EDEMA

Edema is a common problem found in many people throughout the world. It affects a wide range of people even if they don’t have a life threatening illness. Edema is fluid retention in the body, it is usually water that is being retained, and it is usually retained in the extremities such as hands and feet. People can acquire edema through many ways such as CHF, liver disease, kidney disease, allergic reactions, pregnancy, and from side effects of medication. Edema is a serious condition because it causes pain, can make it difficult to walk and preform ones ADL’s, can cause scarring, decrease your blood circulation, and can lead to skin ulcers. Even though edema can be a serious complication, it usually isn’t permanent and there are a couple things that can be done to minimize edema and even prevent it. Some things that can be done to reduce edema and even prevent it are diet, exercise, and medications if need be. The first article I researched was called Fluid intake and changes in limb volumes in male ultra-marathoner: does fluid overload lead to peripheral oedema? Written by Alexia Bracher. In this article they researched the effects of fluid intake on fluid volumes in the limbs of marathon runners. Their research focused on 50 male marathon runners and they measuredtheir fluid volumes in their extremities using plethysmography. According to Bracher, “fluid intake was related to the changes in limb volumes, where athletes with an increased fluid intake developed an increase in limb volumes.” (Bracher 2011, p1) The second article I researched is called Water retention & Understanding edema written by Emily Kennedy. In her article she states that most people confuse being bloated with true edema. Kennedy states that “edema is not a disease in itself but a symptom of underlying conditions.” (Kennedy 2011, p1) She uses pregnancy as an example of why edema is not a disease and that in this case it is healthy. She then goes on to elaborate on how to promote the flow of fluids in the body by proper diet, exercise, and medication administration. Kennedy says to “avoid