Health Report

Edema: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment Overview Edema is swelling caused by fluid trapped in your body’s tissues, most often in your feet and ankles. Your provider will test your edema by pressing their finger into the swollen area (pitting) to identify how much fluid is in your tissues (grade). What is edema? Edema is the medical term for swelling caused by fluid trapped in your body’s tissues. Edema happens most often in your feet, ankles and legs, but can affect other parts of your body, such as your face, hands and abdomen. Who does edema affect? Edema can affect anyone, but the condition most often affects people who are pregnant and adults who are 65 years or older. How common is edema? Edema is common because there are many causes associated with the condition. Mild cases of edema go away on their own, so the exact rate of occurrence is unknown. How does e...

Edema - Symptoms and causes Overview Edema is swelling caused by too much fluid trapped in the body's tissues. Edema can affect any part of the body. But it's more likely to show up in the legs and feet. Medicines and pregnancy can cause edema. It also can be the result of a disease, such as congestive heart failure, kidney disease, venous insufficiency or cirrhosis of the liver. Advertisement Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Wearing compression garments and reducing salt in the diet often relieves edema. When a disease causes edema, the disease needs treatment, as well. Symptoms Symptoms of edema include: Swelling or puffiness of the tissue right under the skin, especially in legs or arms. Stretched or shiny skin. S...

What Is A Stoma? - Bladder & Bowel Community Stoma Types There are three main types of ostomy – colostomy, urostomy and ileostomy. Colostomy A colostomy is when a part of your large bowel or colon is pulled through from an incision made on your abdomen to form a stoma. There are two types of colostomy that can be formed. End Colostomy Where one end of the colon is pulled through and sewn to your abdomen. This can be permanent or temporary. The other part of the diseased bowel is usually either removed or allowed to heal before being joined back up together Loop Colostomy This is when a looped portion of your colon is pulled through to your abdomen. An incision is made in the loop and then sewn to your stomach with a rod to keep it above surface level. A loop colostomy is usually a temporary measure performed in emergency operation and will be reversed a few weeks/month...

Ostomy: Definition, Types, Procedure, Care & Recovery Overview What’s an ostomy? An ostomy is a surgical procedure that creates an opening in your abdominal wall. This opening goes from an area inside your body to the outside, usually through your abdominal muscles and skin. Ostomy surgery creates a new way for waste to leave your body. Ostomy procedures often remove fecal waste (poop), though they can involve urine (pee) as well. What’s the difference between an ostomy and a stoma? A stoma is a general term referring to an opening created during an ostomy surgical procedure. A stoma may be made in different areas of your body depending on the goal of the surgery. What are the different types of stomas? There are several different types of stomas. Some of the most common examples include: Colostomy . This procedure creates an opening into your colon (large intesti...

Pleural Effusion: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments Overview What is pleural effusion? Pleural effusion, sometimes referred to as “water on the lungs,” is the build-up of excess fluid between the layers of the pleura outside the lungs. The pleura are thin membranes that line the lungs and the inside of the chest cavity and act to lubricate and facilitate breathing. Normally, a small amount of fluid is present in the pleura. Is pleural effusion serious? The seriousness of the condition depends on the primary cause of pleural effusion, whether breathing is affected, and whether it can be treated effectively. Causes of pleural effusion that can be effectively treated or controlled include an infection due to a virus, pneumonia or heart failure. Two factors that must be considered are treatment for associated mechanical problems as well as treatment of the underlying cause of ...