The expert warned about the danger of edema

The most common cause of edema is heart disease, which leads to heart failure. With this complication, in addition to swelling of the lower extremities, shortness of breath and accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity often occur — ascites. Irina Volgina, Associate Professor of the Department of Therapy at the Medical Faculty of the State University of Education, told Izvestia about this on May 15.

"The main disease that leads to chronic heart failure is coronary artery disease (CHD). This disease can include many conditions, such as myocardial infarction and postinfarction cardiosclerosis, cardiac arrhythmias, and many others," the expert warned.

She clarified that edema in chronic heart failure is localized primarily on the extremities — the edema is dense, symmetrical and increases in the evening.

Unlike cardiac edema, renal edema is mild, appears primarily on the face and neck, and often occurs in the morning. Further, they can also spread to the whole body.

"When asymmetric edema occurs, you should first think about vascular pathology and consult a surgeon, preferably a vascular specialist," Volgina said.

Also, according to her, edema can occur with cancer, endocrine, allergic and other diseases.

The specialist warned: in themselves, edema in its chronic course does not carry any danger, but it is a marker of serious diseases, which requires medical attention. The occurrence of acute, rapidly spreading edema may be associated with serious life-threatening conditions and require immediate medical attention.

Volgina noted that self—treatment of edema is unacceptable - if any edema appears, the doctor should diagnose and prescribe appropriate treatment.

Earlier, on April 23, Natalia Zolotareva, a cardiologist and somnologist at the SM Clinic, told Izvestia about the dangerous consequences of atherosclerosis. According to her, this disease can lead to heart attack, stroke and even gangrene. The first signs of atherosclerosis are not excluded in 20-30 years.