Prophylaxis
To prevent ascites, the underlying disease must be prevented. In addition, the prescribed medication (e.g. diuretics) must be taken regularly, as these are responsible for the water loss. You should pay attention to the amount of water you drink (all liquids, even soup!!) per day, which should not exceed 1.5 liters.
Edema by location of occurrence
Edema is water retention that occurs particularly frequently in the legs in various underlying diseases. A first indication of an existing edema in one or both legs are swellings at the ankle, which can spread up to the hip. (e.g. water in the knee) The skin in the area of the swelling can be dented and typically remains so for a while and only slowly recedes.
In addition, the skin is often very smooth, taut and shiny. The skin may also be paler in color because the blood supply to the tissue is reduced due to water retention in the tissue. See: Water in the legs Patients often notice weight gain and an increase in leg circumference.
Right heart failure is a weakness of the right heart. In this condition, both legs typically swell. The swelling begins in the feet and ankles and can extend beyond the shin.
The edema often develops during the course of the day and is then clearly visible, especially in the evening. Patients then put their legs up and the swelling subsides overnight. However, if the underlying disease progresses further, the edema can persist permanently.
Another possible cause of oedema in the legs is a blockage of a vessel (thrombosis in the leg) or weakness of the venous valves. The edema usually occurs only in the affected leg. If the venous valves are weak, the veins are no longer able to transport the blood back to the heart.
Due to gravity, the blood sinks into the legs and accumulates there. Eventually, more fluid is forced into the tissue. As a result, the swelling often occurs in the feet and lower legs first.
Furthermore, swelling can also be caused by a disturbed lymph drainage. Lipedema is an increased accumulation of subcutaneous fatty tissue, which is accompanied by a simultaneous accumulation of water in the tissue.Affected persons have characteristic swellings from the pelvis to the ankle joints. One speaks of the picture of the column legs, since the legs are often evenly swollen.
The cause of edema in one or both legs should always be clarified by a doctor in order to then treat the underlying disease. In most cases, an initial diagnosis is made by the family doctor, who refers the patient to an internist. Swollen eyes often appear in the morning and can have various causes.
Besides a bad sleeping behavior and can oedemas in the face, which then also affect the eyes, also occur during pregnancy. Furthermore, water accumulation in the eye can also be caused by an existing angio-edema. They are also called Quincke’s edema and often occur in connection with allergies.
The water retention occurs mostly on the upper eyelid, lips, cheeks and forehead and can cause a distorted overall picture. Angio-edema is often accompanied by urticaria (hives). This is a skin disease that is probably caused by too much histamine, typically wheals, but can also have physical triggers such as cold or heat due to medication.
Swelling of the eyelids usually disappears by itself. Its subsidence can also be supported by cortisone ointments. At night, it helps to sleep with the head in an elevated position so that the increased fluid can drain off more easily.
However, if the edema persists for a long time, it should be clarified by a doctor. A kidney or liver dysfunction that can be associated with protein deficiency could also be the cause of oedema in the eye. You can find more information about this under: Oedema of the eye Oedema of the abdomen is manifested on the one hand by a significant increase in the circumference of the abdomen and on the other hand by an increase in weight.
There can be various causes. In women, edema in the abdominal area often occurs during the monthly hormonal changes and therefore during menstruation. This is probably due to an excess of estrogen.
Furthermore, a high-salt diet can also lead to edema. They often appear on the legs, but can also affect the abdomen. Salt binds water and this then accumulates in the tissue.
The swelling and weight gain is usually reduced by a compensatory fluid intake. Cirrhosis of the liver also causes edema of the abdomen. This liver disease is characterized by a functional impairment of the liver.
It produces too few proteins, especially albumin is deficient. As a result, too little water is retained in the blood vessels, and the pressure causes it to enter the tissue in greater quantities. A characteristic feature of empty cirrhosis is dropsy.
The increased fluid accumulates especially in the abdominal cavity. In medical terminology, this is known as ascites. Since the increasing abdomen can ultimately also affect breathing, the fluid is usually drained by a puncture.
A similar picture is seen in the state of hunger. Especially in children, the spherical, bloated abdomen is typical. Due to a lack of nutrition, the body also lacks the important proteins such as albumin, which hold the water in the vessels. These symptoms do not only occur in starving people, but also in extremely low protein diets such as vegans, a bloated belly, feet and also a swollen face can occur.
