Precautions I would suggest to my elders about edema:
1. Edema is abnormal accumulation of fluid in the interstitium which is located beneath the skin or one or more cavities of the body.
2. Avoid sitting and standing for too long. It promotes fluid flow into the legs and feet.
3. Hence I suggest elders getting up and stretching the legs once in a while travelling long in bus and trains.
4. Leg exercise and feet moving and using leg muscles help pump excess fluids back to the heart.
5. People suffer with edema can keep the legs elevated above the level of heart for 30 minutes a day or 3 or 4 times a day.
6. Massage the edema effected area with firm pressure towards the heart which helps to move the excess fluid away from swelling.
7. Reducing the amount of salt in the diet may prevent swelling problems from reoccuring.
8. Avoid hot baths, hot showers when swelling occurs.
