Essay - Edema Introduction Fluids are Important Constituents of the Human System....

Edema

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Fluids are important constituents of the human system. In fact almost 60% of our body mass is composed of water, one of the main constituents along with minerals, chemicals and waste products. The different excretory organs *****tain a balance between the fluid intake ***** expulsion. Sometimes however due to the impaired functionality ***** various organs this delicate ***** balance is affected. Edema in general refers to a medical condition that results from an increase in accumulation of ***** and sodium inside ***** body. The obvious symp*****ms are the swelling of the t*****sues in response to the expansion of the interstitial volume. There are many different types and equally different contributing *****ors ***** cause Edema. Let us have a brief outlook on the c*****use, symptoms and treatment methods for two common ***** of ***** namely pulmonary Edema and peripheral edema.

Edema In General

There are there main types of Edema namely General edema, pulmonary edema and lymphedema. Edema can either be localized within a particular region of the body or **********. Generalized edema (Anasarca) is a condition where there is fluid accumulation throughout the body resulting in swell*****gs all over the body. Pulmonary edema on ***** other hand is a form ***** localized edema wherein ***** is fluid accumulation within the lungs. The most common ***** however is ***** edema in which case swell*****g occurs in ***** legs and the feet. [Healio Health Library]

Pathophysiology of Edema

Two factors ***** essential for the formation of edema. First is a change in the fluid exchange ***** ***** the body. This is bought about by a shift ***** ***** pressure gradient in ***** the interstitial space ***** the plasma. Secondly ********** levels of ***** bought about ***** its retention by the kidney. ***** presence of sodium prevents the uniform distribution ***** water, which is ********** retained in the extra cellular fluid. Osmolarity of sodium is the main reason for ***** non-***** distribution ***** the excess water. The presence of excess water in the extra cellular ***** ***** trigger abnormal reactions in the organs leading to impairment ***** normal functions. ***** fluid movement or the filtration is controlled by the balance between hydrostatic and oncotic pressure. The Starling's equation governs all ***** movement ***** the plasma and the ***** spaces.

Net ***** = Kf (change in hydraulic *****) - (change in oncotic pressure)

***** = Kf[(Pc - Pi) - (Pc - Pi)

It is ***** derangement of capillary *****ces that causes edema. Th***** change can be triggered by an increase in hydrostatic pressure, decrease in oncotic pressure and *****d permeability of the capillaries. Invariably, all these above-mentioned anomalies trigger a compensating ***** ***** the kidney. Whenever ***** effective arterial blood volume [EABV] falls below a certain level the kidney is triggered ***** increase salt retention. The juxtaglomerular apparatus is stimulated to secrete renin, ***** in turn increases Angiotensin II formation. This changes ***** oncotic pressure leading to the reabsorption of fluid at ***** proximal tubule. Furthermore the increase in Angiotensin II also