People who are confined to bed for long period of time often develop edema because?
85212
If I were taking this test I feel 90% sure that the correct would be "C".  I just finished taking the cardiovascular section of my physiology class in my first year of medical school.  More specifically:\n\nA. their blood pressure becomes elevated, forcing more fluid into interstitial spaces as blood hydrostatic pressure rises. PEOPLE STANDING WITHOUT MOVING TEND TO HAVE EDEMA IN THEIR FEET BECAUSE OF HYDROSTATIC PRESSURES, BUT THIS SHOULDN'T APPLY TO LYING DOWN.\n\nB. lack of motor activity leads to reduced sympathetic stimulation to lymphatic vessels, so lymph tends to pool. \nLYMPHATICS DO NOT HAVE SYMPATHETIC INNERVATION\n\nC. without skeletal muscle contraction to force lymph through lymphatic vessels, fluid tends to accumulate in interstitial spaces \n\nD. reduced vasomotor tone allows proteins to leak from plasma, and water follows the osmotic gradient. LYING DOWN SHOULD HAVE NO EFFECT ON BLOOD PROTEIN LEAKAGE (VASOMOTOR TONE?)\n\nE. heart rate and force of contraction are reduced, so the pressure gradient is insufficient to maintain lymph flow. \nYOUR BARORECEPTOR RESPONSE IS SUFFICIENT TO REGULATE BLOOD PRESSURES AND THUS PRESSURE GRADIENTS.
553554
Could be a combination of eyestrain, dehydration and tense muscles.  Get up and stretch frequently, focus your eyes on something distant frequently, drink lots of water.
537185
Edema is a condition in which fluid collects in an area - pedal edema occurs in the feet, pulmonary edema occurs in the lungs, etc.  I assume you're talking about edema in the abdomen.  This would probably be fluid collecting outside the gastrointestinal tract, causing bloating.  Gas, or flatus, on the other hand, is air trapped in the GI tract, usually expelled either through the mouth or anus.
818558
In addition to what has already been posted, sometimes allergies to foods or environmental agents can cause swelling.   Another cause could be blood pooling in the extremities (usually as a result of clasping your fists too tightly during exercise).  Elevate and/or cool the swollen area and if it doesn't return to normal within a few minutes, call your doctor.
512299
Stress, lack of sleep..some people just have them naturally.
420210
Hi there. Here is some information on fluid retention I give to my patients, it may be helpful to you but please check with your doctor before trying these if you are currently on medication.\n\nSymptoms\nThe most common symptoms of fluid retention are puffiness of the fingers, feet, ankles, legs and abdomen. In some cases urine may be passed infrequently or in small quantities\n\nCauses\nThere are a number of causes of fluid retention ranging from simple, easily treated conditions through to serious and life-threatening diseases including kidney, heart and liver diseases, and cancer. It is important to consult your healthcare professional regarding your fluid retention in order to rule out these serious conditions before commencing self-treatment.\nMany mild cases are due to poor circulation such as occurs when sitting or standing for a long period, and fluid retention is a common symptom of varicose veins.\n\nPremenstrual syndrome is also a common cause, and is the likely diagnosis if your symptoms occur during the 10-14 days before your period starts, and are relieved afterwards. The weight gain commonly experienced in premenstrual syndrome is largely caused by fluid retention.\n\nFluid retention can also be a side-effect of certain medications; and the surgical removal of lymph glands can result in localised oedema.\n\nIf you suspect your medication is responsible for your fluid retention discuss your concerns with your healthcare professional, who may prescribe a diuretic medication (a medicine which increases the volume of urine produced and thereby relieves the fluid retention).\n\nNatural Therapies\nVitamin B6 is commonly deficient during pre-menstrual syndrome and may help to relieve fluid retention at this time.\n\nHerbal diuretic medicines which may be of assistance for the relief of fluid retention include dandelion leaf, horsetail and corn silk.\n\nCelery seed and juniper berries are herbal diuretics with special application to arthritic Conditions. \n\n Important Notes\nMany causes of fluid retention are simple and easy to treat, but others may be very serious. \nAlways consult your health care professional before commencing self-treatment, and particularly if you are taking medication for high blood pressure or other cardiovascular conditions.\n\nPrevention\nAvoid crossing the legs, standing for long periods of time and wearing tight clothing as these may all restrict circulation. \n\nIt may also be helpful to lie with your legs elevated against a wall at the end of the day, or to raise the foot of your bed a few centimetres off the ground. This allows gravity to assist the circulation and fluid to flow back up the legs.\n\nMaintain a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in salt.\n \n Hope this helps.\nCraig - Naturopath
1180984
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/adult-bed-wetting/AN00688\nCheck out this website...\nYes he definately needs to see a doctor!
