Talk show host Wendy Williams was spotted out and about in NYC on Monday, June 17. The photos show she is suffering from edema (swelling) in both legs. Wendy has Graves’ disease, an endocrine disorder that causes hyperthyroidism, also known as an overactive thyroid. Graves’ disease does not commonly cause marked edema in both legs. The cause of her edema is unknown.
The following post was originally published on Jun 10, 2019.
Cardi B shared photos that show complications of her cosmetic surgery. One photo showed her severely swollen feet, a condition called dependent edema.
Another photo shows her swollen buttocks, that could impede the flow of blood.
The “Money” hitmaker was recently forced to cancel a string of concerts as doctors put her on bedrest to recover from liposuction and breast enhancement surgery, which she underwent after giving birth to her daughter Kulture.
Cardi has faced some criticism for the gig cancellations online, but over the weekend, she decided to reveal exactly why she had to cancel her concerts.
“Look how swollen my feet get every time I take flights,” she captioned the photo, adding that plane travel also causes her midsection to swell. “my stomach gets even more puffy.”
“My feet and stomach burn when I get puffed up,” she added, explaining it was one of the reasons why doctors had advised her to rest.
What Is Dependent Edema?
Dependent edema is a medical term that describes swelling in the lower extremities that is affected by gravity pulling the blood to the lower legs.
Dependent edema is characterized by “pitting” or denting in the skin when the affected area is pressed with a finger. Wearing shoes or tight socks will leave indentations or marks in the swollen skin.
What Causes Dependent Edema?
Dependent edema is caused by various medical problems including congestive heart failure, poor circulation in the legs, cirrhosis of the liver, kidney disease, and botched plastic surgery that blocks the flow of blood back to the heart.
Click here to read more about pitting edema in the lower extremities.
When the swollen area is pressed, and it leaves a dent, the time or duration that it takes for the dent to go away is measured from 1+ to 4+.
Pitting Edema Measurement
1+ Barely detectable impression when finger is pressed into skin.
2+ Slight indentation. 15 seconds to rebound
3+ Deeper indentation. 30 seconds to rebound.
4+ > 30 seconds to rebound.
What Causes Pitting Edema?
Pitting edema is caused by various medical disorders, such as heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver, malnutrition, and kidney failure. Eating salty food can cause swelling in the feet if the patient has heart disease or kidney failure.
There are a system of muscles, veins and tiny valves in your legs that work together to pump blood up through the legs and back to the heart. Your blood pressure is much lower in the veins, so these systems are crucial to getting the blood black to the heart.
If these systems in your legs aren’t working properly, fluid will leak out of the veins and pool in the surrounding tissue in the legs and feet.
Signs and Symptoms
What Is the Treatment for Pitting Edema?
1. Elevate the affected area. Raise the legs above your heart to help the extra fluid drain back down toward your heart.
2. Wear compression stockings. Compression stockings put pressure on your legs and ankles to prevent fluid from collecting in your tissue. The stockings come in a variety of sizes and styles. Your doctor or nurse will measure your legs to get the right fit.
3. Eat a low-salt diet. Consuming too much salt can make you retain more water, which increases swelling.
4. Move around! It is important to exercise and walk around to help the systems in your legs to get the blood back to your heart.
Medications
4+ pitting edema means the system of muscles, veins and valves in the legs are not functioning properly due to a serious medical condition usually related to the heart or kidneys.
Your doctor will prescribe diuretics, aka water pills, to increase your urine output. There are several categories of diuretics, including potassium-sparing diuretics that increase urine output without causing loss of potassium from your body.
Your doctor will perform a full workup including a full medical history, medical exam and blood tests and urinalysis. You may be asked if you have a history of drugs or alcohol abuse.
The underlying medical causes aren’t always curable, but there are methods and medications you can take to decrease the swelling and decrease your discomfort.
This has been your Medical Minute.
More Info On the Web
Understanding Dependent Edema | Healthline
What Is Dependent Edema? | eMedicineHalth
What Is Edema? | WebMD
DISCLAIMER
Any medical information published on this blog is for your general information only and is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice. You should not take any action before consulting with your personal physician or a health care provider. Sandrarose.com and its affiliates cannot be held liable for any damages incurred by following information found on this blog.
Photos by Jawad Elatab / BACKGRID | Instagram.com
