Tell Your Doctor If Any Of These Symptoms Are Severe Or Do Not Go Away:
- frequent urination
- ongoing pain that begins in the stomach area, but may spread to the back
- joint pain or swelling
- changes in vision, eye pain, or swelling or redness in or around the eye
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online or by phone .
How Is Pulmonary Hypertension Diagnosed
Because pulmonary hypertension may be caused by many medical conditions, a complete medical history, physical exam, and description of your symptoms are necessary to rule out other diseases and make the correct diagnosis. During the physical exam, your healthcare provider will:
- Listen for abnormal heart sounds, such as a loud pulmonic valve sound, a systolic murmur of tricuspid regurgitation, or a gallop due to ventricular failure.
- Examine the jugular vein in the neck for engorgement .
- Examine the abdomen, legs, and ankles for fluid retention.
- Examine nail beds for bluish tint.
- Look for signs of other underlying diseases that might be causing pulmonary hypertension.
Other tests that might be ordered include:
- Blood tests:
- Complete blood count : Tests for infection, elevated hemoglobin, and anemia.
- B-type natriuretic peptide : A marker for heart failure.
Why Am I Retaining Water In My Hands
Plane flights, hormone changes, and too much salt can all cause your body to retain excess water. Your body is made up mainly of water. When your hydration level is not balanced, your body tends to hang on to that water. Usually, water retention may cause you to feel heavier than normal, and less nimble or active.
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Are Swollen Feet A Sign Of Heart Failure
Your heart is the hardest-working muscle, pumping an average of 2,000 gallons of blood a day. So when something goes wrong with it, your body will quickly let you know.
Heart failure happens when it cant pump enough blood to keep your organs working normally. One major sign of heart failure is swollen feet, or edema. The swelling comes from fluid trapped inside the tissues of your body.
Heart failure causes swelling in your feet because the kidneys arent getting enough oxygen to properly filter your blood. When that happens, your body keeps the extra fluid and waste products inside your body.
Heart failure also causes a backup of blood, which causes the body to hold on to extra fluid outside of the arteries or veins. This results in swelling in the feet.
Solutions For Lower Leg Swelling
Blood pressure medication and reducing salt in your diet usually help reduce swelling caused by high blood pressure, McGill said.
Your doctor also may prescribe a diuretic, a medication that helps your body get rid of excess water and salt, to reduce swelling.
Compression stockings and elevating your feet may help reduce swelling caused by venous insufficiency.
Other causes of swelling, such as kidney or liver disease, require condition-specific treatment.
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Pulmonary Hypertension And Edema
Pulmonary hypertension is a rare but severe disease characterized by high blood pressure in the lungs. The disease affects the pulmonary arteries, which are responsible for transporting the blood from the right heart ventricle to the lungs, making them narrowed and blocked. In order to properly pump the blood, the heart needs to work harder, in danger of becoming enlarged and weakened. Ultimately, pulmonary hypertension can result in right heart failure and even death.
Many symptoms can suggest the onset of the disease, including shortness of breath , fatigue, dizziness or fainting spells , pain or pressure in the chest, swollen abdomen , bluish color in the lips and skin , or irregular heart beat. Edema, an abnormal buildup of fluid in the ankles, legs or lungs, is also among the possible signs of pulmonary hypertension.
How Can I Reduce Water Retention In My Face
Here are 6 ways to reduce water retention.
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What Causes Brain Swelling
Injury, other health problems, infections, tumors, and even high altitudes — any of these problems can cause brain swelling to occur. The following list explains different ways the brain can swell:
How Common Is High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is a common condition, it is estimated that 18% of adult men and 13% of adult women have high blood pressure but are not getting treatment for it.
In 90-95% of cases, there is no single identifiable reason for a rise in blood pressure. But all available evidence shows that lifestyle plays a significant role in regulating your blood pressure.
Risk factors for high blood pressure include:
- age
- poor diet
- being overweight
- excessive alcohol consumption.
Also, for reasons not fully understood, people of Afro-Caribbean and South Asian origin are more likely to develop high blood pressure than other ethnic groups.
