Is Pitting Edema a sign of any type of a Cardiac Problem??

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43yo, non smoking WF, no family hx except hypertension. I do not have high B/P. I have fibromyalgia, asthma, Osteoarthritis, chondromalacia patellae of both knees,gastric bypass. I have edema in my legs from knees down. This keeps happening off and on. Right now it is really bad, the pitting is 1+/2+ and my R is esp bad, even my foot is swollen and you can't see my ankle! I wonder if that chondro would cause this? I ask about Cardio because ppl will see me like this and say "Has your Dr had your heart checked out?" Once a Dr did a few blood studies but they were normal and I dont know what it was. I havent injured myself, I am on several meds but I have been on these same ones for a while now. My PCP has tx'd this with Lasix in the past. I can go to the ER but dont know if they'll do anything since I dont have ins. . Please give me some answers and not just see your DR. I am an RN and I know this. I just dont want to go and it be normal with my knees.. etc.. It is really uncomfortable.
Pitting edema can be demonstrated by applying pressure to, for example, the skin of a swollen leg, by depressing the skin with a finger. If the pressing causes an indentation in the skin that persists for some time after the release of the pressure, the edema is referred to as pitting edema. Actually, any form of pressure, such as from the elastic part of socks, can induce the pitting of this edema.

In non-pitting edema, which usually affects the legs or arms, pressure that is applied to the skin does not result in a persistent indentation. Non-pitting edema can occur in certain disorders of the lymphatic system such as lymphedema, which is a disturbance of the lymphatic circulation that may occur after a radical mastectomy, or congenital lymphedema. Another cause of non-pitting edema of the legs is called pretibial myxedema, which is a swelling over the shins that occurs in some patients with hyperthyroidism. Non-pitting edema of the legs is difficult to treat. Diuretic medications are generally not effective, although elevation of the legs periodically during the day and compressive devices may reduce the swelling. The focus of the rest of this article is on pitting edema.

What causes pitting edema?

Edema is caused by either systemic diseases, that is, diseases that affect the various organ systems of the body, or by local conditions involving just the affected extremities. The most common systemic diseases that are associated with edema involve the heart, liver, and kidneys. In these diseases, edema occurs primarily because of the body's retention of too much salt (which is the chemical compound sodium chloride). The excess salt holds excess water in the interstitial tissue spaces, where the retained surplus of fluid is recognized as edema. Idiopathic (of unknown cause) edema, also sometimes called cyclical edema, occurs most often in women and just prior to each menstrual period. The most common local conditions that cause edema are varicose veins and thrombophlebitis (a blood clot with inflammation of the veins) of the deep veins of the legs. These conditions can cause inadequate pumping of the blood by the veins (venous insufficiency). The resulting increased back-pressure in the veins forces fluid to leak into the interstitial tissue spaces, where the retained excess fluid is recognized as edema.  (+ info)

What are the treatment options for pitting edema in the lower extremities?

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I have tried elevating the legs but this isn't always possible especially at work. Have a stent in the left coronary artery; on blood pressure medicine and aspirin regimen. Also bipolar disorder recently diagnosed. Taking Lithium and Risperdal. Also taking famotidine for stomach pain. Just worried that the edema is cardiac related and worry about Congestive Heart Failure. Heart problems are very predominant in family history.
have you been tested for liver or kidney disease? you mention you have mental disease...if these organs are malfunctioning, it can send all sorts of toxins into the brain, thus in turn causing mental illness and edema. if your having stomache pain could it be upper right quadrant pain (liver?)

i'd get tested for liver and kidney disease and then go from there....wish i could be more help.  (+ info)

Cardiac Edema/Oedema?

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A family member was recently diagnosed with the condition Cardiac Edema/Oedema.

I think this is also known as fluid around the heart?

Can anyone explain this condition to me in Layman's terms? I'm by all means no medical expert but i'd like to know more about it, specifically:

What it is and what it does?
Can it cause death?
Is there a cure, and if that cure is rejected by the patient what will happen?
Are there different degrees of it? Like, stages of severity?

Thanks!
Update on the news, they have told her that she has pulmonary edema, is this different? Same questions apply
pulmonary edema is fluid backed up in the lungs
it can either be cardiogenic, or non-cardiogenic
by your description your family member has cardiogenic pulmonary edema.

what is that?
basically...
the left side of the heart is beginning to fail
the righ side of the heart sends the blood to the lungs
the left sight of the heart sends the blood to the rest of the body
the left side is not working fast enough so there is a buildup of fluid in the lungs
this will result in shortness of breath and the doctor will hear fluid in the lungs. if it gets bad enough you will have pulmonary edema so bad that it will be coming up out of your lungs so fast you wont know what to do with it.
it is often caused by hypertension(high blood pressure)  (+ info)

Please advise...pulse oxi 80's, cp, sob, noctural dyspnea or sleep apnea?, cardiac or pulm edema? Dx w/anxiety

