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Pitting edema on the leg

Edema; Anasarca

Follow your doctor's treatment recommendations. If you have long-term swelling, ask your doctor about the options to prevent skin breakdown, such as:

• Flotation ring
• Lamb's wool pad
• Pressure-reducing mattress

Continue with your everyday activities. When lying down, keep your arms and legs above your heart level, if possible, so the fluid can drain. However, do not do this if you get shortness of breath. See your doctor instead.

If you notice any unexplained swelling, contact your health care provider.

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Except in emergency situations (such as cardiac failure or pulmonary congestion), your health care provider will take your medical history and will perform a physical examination.

Medical history questions may include:

• Time pattern
  • When did you first notice this?
  • Do you have it all the time?
  • Does it come and go?
• Quality
  • How much swelling is there?
  • When you poke the area with a finger, does the dent stay?
• Location
  • Is it overall or in one area (localized)?
  • If swelling is in a specific area, what is that area?
• Other
  • What seems to make the swelling better?
  • What seems to make the swelling worse?
  • What other symptoms do you have?

Tests that may be done include:

• Albumin blood test
• Blood electrolyte levels
• Echocardiography
• ECG
• Kidney function tests
• Liver function tests
• Urinalysis
• X-rays

Treatment may include avoiding salt, diuretics, or water pills. Your fluid intake and output should be monitored, and you should be weighed daily.

Avoid alcohol if liver disease (such as cirrhosis or hepatitis) is causing the problem. Support hose may be recommended.

Review Date: 10/28/2010
Reviewed By: Linda Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).