EDEMA TREATMENT IN LEXINGTON KENTUCKY
The Best Edema Specialist in Lexington, KY.
WHAT IS EDEMA?
Edema is swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in your body’s tissues. Although it can affect any part of your body. However, you may notice it more in your hands, arms, feet, ankles, and legs.
Many things can cause it such as medication, and pregnancy. Moreover, an underlying disease like congestive heart failure, kidney disease, or cirrhosis of the liver can also be a factor.
At Lexington Vein Institute, we specialize in evaluating and treating edema caused by problems in the venous or lymphatic system disease. More specifically venous insufficiency, and lymphedema.
Our comprehensive evaluation includes ultrasound and doppler evaluation to both legs to establish the presence or absence of any vein or lymphatic disease.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
The affected area gets swollen, and the skin over the swollen area might look stretched and shiny. Pushing in gently on the swollen area with your finger for at least 5 seconds and then removing your finger will leave a dimple in the skin. You may feel leg fatigue and mild discomfort in your feet and ankle due to stretched skin. Cough, chest pain, and shortness of air may occur if the cause of edema is a more severe illness like congestive heart failure, liver, or kidney failure.
WHAT CAUSES EDEMA?
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Edema occurs when fluid leaks out of the tiny blood vessel called capillary into to surrounding tissues.
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Edema can occur or get worse as a result of gravity. Especially from sitting or standing in one place for too long. The fluid naturally gets pulled down into your legs and feet. It can happen from weak or incompetent valves in the veins of the lower extremities (a condition called venous insufficiency). This problem makes it hard for blood in your veins to return to the heart against gravity and leads to varicose veins. It may also cause a buildup of fluid in the legs.
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Certain diseases, such as congestive heart failure, lungs, liver disease, kidney disorder, and thyroid diseases, can also cause edema in a completely different mechanism.
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Some drugs, like medications that you are taking for your blood pressure or over the counter anti-inflammatory, may worsen it.
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Being pregnant can cause edema in the legs as the uterus puts pressure on the blood vessels in the lower trunk of the body.
TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR EDEMA
Dr. Bacha takes a twofold approach, treating both the high pressure in the veins and the ulcer itself.
If an underlying disease causes your edema, treatment of the illness itself may relieve the swelling. Dr. Bacha will evaluate if the venous disease is the cause of your edema. If you suffer from a leaky valve in your superficial venous system of the lower extremity (venous insufficiency), often time closure of these defective veins using EVLT (endovenous laser treatment) will improve the circulation. Moreover, it will restore natural blood flow in the deep venous system that leads to improvement in the overall venous blood return to the heart from the lower extremity. In addition, it will help to eliminate or improve swelling caused by venous insufficiency. Dr. Bacha has been effectively treating edema and swelling caused by venous disease for over 12 years.
Dr. Bacha usually treats mild cases of edema with compression therapy and dietary changes. Diuretics and lower salt intake can help your body flush out excess fluid retention. You may also find relief by weight loss, elevating the affected body part, massaging the area, or wearing compression garments.
Better Health Care is Our Mission
Unexplained swelling in the arms and legs that doesn’t go away is abnormal and needs to be brought to the attention of your doctor right away. As a vein specialist, Fadi Bacha, MD, at Lexington Vein Institute in Lexington, Kentucky, explores the causes of edema and provides effective treatment such as endovenous laser therapy (EVLT).
