Swollen legs?
Question:
Answers:
This is called adema. It is when the return flow of blood from a body part is inhibited. This condition is commonly manifested in the legs. Due to the force of gravity the legs are the most succeptable to having this problem.
However, holding pressure for ten minutes is too excessive to check for adema. If you can see an indentation after 10 seconds of pressure that lasts for several seconds then there is a good probability that you have adema.
This affliction is not as uncommon as you may think and there can be several different reasons for this including heredity. Long or frequent plane flights are a very common cause for adema.
This may not seem like a very big deal but it is actually extremely dangerous and requires immediate medical attention. Because the blood collects in the legs it begins to clot. However, you still have blood flow returning from the legs. The veins in the legs return to the heart passing through the lungs along the way. There is an extreme reduction in the diameter of the vein as it approaches the lung. Because the blood is clotting in the veins there is a possibility of a piece of the clot breaking free which then lodges in the lung and can cause death in minutes.
I had this affliction a couple years ago. They did a sonogram on my leg and when they detrmined that there was a clot they wouldn't even let me walk. They put me in a wheel chair and I was hospitalized for a week. The thing about adema is that the sooner you treat it the easier and faster it is resolved.
Get this checked as soon as you can. In the mean time elevate your legs when sleeping. When sitting use a foot stool or equivalent to help keep your legs elevate to a horizontal positon. Also, wear compression stockings which are available at most drugstores. The stockings are helpful in preventing blood from collecting in the legs. They are pretty much standard issue for airline pilots due to thier succeptability to this condition. If you can get into a doctor quickly they will prescribe this for you. I don't mean to scare you but, bottom line is if you are unsure get it checked because it is deadly. Acting fast is the key.
Yikes, consult your doctor. They always check this when going for physicals. I believe it means bad circulation but not sure if it may mean diabetes...it's gotta mean something since they always check for this.
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