the condition?

Diagnosing the condition and detecting the cause is essential to design a customized treatment plan that best suits you.

This is possible through:

  • Evaluating your symptoms
  • Reviewing your medical history to:
    • Rule out diseases like diabetes or kidney problems
    • Record past injuries and surgeries
    • Assess the medications being taken
  • Performing a physical examination
  • Diagnostic tests include:
    • Blood analysis
    • Urine analysis
    • X-ray
    • Ultrasound scan
    • Electrocardiogram (EKG)

What are the effective treatment options available for peripheral edema?

Your doctor, depending on the cause of peripheral edema, will tailor a personalized treatment plan for you that may include any one of the following.

Lifestyle changes

  • Salt reduction
  • Regular exercise
  • Leg elevation
  • Weight loss
  • Compression stockings

Treating the underlying health issue

  • Your doctor will refer you to specialists for proper management of health conditions like diabetes, hypertension, or kidney disease.

Medications

  • This includes diuretics that aid in flushing out excess fluid from your body.

Sclerotherapy

  • Involves injecting chemical solutions into the diseased veins (varicose veins) to seal them off.

Radiofrequency ablation

  • This procedure uses radio waves to close the diseased veins.
  • This eventually reroutes the blood to other healthy veins.

VenaSeal

  • Special medical adhesives are injected into the diseased vein to close them and reroute the blood flow to other healthy veins.

Seek medical help at the first sign of peripheral edema. Do not let it go undiagnosed and untreated or lead to serious health consequences.

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