Edema - a swelling caused by excess fluid in body tissues. Although the swelling may appear on any part of the body, most often they are formed on the hands and feet.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of edema:

• Swelling of tissue just under the skin;
• Taut and shiny skin;
• After pressing for a few seconds on the skin, at least for a few minutes remains recess.

Swelling does not just require professional help, however, should seek immediate medical attention if you have a swelling, as well as symptoms such as shortness of breath, difficulty breathing and chest pain Chest pain is one symptom - a lot of diseases .

Causes

Edema occurs when tiny blood vessels of starts to flow and fluid build up in the surrounding tissue.

Soft forms of edema may be the result of:

• Prolonged stay in one position;
• Abuse salty foods;
• Premenstrual changes;
• Pregnancy.

Edema can be a side effect of some medications, such as:

• Formulations that promote vascular disclosure;
• Calcium channel blockers;
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• Estrogens;
• Antidiabetic drugs belonging to the thiazolidinedione.

In some cases, however, the swelling may be a sign of a more serious underlying disease. Diseases that can cause edema:

• Congestive heart failure. When one or both of the lower chambers of the heart lose their ability to effectively pump blood - as occurs in heart failure - the blood can start to build up in the legs and feet, causing swelling.
• Cirrhosis. In cirrhosis, fluid may accumulate in the abdomen and legs. Cirrhosis is often one of the consequences of alcoholism.
• Kidney disease. Renal diseases excess fluid and sodium in the blood can cause swelling. Edema associated with kidney disease usually appear on the legs and around the eyes.
• Damage to the kidneys. Damage to the thin blood vessels in the kidneys filter blood may cause nephrotic syndrome. This violation is reduced level of protein (albumin) in the blood, which often leads to stagnation of fluid in the tissues and swelling.
• Chronic venous insufficiency Venous insufficiency - rapidly Youthful disease . In this disorder, one-way valves, which normally helps move blood to the heart is not working properly; Because of this, the blood stagnates in the legs, swelling and forms.
• Violations of the lymphatic system. One of the objectives of the lymphatic system - withdrawal of excess fluid from body tissues. If the system is damaged, for example, as a result of surgery to treat cancer Cancer Treatment - difficult, but necessary , Lymph nodes and blood vessels do not work properly, and edema formation.

Complications

Leaving edema, especially in severe or moderately severe, without treatment, it can increase and become more painful because of what would be hard to walk. Furthermore, the risk of infection increases the swelling of affected tissues, impairs blood flow, reduces the elasticity of the arteries, veins, joints and muscles, and increases the risk of skin ulcers.

Diagnostics

For the diagnosis of swelling in most cases only a simple medical examination. If the doctor has doubts about the correctness of the diagnosis can be used x-ray or ultrasound, blood and / or urine.

Treatment

Minor swelling pass themselves; In more severe cases it may be recommended for the administration of drugs that promote the withdrawal of excess fluids from the body. If swelling persists for a long time, it is necessary to treat the underlying condition that caused it.

To the swelling went faster, you can use simple techniques:

• Motion. Active use of muscles, particularly the part of the body where there was swelling contributes to fluid outflow.
• That part of the body, which appeared edema, should be raised above heart level and hold so for at least an hour. For example, if you have swollen legs, lie down on the couch and put his feet on his back. In most cases when this swelling is quite fast.
• Massage. Massaging the place where there was swelling, should be vigorously but without causing yourself pain.
• To prevent the emergence of new edema should limit salt intake, and use the minimum amount of fluid before bedtime Dreams: how to understand our dreams .

Vitamin A (retinol) - fat-soluble vitamin, consisting of three molecules: retinal, retinol and retinoic acid, each of which is derived from a plant of the molecule of beta-carotene. Vitamin A is involved in all major body functions. This vitamin is necessary for the conservation and recovery of good vision. It also helps to develop immunity to many diseases, including to colds. Without vitamin A can not be a healthy skin condition. If you "goose bumps" that often appear on the elbows, hips, knees, shins if peeling skin on the heels and there was dry skin on the hands or other similar phenomena occur, which means that you lack vitamin A. This vitamin prevents sloughing of the internal mucous membranes of the blood vessels, bile and urinary tract.

Vitamin A protects us from the effects of exposure to air pollution, with stress and disease, which have drastically reduced supply of this vitamin in the body.

Natural sources of Vitamin A

The main source of vitamin A are the products of both plant and animal origin:

• Animal sources: butter (unsalted), cream, egg yolks, fish liver, the kidneys, the liver of animals, dairy products. But a surplus of animal products rich in vitamin A (retinol), can lead to cancer.
• Power plant: apricots (fresh and dried), carrots, cabbage (all types), green leafy vegetables, spinach, lettuce, potatoes, plums, all yellow fruits (especially papaya, mango) and vegetables (pumpkin). The darker the green vegetable, the more carotene it contains. The most important carotenoid - a beta-carotene, which is converted in the intestines into vitamin A. Plant sources of vitamin A does not contain fat and cholesterol.

Nutritionists recommend consuming a day 2 carrots, pumpkin or sunflower seeds, broccoli. Pumpkin seeds are especially useful for the organism: they contain a lot of nutrients, such as vitamins E, A, D, K, a large number of trace elements. If you have pimples, acne, oily dandruff on the scalp, eat pumpkin seeds, fruits and vegetables orange, and then dandruff Dandruff: where it comes from, and what to do   and spots will be over.

Separately, it must be said about the cod-liver oil. Until recently it was thought that it is very useful, that it contains a lot of vitamins A and D. However, recent studies have shown that fish oil is Fish oil - so whether it is useful to think?   contributed to the emergence of oncological diseases.

In addition, you should always keep in mind that the activity of vitamin carotene is 3 times less than retinol. Since products containing carotene are mostly plant foods - living, natural, natural, not industrial, they must be eaten in its natural state, and 3 times more than the products of animal origin, rich in retinol.

The main functions of Vitamin A

Numerous studies have confirmed that vitamin A is very important for the most vital functions:

• necessary for growth, development and tissue regeneration, promotes healthy growth of bones and teeth, particularly in children;
• It is a member of the rhodopsin and necessary for night vision;
• It participates in redox reactions in the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates and mineral salts;
• It affects the activity of the endocrine glands;
• prevents night blindness Night blindness from vitamin A deficiency ;
• It is one of the most important antioxidants Antioxidants: the truth about the notorious benefits   (neutralizes free radicals);
• It increases the body's resistance to respiratory and other infections;
• It improves the assimilation of protein, which slows down the aging process;
• retains the outer skin healthy;
• is necessary for normal functioning of the gonads; its deficiency can cause irregular menstruation in women and infertility in men.

Dosage

If your diet includes weekly enough of the liver, carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes or melon, vitamin A that you do not need. 5000 IU (international unit of ~ 1 mg) of vitamin A per day - is the norm, it is sufficient to maintain health, and 1/3 is the amount of vitamin A must be provided by foods containing retinol (animal products), and 2 / 3 - containing carotene (fruits and vegetables in their natural form).

Vitamin A is soluble in fat, but at the same time, studies have shown that the less fat in the diet, the better the effect of vitamin A. However, the body can build up an excess of vitamin A. If an excess of the human body the vitamin C, as a rule, easy to handle highlighting its excess, then with vitamin A it is quite different. Up to 95% of vitamin A administered is usually deposited in the liver, but that beyond this becomes a poison. Therefore it is necessary to know the symptoms of excess vitamin A and to be able to prevent.