Edema can be divided into two categories: systemic and localized. Systemic edema is mostly caused by some heart, liver, kidney and endocrine diseases or malnutrition. Generally speaking, cardiogenic edema starts from the feet and gradually swells up. The edema of lower limbs is more obvious in the afternoon. In severe cases, water can also appear in the chest and abdominal cavity. In addition, patients have other manifestations of heart disease.
The edema of acute nephritis is more common in eyelids and face, and gradually develops to the whole body. Generally, it is not too serious, but it is often accompanied by high blood pressure.
The edema of chronic nephritis is sometimes only found in eyelids, or mild systemic edema, but sometimes it is obvious and even ascites appears.
Malnutritional edema is often accompanied by nutritional deficiency (such as sparse hair, rough skin, slow growth and development, etc.) before weight loss and emaciation occur. ) or anemia, edema mostly starts from the lower limbs and then spreads to the whole body. Some women will also have "menopausal edema" when menstruation is about to be cut off. Others, such as in the third trimester of pregnancy or when suffering from cirrhosis, some people will also have systemic edema.
Local edema is more common when veins or lymphatic vessels are blocked, such as varicose veins of lower limbs and tumor compression, which affects venous return. Local lymphatic obstruction caused by filariasis can produce scrotal edema and elephant legs. Angioneurotic edema mostly occurs after eating some drugs or food, mostly in the head, face and limbs, with local fever and itching, and the onset and regression are faster.
Traditional Chinese medicine divides edema into water-wet type, feng shui type, damp-heat type and yang deficiency type.
Water-wet type: edema is mostly depression, with manifestations such as oliguria, chest tightness, lethargy of limbs, fatigue, heavy head and fear of wind.
Fengshui type: the eyelids and face are often swollen, and then spread all over the body, and there may be colds, fever, joint pain, frequent urination, cough and asthma.
Damp-heat type: mostly localized edema, often accompanied by red face, fever, red tongue, white or yellow fur and rapid pulse.
Yang deficiency type: mostly edema all over the body, pale complexion, poor appetite, chills in limbs, chills, or asthma without sweat, red tongue and slow pulse.