Topic Overview
Swelling
is an increase in the size or a change in the shape of an area of the body.
Swelling can be caused by collection of body fluid, tissue growth, or abnormal
movement or position of tissue.
Most people will have swelling at
some time. When it is hot and you have stood or sat in the same
position for a long time, you might notice
swelling in your feet and ankles. Staying in one position for any length of time
increases the risk that the lower legs, feet, or hands will swell because body
fluid will normally move down a limb from the effects of gravity. Swelling can
also be caused by heat-related problems, such as
heat edema from working or being active in a hot
environment.
Body fluid can collect in different tissue spaces of
the body (localized) or can affect the whole body (generalized). Causes of
localized swelling include:
- Injury to a specific body area.
Bruising (hematoma) from an injury is caused by tears
in the small blood vessels under the skin. Bleeding can also affect the joint
(hemarthrosis) or the area that cushions and lubricates the joint (traumatic
bursitis). Swelling can affect just one area or may involve large sections of
the body, such as swelling that occurs following a motor vehicle
accident.
- Infection, which can occur in a joint or under the skin.
An
abscess is a pocket of pus that forms at the site of
infected tissue.
Cellulitis is a skin infection that can cause mild or
severe swelling.
- Burns, which can cause swelling at the
site of the burn or in a larger area around the burn.
- Inflammation that occurs when tissue is irritated by
overuse or repeated motion.
- Swelling of the tendon and swelling caused by
a series of small tears around a tendon (tendinosis) can occur together or
separately.
- Swelling of the sac that cushions and lubricates the
joint (bursitis) can be caused by prolonged or repeated pressure or by
activities that require repeated twisting or rapid joint movements.
- Insect bites or stings. Most insect bites or stings
cause a small amount of redness or swelling. Some people have an
allergic reaction to a bite or sting and develop a lot
of swelling, redness, and itching.
- Other causes, such as swelling
related to a sac-shaped structure with clear fluid, blood, or pus (cyst) or a swollen gland, such as a
salivary gland. For more information, see the topic
Swollen Glands.
Causes of generalized swelling include:
- Allergic reaction. Sudden swelling of the hands
and face may be a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)
and needs immediate medical evaluation.
- Autoimmune diseases, such as
lupus,
rheumatoid arthritis, and
scleroderma. These diseases can cause swelling when
the body produces antibodies and other cells that attack and destroy tissues in
the body.
- Medicines. Some medicines change how body fluids
circulate, causing swelling. Swelling may also occur as an
allergic reaction to a medicine.
- Circulation problems related to certain medical conditions, such
as
peripheral arterial disease,
heart failure,
diabetes, or kidney disease.
Thrombophlebitis causes swelling of an extremity when
a blood clot interrupts blood flow in a vein in the arm or
leg.
- Fluid that accumulates in the abdomen (ascites) because of
other problems, such as malnutrition,
cirrhosis, or liver disease.
Some people may experience swelling as a reaction to a
medical treatment,
procedure, or surgery. Swelling from a medical
treatment may be related to the procedure or to a substance, such as dye, used
during the procedure. Swelling may occur at an
intravenous (IV) site used during a procedure or at an
IV site used for medicines given at home. Some swelling at the site of surgery
is normal, such as swelling of the arm after a
mastectomy.
Lymphedema is swelling that occurs in an area around
lymph nodes that have been removed (such as following surgery) or injured (such
as following radiation treatments).
Swelling can also be caused by
the fluctuation of hormone levels within the body. Some women may notice
swelling from retaining fluid during their
menstrual cycles. This may be called cyclical edema because it is related to the
menstrual cycle. Some women experience mild swelling
in their hands or feet during
pregnancy. Swelling in the feet may be more noticeable
in the third
trimester of the pregnancy. Generalized swelling can
be a sign of a pregnancy-related problem called
preeclampsia. For more information, see the topic
Pregnancy-Related Problems.
Swelling can
occur when tissues move out of their normal position, such as
hernias in the abdomen. For more information, see the
topic
Inguinal Hernia.