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How Should This Medicine Be Used
Hydrochlorothiazide comes as a tablet, capsule, and solution to take by mouth. It usually is taken once or twice a day. When used to treat edema, hydrochlorothiazide may be taken daily or only on certain days of the week. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take hydrochlorothiazide exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Hydrochlorothiazide controls high blood pressure but does not cure it. Continue to take hydrochlorothiazide even if you feel well. Do not stop taking hydrochlorothiazide without talking to your doctor.
Can Hypertension Cause Shortness Of Breath
Uncomplicated hypertension can persist for years, even decades, without causing symptoms. However, when complications of the condition begin to develop due to damage to the vascular system, symptoms can occur. Symptoms of complicated hypertension can include dizziness, shortness of breath, headache, and blurred vision.
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High Blood Pressure Is The Most Common Cause
Swelling happens when excess fluid builds up in your lower legs. Edema usually isnt painful by itself, but wearing shoes and socks may feel uncomfortable if your legs and feet are swollen.
Sodium retention causes high blood pressure and fluid retention, which is the most common reason for swollen lower legs, McGill said.
High blood pressure may be accompanied by diastolic dysfunction, a type of heart failure that makes it hard for the heart to pump blood throughout the body. The body responds to insufficient blood flow by holding on to fluid that settles in the lowest parts of the body usually the legs and feet.
Venous insufficiency is another cardiovascular problem that can cause swelling. Venous insufficiency happens when your leg veins dont let blood to flow back up to your heart. When valves in your veins dont work well, blood can collect in your legs and cause painful swelling. This condition also is known for causing varicose veins.
Kidney and liver problems and certain medications also can cause lower leg swelling. Your doctor will run tests to figure out whats causing the problem.
Is This A Serious Problem
It is more of an irritant than anythingelse but over time, it can put pressure on the ankles. This leads toskin abscesses, varicose veins and skin ulcers. This may not seem likesomething to be unduly worried about but any fluid retention needs tobe investigated further as it could be the sign of something serious.
In regard to symptoms, the most obviousone is that of swelling around the ankles. But if this is the sign ofan underlying disorder then it may lead to swelling in other areas ofthe body such as the feet and lower legs.
Other symptoms may develop which includepuffy eyes, weight gain, frequent need to urinate, swollen hands/wristsand headaches. This swelling can also cause high blood pressure.
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Blood Pressure Checks During Pregnancy
If you are pregnant, you should have your blood pressure checked on a regular basis, even if it is not high.
Watching your blood pressure while you are pregnant reduces your risk of developing pregnancy-induced hypertension. This can lead to a serious condition called pre-eclampsia where there is a problem with the placenta .
What Are The Symptoms Of Pulmonary Hypertension
Symptoms of pulmonary hypertension do not usually occur until the condition has progressed. The first symptom of pulmonary hypertension is usually shortness of breath with everyday activities, such as climbing stairs. Fatigue, dizziness, and fainting spells also can be symptoms. Swelling in the ankles, abdomen or legs, bluish lips and skin, and chest pain may occur as strain on the heart increases. Symptoms range in severity and a given patient may not have all of the symptoms.
In more advanced stages of the disease, even minimal activity will produce some of the symptoms. Additional symptoms include:
- Irregular heartbeat
- Racing pulse
Eventually, it may become difficult to carry out any activities as the disease worsens.
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How Is Brain Swelling Diagnosed
The steps used by your doctor to diagnose brain swelling depend on the symptoms and the suspected cause. Common exams and tests used in the diagnosis include:
- Head and neck exam
- CT scan of the head to identify the extent and location of the swelling
- MRI of the head to identify the extent and location of the swelling
- Blood tests to check for causes of the swelling
- Lumbar puncture
How Is It Treated
To treat a hypertensive emergency, doctors and nurses will carefully monitor your blood pressure and give you medicine intravenously . The immediate goal is to lower your blood pressure enough so that your organs are no longer in immediate danger. But it must be lowered slowly so that your body has enough time to adjust to the change in blood pressure. If blood pressure is lowered too quickly, your body may have a hard time getting blood to your brain.
