I am 30 and have edema in my legs and feet nearly everyday. I do not have heart problems. I do have sleep apnea and high blood pressure which probably cause the edema.  Should I treat the edema and is it causing damage to my body & what can happen with this over the years?
133559
Idiopathic Edema is a common disorder that occurs almost exclusively in women. It is characterized by salt retention in the absence of heart, kidney, or liver disease. The swelling (edema) may be episodic or persistent. Swelling of the face, hands, and feet develops rapidly, frequently accompanied by headache, irritability, and depression. Weight gain also occurs.
420383
Actually....You need to watch your salt and fat intake. \n\nWhat Causes Lymphedema?\n\nPrimary lymphedema, which can affect from one to as many as four limbs and/or other parts of the body, can be present at birth, develop at the onset of puberty (praecox) or in adulthood (tarda), all from unknown causes, or associated with vascular anomolies such as hemangioma, lymphangioma, Port Wine Stain, Klippel Trenaury.\n\nSecondary lymphedema, or acquired lymphedema, can develop as a result of surgery, radiation, infection or trauma. Specific surgeries, such as surgery for melanoma or breast, gynecological, head and neck, prostate or testicular, bladder or colon cancer, all of which currently require removal of lymph nodes, put patients at risk of developing secondary lymphedema. If lymph nodes are removed, there is always a risk of developing lymphedema.\n\nSecondary lymphedema can develop immediately post-operatively, or weeks, months, even years later. It can also develop when chemotherapy is unwisely administered to the already affected area (the side on which the surgery was performed) or after repeated aspirations of a seroma (a pocket of fluid which occurs commonly post-operatively) in the axilla, around the breast incision, or groin area. This often causes infection and, subsequently, lymphedema.\n\nAircraft flight has also been linked to the onset of lymphedema in patients post-cancer surgery (likely due to the decreased cabin pressure). For more information, see the NLN Position Paper on Air Travel (pdf format, 231kb).\n\nAnother cause of lower extremity lymphedema is that resulting from the use of Tamoxifen. This medication can cause blood clots and subsequent DVT (deep venous thrombosis).\n\nRadiation therapy, used in the treatment of various cancers and some AIDS-related diseases (such as Kaposi-Sarcoma), can damage otherwise healthy lymph nodes and vessels, causing scar tissue to form which interrupts the normal flow of the lymphatic fluid. Radiation can also cause skin dermatitis or a burn similar to sunburn. It is important to closely monitor the radiated area for any skin changes, such as increased temperature, discoloration (erythema) or blistering which can lead into the development of lymphedema. Be sure to keep the area soft with lotion recommended by your radiation oncologist.\n\nLymphedema can develop secondary to lymphangitis (an infection) which interrupts normal lymphatic pathway function. A severe traumatic injury in which the lymphatic system is interrupted and/or damaged in any way may also trigger the onset of lymphedema. Although extremely rare in developed countries, there is a form of lymphedema called Filariasis which affects as many as 200 million people worldwide (primarily in the endemic areas of southeast Asia, India and Africa). When the filarial larvae from a mosquito bite enters the lymphatic system, these larvae mature into adult worms in the peripheral lymphatic channels, causing severe lymphedema in the arms, legs and genitalia (also known as Elephantiasis).
458853
Sounds like poor circulation.  You might want to ask your doctor.  I think poor circulation in your feet can be a sign a diabetes.
593996
A new blood clot could maybe be there, perhaps there is enough lateral flow to keep the swelling subsided.  But I'm thinking more likely it could be a lymphatic problem and fluid is accumulating lymphatically.  Definitely keep on top of this with your doctor!  Get well!
266153
Sounds like maybe a circulatory problem?  It would be a very good idea to see your doctor.\n\nI'm just guessing here and i'm no doctor, but it's worse for certain postitions, am i right?  My circulation is bad and certain body postitions will make my legs numb/painful/swollen horribly.\n\nI wouldn't mess around with it, and besides - sex is supposed to be enjoyable and fun.  Please ask your doctor about it.
671533
I had one in  Feb 06....I am still having edema,feel lousy many days,get drained really easy and still bloated..but now can urinate...my was caused by severe allergic reactions to BP meds with dyes & sulfa in them.... allergic reactions affect the kidneys....I had 6 ER visits in 10 months due to the meds I was on & latex exposures\n My new cardiologist is doing  a blood test to see if it might be a rare tumor that is increasing the chemicals in my body,causing the water retension and sluggish kidneys...he also said depending on the extent of the kidneys artery damage,it may always be like this..it takes a long time for the kidneys to get back to normal...\n <itsnanceg@yahoo.com> if you want to chat with me when  you have a down day...Best wishes for a total recovery !!!
