What Is Edema and How Is It Treated?

Fluids are essential to life, and for humans, this is partly because we are made up of an estimated 60% of water, and that percentage changes depending on your age, sex, and body composition. Healthy fluid levels maintain body temperature, transport nutrients throughout the body, lubricate joints, remove waste, and support metabolic processes.

When excess fluid builds in specific areas of the body, such as the limbs or organs, it’s referred to as edema and is generally indicative of underlying medical conditions. Swelling of the kidneys is a form of edema, also known as hydronephrosis, which can happen in one or both of these organs. There are many reasons this can happen, and we have methods to treat them.

Dr. Ghayas Habach and his dedicated medical staff at Merit Health Care are here to treat residents of Sylacauga and Talladega, Alabama, for a range of kidney-related problems, including managing edema.

Facts about edemas

Broadly speaking, edema means fluid retention, and that’s something that can happen anywhere in the body. That sort of swelling frequently occurs in the legs, ankles, and feet, and injuries or joint problems, such as arthritis, typically present with some level of edema. It also indicates conditions like heart failure, cirrhosis, blood clots, infections, and allergic reactions.

Edemas also form due to issues like chronic venous insufficiency, obstructive sleep apnea, severe protein malnutrition, and even previous treatment using radiation. Some medications can cause it to form, like blood pressure medications, pain relievers, steroids, and diabetes drugs.

Why does edema develop in your kidneys?

A form of upper urinary tract dilation, hydronephrosis happens when an obstruction prevents urine from reaching your bladder from your kidneys. This can occur in several ways, whether it’s acute or chronic, one-sided or bilateral, and can range from mild to severe. Anyone can develop this condition (one in 100 adults has it at some point), including one percent of infants.

Hydronephrosis can occur for various reasons, including kidney stones, tumors, infections, an enlarged prostate, a narrowed urinary tract, muscle and nerve disorders, urinary retention, vesicoureteral reflux (urine flowing backward into the kidneys), and ureterocele (a protrusion into the bladder from the lower ureter).

Treatment and prevention

Kidney edema has several treatment options tailored to the underlying cause, including antibiotics for infections, corticosteroids for inflammation, lifestyle modifications in chronic cases, and managing pain for kidney stones. There are several changes to help prevent this problem, like proper hydration, a balanced diet, routine exercise, and limiting alcohol.

To treat general issues with edema, mild cases can use home remedies, such as elevating the affected area above the level of the heart. For moderate to severe issues, diuretics can be employed to stimulate urination and address underlying conditions.

Edema isn’t always serious, but you should have it looked at to ensure no more serious issues are responsible for the swelling. If you're experiencing swelling and don’t know why, contact Dr. Habach and Merit Health Care today.