Symptoms and Causes of Edema in the Legs and Feet
Senior Home Care in Memorial, TX
Edema is when a part of the body becomes swollen because of extra fluid that is “stuck” in the tissue. It can be temporary or chronic and can put a halt on certain activities your elderly loved one wants to enjoy.
Symptoms of Edema
The symptoms may vary depending on the severity of the edema, but your elderly loved one may notice these symptoms if she has edema.
- An area of the body is suddenly larger than it used to be, looking puffy and without as much form. Ankles may swell to be the same size as the calves or toes may swell so that each toe is larger than before. It can happen to both sides of the body or just one side.
- The skin around the affected area looks stretched tight. Wrinkles or creases may disappear and the skin can look somewhat like a full water balloon with a bulbous look. The skin may also appear shiny as it stretches over the fluids built up inside of the body.
- If you gently push on a swollen area, the dent you create will not immediately disappear. Instead, it will remain and then slowly refill fluid.
- When larger areas of the body are affected, they will be heavier than before. Legs with edema may weigh five to ten pounds heavier than normal.
- It can be difficult to bend or twist areas that are affected. Ankles swollen from edema might not bend completely causing problems with walking. Knees may not allow the legs to completely bend, making sitting down difficult.
Edema Causes
Temporary edema can often be linked to environmental causes such as eating an overly salty meal (common culprits are pepperoni pizza and eating an entire bucket of popcorn at the movie theater). Temporary edema may also be caused by a lack of movement, such as sitting for a long time on a plane ride or car trip. An injury to an area of the body (like twisting an ankle) or a reaction to an allergen (like a bee sting) may also cause temporary edema.
Long-term or chronic edema is often related to medical reasons or pharmaceutical reasons. Some medications cause edema such as medication used to treat high blood pressure or nerve pain.
Certain medical conditions can also lead to chronic edema such as congestive heart failure, liver disease, and kidney failure.
Senior Home Care Can Help Your Loved One Manage Edema Symptoms
If your loved one has a medical condition or medication that causes her to often deal with edema, having a senior home care provider help around the home while she manages her condition can be a blessing and help her remain independent in her home even when she can’t physically do some of the needed home chores.
Edema may make it difficult for your loved one to get up and down stairs safely, especially when carrying large items. If your loved one’s laundry or garage is in the basement, a senior home care provider can assist by bringing laundry upstairs to fold or carrying trash out as well as groceries in. Edema might even affect your loved one’s ability to drive if it’s in her ankles. A senior home care provider can help with transportation so she can still run the errands she needs and attend important doctor appointments.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Senior Home Care in Memorial, TX, contact the caring staff at Personal Caregiving Services at 832-564-0338. Providing Care in Houston, Bellaire, West University Place, Katy, Sugar Land, and the surrounding areas.
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