200067
Oh dear.  HBP is an often ignored condition that can be deadly.  If you smoke?  Stop.  Also, you could have blood vessels that are a bit close to your typmanic membrane in your ears that can magnify any type of rise in blood pressure (whoosh  whoosh with every beat of your heart)and/or constant adrenaline pumping because that is your body's defense mechanism when there is something wrong...you may not even know what it might be?  See your doctor and tell him/her about your concerns and don't let him/her poo-poo your concerns.  Demand an answer.
442935
Functional changes in the lining of the arteries precede elevations in blood pressure (BP) by a good decade or longer and an elevated BP by itself does not cause any symptoms thus it is often referred to as a 'silent killer'.  Neither hypertension nor its treatment has any effect on the skin and certainly does not cause aging of the skin premature or otherwise.  Decades ago there was a concern that certain BP medications might affect the skin but this has been disproven.
205713
Nerve damage, a.k.a. neuropathy, is a side effect of diabetes. While most people with the condition exhibit symptoms in their extremities (feet, hands, face, etc.), I would assume that is possible to have to condition in your thigh area. However, I would not play around with the condition you are experiencing. Call your doctor ASAP and get this checked out. You could have a blood clot or a serious circulatory issue going on that needs immediate attention. Call today! \n\nGood luck and best wishes...
452144
1)Sleep Apnea:  Puts strain on heart, brain, and other organs by limiting their amount of oxygen.\n\n2)Diabetes:  Depending on the severity and insulin dependency, organs such as the kidneys are strained and usually end up failing.  \n\n3)Hypertension:  Also known as High Blood Pressure.  Causes strain on arteries and heart, increases chance of heart attack and stroke.\n\n4)Pitting Edema:  This is fluid retention by the body.  The fluid can actually restrict your lungs from expanding fully and cause your oxygen levels to decrease.  The lower your oxygen levels, the more fluid that is retained.\n\n5)Cor Pulmonale:  Also known as right-sided heart failure.\n\n6)Depression:  Everyone knows what depression can do to you.\n\n7)Chronic Back/Knee/Joint pains:  Can really be disabling.\n\n\n\nI myself am obese and I have been considering Gastric Bypass.  If you are asking these question for yourself and you need to talk then you can either email me or contact me on Yahoo! Messenger.\n\nI suffer from all of these diseases.\n\nGood Luck!
306429
atherosclerosis, is when u have rigid arteries; They have become hardened with time for lot of causes.(Most of the times the age <50-80> is the comun cause). Resistance to the sanguineous fluid increases and fluid haveto generate a higher sanguineos pressure. So it doesnt takes so long to notice cause u will start with high arterial pressure. So ur dr will notice it. Or u can notice it by being tired, cause ur heart is working harder. U can have headaches, inflamation in low extremities. The consecuences r: heart attack, cerebral isquemia (not only u have high blood presure.. u can get mad and increase that presure too 300 for ex, so u will develop a cerebral spill). So when y get the symptoms i told u before, u should go to the dr.
116759
Go see a Dr, I also have high blood pressure and hypertension, I also take atentonol, but have to take another blood pressure med with it. Just a suggestion, every ones different , but if your blood pressure is that high while resting you may need a different med or additional meds, seek medical help
84422
Are you diabetic? Could be cellulitis. You need to go to the doctor. An antibiotic might be needed along with the appropriate creams to put on your legs and a dressing might be warranted. Be careful with dressings sometimes they tend to hold moisture in. Are you on lasix? drainage could be increased. My advice go to the doctor......
578021
That often happens from too much salt and poor circulation. Just put pressure on where it's numb. It's nothing serious as to where you need to see a doctor. Just cut down on the salt and if you start noticing any patterns or constant craving for water then you should see a doctor. Poor circulation and constant craving for water are signs of becoming a diabetic. I've learned all this stuff. ♥
198163
Yes I agree this is a serious problem because it is a symptom of high blood pressure. you should see your doctor if you also have headaches or blurred vision or dizzy spells,and your legs hurt after a mild exertion.\nIf you think it is not high blood pressure then cut way down on your salt intake and you can buy at the health food store or even some of the drug stores and wal-mart(of course)\ncarry in the pharmacy section the herb dandelion. It is a good thing to take because not only does it help you as a diuretic it also is one of the riches sources of potassium there is. Another is called yarrow, not as effective but pretty good, and this one is simple to get and cheap ,good old celery ,especially the leaf tops are a diuretic of a mild nature.\nYou need to watch it very carefully if you are taking anything that has a diuretic action that you don't lose too much potassium along with the water. This can be a life threatening condition.Your heart has to have the correct amount of potassium, sodium, and calcium in your blood to make the electrical connections to your muscles(your heart is a muscle)to keep them working smoothly. If you have muscle cramps you have lost too much and you need to immediately eat a banana or an orange or juice and get to your doctor as soon as you can.\nMy best advice though is not to fool around and go to the doctor and let him decide the best thing for you.
330097
Shoes and socks may have been too tight, and also if you're not used to being on your feet for long periods of time, your body will react...it could also be a sign of bad circulation...if it doesn't clear up in a few days, visit the doctor...
328625
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.