Classification of generalized edema

Sometimes we will have symptoms of systemic edema, which brings us a lot of trouble, so we must find out the cause of systemic edema, and then we can make targeted treatment according to the cause of systemic edema. In fact, there are many types of systemic edema, and different types of systemic edema have different treatment methods.

(1) Cardiogenic edema: Various heart diseases may cause heart failure, which can lead to venous blood stasis, increased venous pressure and capillary pressure, and cause edema. Cardiogenic edema usually occurs slowly. It is first seen in the drooping parts of the human body, such as the ankles and lower limbs. It is obvious after fatigue and relieved after rest. Later, the edema gradually worsens and spreads upward (edema first appears in the lumbar sacral region and the vulva in the semi-recumbent position). In severe cases, it can spread throughout the body or be accompanied by pleural and abdominal effusion. In addition, when the pericardium is diseased, it can hinder the relaxation of the heart, causing venous blood return obstruction and producing edema.

(2) Nephrogenic edema: In acute nephritis, edema occurs due to decreased glomerular filtration function and increased systemic capillary permeability, as well as sodium and water retention. In the early stage, this type of edema is just eyelid and facial edema after getting up in the morning. Then it quickly develops into systemic edema. Its distribution has little to do with body position and can be mild or moderate edema. In patients with chronic nephritis and nephrotic syndrome, a large amount of protein is lost in the urine. The plasma colloid osmotic pressure decreases, and moderate or severe systemic edema may occur.

(3) Hepatic edema: It is mainly caused by decreased liver function and decreased ability to produce plasma albumin, resulting in hypoproteinemia, decreased plasma colloid osmotic pressure, and decreased ability to inactivate aldosterone, leading to secondary aldosterone increase, causing water and sodium retention, increased portal vein pressure, etc. It is characterized by a slow onset, often first seen in the ankles and gradually spreading upwards, while there is often no edema in the head, face, and upper limbs.

(4) Nutritional edema: common in hunger, chronic wasting diseases (such as malignant tumors, tuberculosis, severe anemia, etc.). It is often systemic and develops slowly. It is mainly caused by plasma albumin and vitamin deficiency.

In the above article, we introduced what systemic edema is. We know that systemic edema causes great harm to patients, so we need to have a deeper understanding of systemic edema. Above, we introduced the classification of systemic edema in detail.