Why does oedema pit

In non-pitting oedema, fairly obviously, you don't. Teasing out the difference is important because they have different causes. There are many reasons for oedema that shouldn't cause concern - although oedema should always be checked out by a doctor to make sure there's no underlying problem.

One of the most common causes of oedema in older people who spend long periods sitting is common-or-garden gravity. Blood is pumped around your body at high pressure in your arteries.

The pressure in your veins, which bring it back to the heart, is much lower. If you sit still for long periods with your legs down, you don't move your calf muscles, which act as pumps to take blood back to the heart against gravity. This can lead to fluid accumulating. If you have this kind of 'dependent oedema', just moving around more, keeping your legs up and clenching your calf muscles regularly when you're sitting will often help.

Being very overweight and having varicose veins can lead to a similar kind of swelling. Fluid retention at certain times of your menstrual cycle can also make your ankles feel swollen, usually just before your period. Wearing compression stockings can help with this.

In more troublesome cases, your doctor may recommend surgery if you have varicose veins, which should solve the problem. In heart failure , your heart isn't strong enough to pump blood effectively around your system, so fluid can build up, especially in your ankles and lower legs.

It can also lead to shortness of breath when you exercise or lie flat. If you have any of these symptoms, you should always get them checked out. Your doctor will arrange a blood test and possibly a scan of your heart. This sort of 'generalised oedema' can also cause puffiness around your eyes after you've been lying flat.

There have been dramatic improvements in treatment for heart failure in recent years. As well as 'water tablets' to reduce excess fluid, you'll be given tablets to reduce the pressure on your heart.

In severe cases, a pacemaker can help your heart pump more efficiently. Give yourself a check-up with a general blood profile, now available in Patient Access.

Kidney and liver problems can both lead to 'pitting oedema'. In some kinds of kidney problem, as well as in malnutrition, you'll get swelling of your hands and face, which is worse when you wake up.

Generally, symptoms include:. If untreated, pitting edema can lead to cracking, peeling skin, while raising the risk of infection. Whereas non-pitting edema typically develops due to disorders of the lymph nodes lymphedema or thyroid myxedema , pitting edema is seen in a broader range of cases. Varying in seriousness, the most common causes include:. In addition, pitting edema is a side effect of several types of medications and can also be a sign of an allergic reaction.

These medications include:. Pitting edema is also associated with several much more serious, and sometimes fatal, conditions:.

Accurate diagnosis and assessment is essential for proper treatment of pitting edema. Edema grading, which assesses the scale and scope of the swelling, is central to this process. In this examination, the doctor presses on an affected area—usually the top of the foot, outer ankle, or lower calf—for two seconds.

Specific tests vary based on the suspected underlying cause and can include:. Treatment depends on the severity of the pitted edema as well as whether or not the patient has any other underlying causes. The type of therapy and medical intervention can be closely tied to the grade of the case, and it can vary a great deal.

Common approaches include:. Additionally, pitted edema resolves when the liver, kidney, or heart problems causing it have resolved. As such, surgery, other medications, and lifestyle changes, among other therapies, may be employed as well. Edema is graded by pressing the thumb into an affected area—usually the top of the foot, the outer ankle, or the lower calf—for two seconds. For instance, grade 4 edema, the most severe type, is defined as having a pit anywhere over 6 mm in depth, taking over 30 seconds to rebound.

Though relatively reliable, edema grading is imperfect. Ultimately, the choice of whether to treat a borderline case as being of more or less severity depends on other factors. Dealing with joint pain can cause major disruptions to your day. Sign up and learn how to better take care of your body. Click below and just hit send! Zahir S. Edema: pitting vs. Updated August 19, Physiopedia contributors.

Edema assessment. In many cases, pitting edema in pregnancy is not cause for concern. However, you should still talk to your doctor about your symptoms. They may want to evaluate you to check that the swelling is just a symptom of pregnancy and not caused by abnormal liver function, kidney problems, high blood pressure, or loss of protein in the urine, which may be a sign of preeclampsia.

People of all ages can get pitting edema because the risk factors are mostly related to diet and lifestyle. The main risk factors are:. Pitting edema is a non-specific complaint. Your primary care provider may begin some testing, and they may refer you to a cardiologist or a varicose vein specialist. Diagnostic testing for pitting edema can include:. To determine the extent of the pitting edema, your doctor will push on your skin, measure the depth of the indention, and record how long it takes for your skin to rebound back to its original position.

They will then grade it on a scale from If the edema is from varicose veins, those may worsen. Prolonged edema increases your risk of developing an infection in the tissues that are swollen, especially if there is skin cracking. Staying active can help. Avoid sitting for extended periods of time. If you work at a desk, set a timer to remind yourself to stand up and move around for a few minutes every hour.

Exercise encourages blood flow, which may help reduce swelling. Talk to your doctor before starting any new exercise routine, however. Pitting edema is common and can be medically treated and reversed.