Patho paper

Patho paper

Peripheral Edema or in other words “Dependent Edema,” is a medical condition that involves the swelling of the lower hands or legs. This condition consists of the accumulation of fluid in tissues, which, in turn, causes swelling (Massari et al., 2016). The swelling affects the dependent body parts, most specifically those that hang distally. This paper shall, therefore, discuss the possible causes of Peripheral Edema.

Edema is experienced whenever something disturbs the fluid balance in the body cells. Hence, an irregular amount of fluid accumulates in the tissues, and gravity pulls the fluid down to the feet and legs. Edema is most common in pregnant women and older adults, but it can affect even young people.

There are numerous causes of Edema, some of the common cause of Peripheral Edema include:

Injury

Mr Jones might have sustained an injury at some point. A sprain, bad bruise, strain or even fracture on the foot, leg, hand or ankle may cause pain and swelling. His swelling of the lower legs could also be caused by infections, ligament, or even strained muscles (Danziger et al., 2016).

Standing or Sitting For Long Hours

Depending on where he works, Mr Jones Edema would have resulted from sitting or standing for too long. To some people, long car rides or plane flights cause ankles and legs to swell. This is usually a common phenomenon, but often not that serious. People who work while sitting or standing for long hours are likely to be affected by Edema.

Hormonal Imbalances

Hormonal changes might be another factor that caused Mr Jones to suffer from Edema. Although hormonal imbalance is not common in men, it may occur to some and cause Edema in the long run (Danziger Danziger et al., 2016).

Excessive Consumption of Salt

Perhaps Mr Jones had been consuming large quantities of salt in his food. Salty foods can have diverse effects, and this is because they cause the body to retain fluids which in turn cause Edema.

Allergies

An allergic reaction could be the other possible cause of Mr Jones Peripheral Edema. The allergies might have caused swelling of his lower extremities. These allergies may be due to drug consumption, or consumption of certain foods.

Obesity

Mr Jones could probably be overweight. This excess weight exerts pressure on the veins of his legs, thus resulting in Peripheral Edema (Danziger et al., 2016).

Obstruction of Fluid Flow

Mr Jones could have a blocked body part. This, therefore, affects the flow of fluid and causes the fluid to back up. For his case, he could be having a blood clot in the deep veins of his legs, thus causing his Peripheral Edema condition.

Congestive Heart Failure

The other possible cause of Mr Jones Edema could be heart failure. His heart might be weak, thus pumping blood ineffectively. This creates an accumulation of fluid, thus causing leg Edema (Massari et al., 2016).

In conclusion, form the above discussion, it is evident that Peripheral Edema is a severe condition that should not be ignored. Even though some cases of Peripheral Edema are temporary, in case of any apparent symptoms of this condition, one must seek medical attention immediately. It is also essential to understand that severe diseases or mild illnesses may cause edema. Therefore, in both cases, it becomes necessary for one to get the proper medication to avoid future impediments.