The cause of the water accumulation in the tissues (edema) is a fluid leakage from the vascular system. The relationship between filtration (leakage) and reabsorption (reabsorption) is shifted in favor of filtration. More fluid remains in the tissue and oedema develops.
Edema is often the result of an underlying disease, e.g. renal failure (kidney weakness) or heart failure (heart failure). However, there are many different causes for edema: Insufficiency means that the organ can no longer fully perform its function. Edema can also be the result of a disease of the lymphatic vascular system.
Oedema can also occur around the wound as a result of bacterial infection, gas fire.
- Renal insufficiencyKidney weaknessKidney failure
- Heart failureHeart failure (weakness of the heart muscle)
- Leg vein thrombosis
- Cirrhosis of the liver
- Low protein intake through food
- Drugs
- Allergy
- Insect bite
- Pulmonary Hypertension
The heart pumps insufficiently and the kidney filters the blood in too small a volume. In heart failure (cardiac insufficiency) it is important which side of the heart (ventricle) is affected.
In left heart failure, the causes are mainly pulmonary edema, which can lead to respiratory distress because water collects in the alveoli. If there is right heart failure, edema occurs mainly on the ankles and the back of the foot. These oedemas are symmetrical, i.e. right and left.
If only one leg is affected, this may be an indication of leg vein thrombosis. In this case, the blood flow back to the heart is obstructed by the clot (thrombus), resulting in a higher pressure building up below the stenosis (narrowing) caused by the leg vein thrombosis. This causes fluid to be squeezed out of the vessels.
Cirrhosis of the liver is caused by the destruction of liver tissue, which results in reduced protein production. In most cases, there is also a congestion of blood in the vein leading to the liver (portal vein) (portal hypertension), which causes additional water to be squeezed out. If the protein intake from food is too low (malnutrition or dieting), the same causes for edema are present.
In this case, the water collects especially in the abdominal cavity (ascites). This happens because the protein normally draws water to a certain extent and thus keeps it in the blood. However, if the blood protein is too low, it can no longer be retained in the blood and leaves the vascular system.
Even drugs are considered to be the cause of edema, often e.g. calcium channel blockers, which are used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Allergies or insect bites can also cause short-term tissue swelling. Such localized edemas can be arterial, venous or lymphatic circulation disorders.
Lymphedema is based on the following mechanism: The disturbed lymphatic circulation not only results in an insufficient removal of fluid from the interstitial space (interstitium), but also proteins remain there in increased amounts and draw additional water from the vessels, which increases the swelling. The symptoms of pulmonary edema are shortness of breath. In pronounced oedema, water can also be deposited in the abdominal cavity.
In medical terms, this is known as ascites and is characterized by an increasing abdominal girth, umbilical hernias (umbilical hernia) and possibly a bulging abdomen (abdomen). Even medications are considered to be the cause of edema, often e.g. calcium channel blockers, which are used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Allergies or insect bites can also cause short-term tissue swelling.
Such localized edemas can be arterial, venous or lymphatic circulation disorders. Lymphedema is based on the following mechanism: The disturbed lymphatic circulation not only results in an insufficient removal of fluid from the interstitial space (interstitium), but also proteins remain there in increased amounts and draw additional water from the vessels, which increases the swelling. The symptoms of pulmonary edema are shortness of breath.
In pronounced oedema, water can also be deposited in the abdominal cavity. In medical terms, this is known as ascites and is characterized by an increasing abdominal girth, umbilical hernias (umbilical hernia) and possibly a bulging abdomen (abdomen).