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My life is on the line right now w/Kaiser Permanente in Fremont & Hayward.This is a med. error. on 3/15/07 they gave mw/vast amts IV contrast dye mult. times & I drank 450ml barium prior to Pelvic CT Scan w/contrast for my Meralgia Paresthetica b/c Neuro. denied Pelvic MRI. I have been going down his since then, sob, cp, renal insuff, fever off/on, lungs burn (pepcid not relieve), doesn't seem like GERD, noctural dyspnea or sleep apnea just started x 3 days ago. I am worried that I may have pulm edema, cerebral edeam or cardiac prob. I also believer I had a TIA a few days ago, b/c I was laying down and all of the sudden pressure in my head and a rush of blood flow feeling, then I was speechless to ask my husband to call 911. Been into mult ER even outside of Kaiser & just dx w/anxiety/GERD send hm take Ativan and relax.I even lost over 14 lbs since 3/15 toxins must of sucked calcium out of bones. I need to be in a sleep study, refer. denied to Pulm fr. Kaiser. & outside ref Pulm/Car
I am pretty sure puncturelumbar is right. I work in a state mental health institution as a nurse. Sounds very familiar. Please get yourself some help, ie. therapy.  (+ info)

pulmonary edema & cardiac asthma..?

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what is exactely pulmonary edema (cuz & where fluid accumulates), is it = alveolar edema? & what's the difference between it &:
1)pulmonary congestion
2)brochial endothelial edema (cardic asthma)
Pulmonary edema creates pulmonary congestion..the word refers to the lungs. Is just a bit difficult to separate the alveoli from lung function. Bronshial endothelial edema would create the same congestion factor in the bronchi, which branches out at the tree and now run into the combination of the two.. Edema of the entire breathing channels. How the heart asthma can be considered a diagnosis, is a bit thin.. A heart problem could be causing the edema but few hearts have asthma. May want to look up the definition of asthma.  (+ info)

what is acute cardiac pulmonary edema?give treatment?

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How does sudden cardiac death work in teenagers?

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I'm 16, I have difficulty breathing when I exercise, and I sometimes get panic attacks/dizzy spells. I'm not an athlete, so I don't play any sports. If a teenager has a heart problem, are they still at risk for sudden cardiac arrest even if they don't play a sport/heavily exercise?
Sudden Cardiac Death in teenage years is typically related to either a genetic (hereditary) disorder which predisposes you to ventricular arrhythmias (the cause of SCD), for concern for this just look back to your family history to find if anyone had died unexpectantly - and without a history of drug use - before their 30th birthdays. Typically we find a significant family history with little effort in these individuals that genetic testing is not really necessary.

A simple ultrasound (echo) can identify patients with a dilated or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (a structural abnormality in the heart) which is the other main, typically non-genetic, cause of SCD. In the end, strict control of weight, blood pressure, and good dietary choices will help stave off eventual life-style causes of cardiomyopathies. But if there is any true concern, an echocardiogram would be highly advised for diagnosis for cardiomyopathies.  (+ info)

What causes the cardiac arrest in a bulimic?

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I was wondering what actually happens when a bulimic has a cardiac arrest and why bulimia affects the heart? I know that the body doesn't receive nutrients like it should but if your bulimic and you still eat a little during the day then how is your heart failing if you eat at least a little? Does the body lose nutrients over time or suddenly?
The most dangerous health risk posed by bulimia is cardiac arrest or heart attack due to an electrolyte imbalance of the mineral potassium, read further at http://www.princeton.edu/uhs/healthy-living/hot-topics/eating-disorders/  (+ info)

What is a Double Cardiac Catheterization as opposed to a Cardiac Catheterization?

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I have to have a double cardiac catheterization done on February 16. I know what a Cardiac Catheterization is, but not a Double. I thought this procedure was going to fix my heart murmur, but it's something about examining the heart to see if it's pumping correctly and everything.
The term 'Double Cardiac Catheterization' is not commonly used in medical lexicon. Based on meagre detail you provided, it may be presumed that it relates to pressure studies etc in both left and right heart.

If you know what is cardiac catheterization, you also must be knowing that approach to either side is different( unless one has a hole in the heart that allows left heart catheter to enter right heart through the hole).

a) Left heart catheterization: The procedure is done by percutaneous femoral, radial, or brachial "artery" puncture, with a catheter passed into the coronary artery ostia or across the aortic valve into the LV.

b) Right heart Cath: The procedure is done by femoral, subclavian, internal jugular, or antecubital "vein" puncture. A catheter is passed into the RA, through the tricuspid valve, into the RV, and across the pulmonary valve into the pulmonary artery.

(NOTE the double qoute marks in both (a) and (b)).

So, the doctors may be planning to study both sides of heart simultaneously using two catheters.

Or, could that be double-channel catheter :-> one with two channels, one for injection and the other for fluid removal.  (+ info)

How long after a cardiac arrest is a paitent discharged?

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I know that they keep the paitent for a few days in the case of another cardiac arrest (i think), but how long does the paitent remain hospitalized afterwards?
This depends on the severity and cause.

30 years ago my father had a heart attack and was in hospital for two weeks. Someone I know recently had one but was home within 5 days with strict orders about what to do once home.

Nowadays they do prefer people to be up and about once they are on the road to recovery but it does depend on a lot of factors.  (+ info)

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