1039046
This is called dependent edema.  Dependent edema affects those areas of the body that "hang down" or are dependent.  Lasix is the drug of choice for edema because it makes you pee a lot, but in doing so you pee out a lot of potassium which is very important for your heart.  This may be why the doctor decreased your dosage frequency.  Other ways to help the edema is to wear compression stockings which your doctor would prescribe for you.  You can also elevate your arms and legs at night, but this only helps to a very small degree.  One big thing is you do not want to increase your fluid intake.  What you do by increasing you fluid intake is you counteract the Lasix.  Right now you have more fluid in your system than your body can handle.  You don't want to stop drinking all together and if you are very active outside or you exercise a lot then you need more fluids, but you have too much fluid right now.  YOu should talk to your doctor about possibly restricting your fluids.  He or she can tell you what fluid intake is safe for your at the current time taking into consideration your daily activity level.  Good luck!!
654918
It is usually lack of sleep or increased stress.  Sometimes too much caffeine or nicotine can be the cause.  The technical term is Myokymia.
736184
I do not know about lithium but I discovered something by accident. I had started a new job last summer and part of the day I have to walk   for 3 a 4 hours. Now ar 74 this was a bit much at first but I got so that I could do it and felt better it is then that I noticed that the edema was gone. I could not believe it. I would have thought the opposite. The last 3 months they put me back at the desk and ......my legs were again swollen and aching. I returned to the floor and walking and I am back without edema. I hate exercise but there is a lot to this.
38957
she is partly right about the draining. But also when you sleep you get really dry. that is why sore throughts are so bad in the morning....BUT at night....you get worse because you are tired...by the end of a long day a sick body will just want to shut down.
650553
This is referred to as rthostatic hypotension.  It  is a sudden fall in blood pressure that occurs when a person assumes a standing position. It may be caused by hypovolemia (a decreased amount of blood in the body), resulting from the excessive use of diuretics, vasodilators, or other types of drugs, dehydration, or prolonged bed rest. The disorder may be associated with Addison's disease, atherosclerosis (build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries), diabetes, and certain neurological disorders including Shy-Drager syndrome and other dysautonomias. Symptoms, which generally occur after sudden standing, include dizziness, lightheadedness, blurred vision, and syncope (temporary loss of consciousness). When orthostatic hypotension is caused by hypovolemia due to medications, the disorder may be reversed by adjusting the dosage or by discontinuing the medication. When the condition is caused by prolonged bed rest, improvement may occur by sitting up with increasing frequency each day. In some cases, physical counterpressure such as elastic hose or whole-body inflatable suits may be required. Dehydration is treated with salt and fluids. Please see your doctor for an exam and treatment.
676429
This person needs to See a doctor and must seek some kind of medical care for a diagnosis and hopefully treatment, there are a number of possible causes  for severe edema (swelling)Including parasitic infection of lymph glands, poor circulation, congestive Heart failure, and many more.
339477
My guess would be poor circulation, or fluid. Have you been tested for high blood pressure? If you're hypertensive (have high blood pressure) this could cause swelling. You really need to have the Dr. ckeck you out, and run some blood work. There is also a condition that can happen at any age, without warning that will cause your legs to swell badly, due to fluid staying in them and not being moved throughout the body the way it's supposed to. It kind of like if the fluid in you body is on a train that gets derained in the legs, so it method of transportation is broken. If that's the case, you need to catch it early because it will damage tissue in your legs causing pain, discoloration(that can be permanent), loss of feeling, or use of the leg(s). In any case, this isn't normal and you should see your Dr. as soon as you can. Good luck!
1104380
You are swollen and it has something to do with your hormones and glands when you are finished with your menstrual cycle it will go back to normal.
606129
for really bad cases medical advice is recommended it may be a cirulation problem but for mild cases soaking ain very warm water for an hour each evening has been said to eleaviate my friends also make sure she is not often sitting on things like cold cement as this restricts blood flow or a cold bench waiting for a bus in winter this is a common cause that is overlooked
55515
Foot, leg, and ankle swelling is common with the following situations:\nProlonged standing \nLong airplane flights or automobile rides \nMenstrual periods (for some women) \nPregnancy -- excessive swelling may be a sign of pre-eclampsia, a serious condition sometimes called toxemia, that includes high blood pressure and swelling \nBeing overweight \nIncreased age \nInjury or trauma to your ankle or foot \nOther conditions that can cause swelling to one or both legs include:\nBlood clot \nLeg infection \nVenous insufficiency (when the veins in your legs are unable to adequately pump blood back to the heart) \nVaricose veins \nBurns (including sunburn) \nInsect bite or sting \nStarvation or malnutrition \nSurgery to your leg or foot \nCertain medications may also cause your legs to swell:\nHormones like estrogen (in birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy) and testosterone \nA group of blood pressure lowering drugs called calcium channel blockers (such as nifedipine, amlodipine, diltiazem, felodipine, and verapamil) \nSteroids \nAntidepressants, including MAO inhibitors (such as phenelzine and tranylcypromine) and tricyclics (such as nortriptyline, desipramine, and amitriptyline)