Edema Essay

The body health depends in keeping body fluid in balance, which distribute between intravascular in blood vessels, and extravascular which can be inside the cell (intracellular fluid) or between the cells called (interstitial fluid). Edema occurs when the interstitial volume has increased due to fluid leaks from capillaries or tiny blood vessels to interstitial space, then the space will expand cause edema.[1]
To understand the mechanism clearly, fluid dynamic control should be considered, the hydrostatic pressure which the pressure of fluid inside the vessels against wall, moves fluid out of vessels into interstitial space, another pressure leads to moves fluid in opposite direction called oncotic pressure. Mainly edema will form if the hydrostatic pressure exceeds the oncotic pressure. Simply, edema is when abnormal excessive fluid accumulate in the body, lead to swelling extremities. Edema has different terms according to the location. Mostly in the lower extremities and abdomen because of pull of gravity.[1, 2]
Study in 2003 shows the prevalence of edema is 1.33 for each 1000 person. Prevalence Increase with age 5.4/1000 age > 65 years, and was more in women than men.[3] Physiological
80% of all heart failure patients are 65 years and older. When the heart muscle weakened, it will fail to pumps blood, then the circulation will be less effectively, that leads to increase hydrostatic pressure in capillaries, the fluid will accumulate in interstitial space. When the volume of fluid exceeds the lymphatic system ability to drainage, it will form edema. Most swelling occur in legs and feet, but if the failure in the left side of the heart it will form edema in the lung, if the failure in the right side of the heart the edema will present in the periphery. Heart failure may affect the kidney, make the body retain sodium which lead to increase total body fluid, create more edema.[1, 10,