Fluid that accumulates in the abdomen ascites because of other problems, such as malnutrition, cirrhosis, or liver disease.
Check Your Symptoms Is swelling your main concern? You may have concerns about swelling around the face, in the arms or legs, or in the belly or groin. How old are you? Less than 12 years. Are you male or female? Why do we ask this question? The medical assessment of symptoms is based on the body parts you have. If you are transgender or nonbinary, choose the sex that matches the body parts such as ovaries, testes, prostate, breasts, penis, or vagina you now have in the area where you are having symptoms.
If you have some organs of both sexes, you may need to go through this triage tool twice once as "male" and once as "female". This will make sure that the tool asks the right questions for you. Could you be having a severe allergic reaction? This is more likely if you have had a bad reaction to something in the past. Are you having trouble breathing more than a stuffy nose? Would you describe the problem as severe, moderate, or mild?
Do you have pain in the area with the swelling? How bad is the pain on a scale of 0 to 10, if 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain you can imagine? Do you think you may have a fever related to the swelling problem? Do you have swelling all over? Do you have swelling in your legs?
Have you been urinating a lot less than usual lately? Is the swelling:. Quickly getting worse? Slowly getting worse?
Staying about the same? Do you have heart failure? Do you think that a medicine may be causing the swelling? Think about whether the swelling started soon after you began using a new medicine or a higher dose of a medicine.
Has any swelling that does not have a clear cause lasted for more than a week? These include: Your age. Babies and older adults tend to get sicker quicker.
Your overall health. If you have a condition such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, or heart disease, you may need to pay closer attention to certain symptoms and seek care sooner. Medicines you take. Certain medicines, such as blood thinners anticoagulants , medicines that suppress the immune system like steroids or chemotherapy, herbal remedies, or supplements can cause symptoms or make them worse.
Recent health events , such as surgery or injury. These kinds of events can cause symptoms afterwards or make them more serious. Your health habits and lifestyle , such as eating and exercise habits, smoking, alcohol or drug use, sexual history, and travel. Try Home Treatment You have answered all the questions. Try home treatment to relieve the symptoms. Call your doctor if symptoms get worse or you have any concerns for example, if symptoms are not getting better as you would expect.
You may need care sooner. Pain in adults and older children Severe pain 8 to 10 : The pain is so bad that you can't stand it for more than a few hours, can't sleep, and can't do anything else except focus on the pain.
Moderate pain 5 to 7 : The pain is bad enough to disrupt your normal activities and your sleep, but you can tolerate it for hours or days. Moderate can also mean pain that comes and goes even if it's severe when it's there. Mild pain 1 to 4 : You notice the pain, but it is not bad enough to disrupt your sleep or activities.
A few examples are: Corticosteroids. Hormones, such as birth control pills and hormone therapy used to treat menopause symptoms. Some blood pressure medicines. Symptoms of difficulty breathing can range from mild to severe. For example: You may feel a little out of breath but still be able to talk mild difficulty breathing , or you may be so out of breath that you cannot talk at all severe difficulty breathing. Severe trouble breathing means: You cannot talk at all. You have to work very hard to breathe.
You feel like you can't get enough air. You do not feel alert or cannot think clearly. Moderate trouble breathing means: It's hard to talk in full sentences. It's hard to breathe with activity. Continued treatment includes rest, decreasing weight-bearing on the affected area, shoe inserts or braces, and possibly cast immobilization.
If the crack in the bone progresses further to a complete break, surgery may be required. A strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon, and is often caused by overuse, force, or stretching. The treatment for a strain is rest, ice, compression, and elevation R. If a tear in the muscle occurs, surgical repair may be needed. Health Home Conditions and Diseases.
Click image to enlarge. Muscle Strain Injuries of the Hip. What is tendonitis? What is bursitis? What is a stress fracture? What can patients do to reduce swelling? Here are some additional tips to reduce swelling: Move the joints above and below the injury site, so it can help improve lymphatic drainage, as noted by Casley-Smith in Use short stretch compression garments to reduce tissue edema and swelling.
Apply heat after the first few days to improve the mobility of the lymphatic system and improve swelling. Try to avoid putting weight or pressure on the affected area. Are there any precautions injured persons should take at home?
Pain medications can also negatively impact people with existing health conditions, such as the following: Liver disease Heart disease Kidney disease Stomach ulcers High blood pressure How can a physical therapist help reduce swelling?
Share On Facebook. Share On Twitter. Share On Pinterest. Share On Linkedin. Share On Whatsapp. Share Via Email. Search our blog Find a Location. Request Appointment. There are several potential causes of swelling in the legs. Causes of leg or lower extremity swelling can include :.
Learn more about natural treatments for swelling after pregnancy here. Other causes of swelling in the legs or lower extremities can include:.
Cancer treatments that may cause swelling include :. A person can talk to a doctor about the symptoms they are experiencing. The doctor will likely perform a visual examination of the area in which swelling is occurring. In addition to a visual examination, the doctor will likely order tests to determine what is causing the swelling. Some tests they may order include:. More advanced imaging tests can show a doctor if there are inflamed tissues or organs, blood blockages, or breaks in the bones or joints.
The best treatment for swelling will depend on the cause. If a person has an underlying health condition, such as kidney disease , they will need to receive treatment for the underlying condition. Treating or controlling any underlying conditions can help reduce swelling. A person can also try lying on a bed with their feet elevated and wearing compression stockings.
Swelling due to injury, such as a sprained ankle, requires rest. A person can also reduce swelling by applying ice to the area and taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
To prevent whole-body swelling, the NCI recommend:.
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