Edema is form of swelling that occurs when fluids get trapped inside various tissues in your body. Underlying causes for this swelling include everything from medically insignificant conditions to serious health problems. If you have a mild case of edema, you can potentially reduce its effects by increasing your consumption of vitamin D. However, to protect your health, talk with your doctor about any abnormal swelling.
Edema Basics
Your blood regularly leaks some of its fluid content into your surrounding tissues. Under normal circumstances, this fluid ---referred to as lymph --- is drained from your tissues and returned to your bloodstream by an internal network called your lymphatic system. However, in people with edema, this transfer does not occur, and fluid retention leads to the onset of tissue swelling. Potential causes of fluid retention and edema include exposure to hot weather, pregnancy- and menstruation-related hormone changes, breast cancer surgery, extended periods of standing, lack of vitamin B-1 or protein in your diet and significant disease in your liver, kidneys or heart.
Vitamin D
Along with calcium and vitamin B-5, vitamin D helps your body excrete its backlog of excess fluid. If you have a mild case of edema, this fluid-reducing effect can potentially help diminish your symptoms. Rather than getting vitamin D from supplements, you can get it from increased consumption of foods such as low-fat dairy products and fresh fruit juices, which are frequently fortified with the vitamin.
Seeking a Diagnosis
While you can potentially self-treat mild cases of edema, you are typically only addressing the symptoms of a larger problem. Since edema has potentially serious causes that you can't necessarily detect on your own, it requires diagnosis by your doctor or some other qualified health professional. Once the cause is uncovered, medical options for addressing edema include treatment with medications called loop diuretics and potassium-sparing diuretics. You may also require surgery if you have a form of swelling called lipedema or damage in your lymphatic system or blood vessels. Other options your doctor may recommend include use of compression bandages, increased physical activity and reductions in your daily salt intake.
Considerations
In addition to vitamin D, calcium and vitamin B-5, nutrients that can help ease the effects of mild edema include vitamin B-6 and iron. If you also have nutritional deficiencies, other substances that can potentially improve your condition include vitamins A, C and E, as well as the minerals selenium, zinc and magnesium. Naturally diuretic foods that may also ease your edema symptoms include grapes, asparagus, leafy greens, onions, pumpkin, garlic, beets and parsley. Remember, consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis if you have unusual swelling anywhere in your body.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Edema; March 9, 2010
- Better Health Channel; Fluid Retention; March 2010
- Office of Dietary Supplements - National Institutes of Health; Vitamin D; February 25, 2011
- "Journal of the National Cancer Institute"; Arm Edema in Breast Cancer Patients; V. Erickson et al.; November 3, 2000
Member Comments