Most of the time swelling
is mild and goes away on its own. You may not even know what caused the
swelling. Home treatment is usually all that is needed to relieve mild
symptoms.
Check your symptoms to decide if and when
you should see a doctor.
Check Your Symptoms
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Home Treatment
Mild swelling will usually go away
on its own. Home treatment may help relieve symptoms.
Swelling and
pain are very common with injuries. When you have swelling, you should look for
other symptoms of injury that may need to be evaluated by your doctor.
If you have a medical condition that may cause swelling, follow your
doctor's instructions on how to treat your swelling.
Mild swelling
- Rest and protect a sore area. Stop, change, or
take a break from any activity that may be causing your pain or
soreness.
- Elevate the injured or sore area on pillows while
applying ice and any time you are sitting or lying down. Try to keep the area
at or above the level of your heart to help minimize swelling.
-
Avoid sitting or standing without moving for prolonged periods of time.
Exercising the legs decreases the effect of gravity, so swelling goes
down.
- A low-sodium diet may help reduce swelling.
- Drink
plenty of fluids to help prevent swelling caused by
dehydration.
- Keep your skin cool in hot
environments.
Medicine you can buy without a prescription| Try a nonprescription
medicine to help treat your fever or pain: |
|---|
Talk to your child's doctor before switching back and
forth between doses of acetaminophen and ibuprofen. When you switch between two
medicines, there is a chance your child will get too much medicine. |
Safety tips| Be sure to follow
these safety tips when you use a nonprescription medicine: |
|---|
- Carefully read and follow all
directions on the medicine bottle and box.
- Do not take more than
the recommended dose.
- Do not take a medicine if you have had an
allergic reaction to it in the past.
- If
you have been told to avoid a medicine, call your doctor before you take
it.
- If you are or could be pregnant, do not take any medicine other
than acetaminophen unless your doctor has told you to.
- Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than age 20 unless your doctor tells you to.
|
Symptoms to watch for during home treatment
Call your doctor if any of the following occur during home
treatment:
- Swelling increases or
spreads.
- Other symptoms develop, such as pain, fever, trouble breathing, or decrease in urination.
- Symptoms
become more severe or frequent.
Prevention
The following tips may help prevent
swelling.
- Do not sit with your feet hanging down for long
periods of time. Elevate your feet whenever possible. If you take a car trip,
stop and walk around every 1 to 2 hours. If you are traveling in an airplane,
be sure to get up and walk around every 1 to 2 hours.
- Limit the
amount of salt in your diet.
- Exercise regularly. Warm up and
stretch before exercising.
- Drink plenty of fluids, and keep your
skin cool in hot environments.
- Avoid repetitive motions, or take
frequent breaks often to rest a body area.
- Take medicines as
instructed. If swelling occurs often, discuss with your doctor whether taking
your medicine at another time of day would decrease the
swelling.
- Do not smoke cigarettes or use other tobacco products.
They increase circulation problems.
If you have a chronic medical condition or are pregnant,
follow your doctor's instructions on how to prevent swelling and when to call
to report your symptoms.
Preparing For Your Appointment
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.
You can help your
doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the
following questions:
- What are your main symptoms?
- How long
have you had your symptoms?
- What do you think is causing the
swelling?
- What specific body area is swollen?
- Did the
swelling begin suddenly, or did it develop gradually?
- Is the
swelling always present? Is it worse in the morning or the
evening?
- Have you had this problem before? If so, do you know what
caused the problem at that time? How was it treated?
- What
activities make your symptoms better or worse?
- Do you think that activities related to your
job or hobbies caused your symptoms?
- Do you do sports
activities?
- Have you recently moved from a different climate,
such as from a colder climate to one with more heat or
humidity?
- What home treatment measures have you tried? Did they
help?
- What prescription and nonprescription medicines do you
take?
- Do you have any
health risks?
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine |
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| Specialist Medical Reviewer | David Messenger, MD |
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| Last Revised | April 2, 2012 |
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