The other goal of treatment is to treat organ complications. For example, your doctor may give you a diuretic if you have fluid buildup in your lungs. Or your doctor may give a beta-blocker and nitrates if you have myocardial ischemia . After your doctor has lowered your blood pressure to a safe level and treated your complications, he or she will try to identify the cause of the acute episode. Your doctor will then work with you to create a treatment regimen that can help prevent future attacks.
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What Is Pulmonary Hypertension
Pulmonary hypertension is a rare lung disorder in which the arteries that carry blood from the heart to the lungs become narrowed, making it difficult for blood to flow through the vessels. As a result, the blood pressure in these arteries — called pulmonary arteries — rises far above normal levels. This abnormally high pressure strains the right ventricle of the heart, causing it to expand in size. Overworked and enlarged, the right ventricle gradually becomes weaker and loses its ability to pump enough blood to the lungs. This could lead to the development of right heart failure.
PH occurs in individuals of all ages, races, and ethnic backgrounds, although it is much more common in young adults and is approximately twice as common in women as in men.
Treatment For Swollen Ankles
If this has been caused by high bloodpressure then you will be given medication to lower this. This alsomeans controlling it on a long term basis but your GP will be able toadvise you further about this.
Your GP will also prescribe a diuretic-this is a type of medicine which helps the kidneys to flushout excess fluid such as that contained within the tissues of your ankles.
If you are already taking a high bloodpressure medicine such as a calcium channel blocker then the dosagewill be reduced. This is due to the fact that it may be causing theproblem in the first place.
But, if this doesnt reduce yourblood pressure low enough then you will be given a diuretic which helpsto do this as well as flushing away excess fluid.
There are a few self-helpsteps you can take which include sitting with your feet elevated which will help blood circulate easily around your bodyand ease any swelling. Reduce the amount of salt within your diet, drinkplenty of water and increase your physical activity, e.g. walking.If your swollen ankles are a sign of something apart from high bloodpressure then you will be referred for tests.
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Regular Blood Pressure Checks If Diagnosed With High Blood Pressure
If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, your blood pressure will need to be closely monitored until it is brought under control.
After your blood pressure has been controlled, your GP or practice nurse will measure your blood pressure at agreed regular intervals .
It is important you attend these appointments to ensure your blood pressure is being maintained within an acceptable range.
Other Causes Of Edema
Heart failure is not the only cause of swelling in the feet. Allergic reactions, burns, trauma, blood clots, or severe inflammation can cause edema as well.
Other causes can include:
- Gravity: If youve been sitting or standing in one place for too long, gravity gradually pulls the fluid in your body down to your legs and feet.
- Varicose veins:Veins in your legs cant get blood back up to your heart, causing blood to collect in your legs.
- Medications: Blood pressure or pain medications can cause swelling.
- High salt intake:You may not be aware that your sodium intake is high. Processed or packaged foods, olives, legumes, and cheese can have high amounts of sodium.
- Pregnancy: As the baby grows, the uterus puts pressure on the blood vessels in the lower half of your body.
- Thyroid disease: Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause edema.
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Treating High Blood Pressure
Treatment for high blood pressure will depend on your blood pressure levels and your associated risk of developing a cardiovascular disease, such as a heart attack or stroke.
There are seven main risk factors for developing a cardiovascular disease. These are:
- age
- smoking
- obesity
- having a high level of cholesterol in your blood
- having a family history of cardiovascular disease .
Most Common High Blood Pressure Symptoms
Most commonly high blood pressure causes no symptoms at all. This means that people with high blood pressure can be having damage occur to their heart, kidneys, eyes, and circulation without feeling badly! It is very important, therefore, to have blood pressure testing as part of the routine physical examination. However, in people with uncomplicated high blood pressure, they may experience
- headache,
- dizziness, and
- shortness of breath.
The consequences of high blood pressure depend on the severity and the duration of the pressure, as well as the underlying medical condition of the individual affected. High blood pressure can affect the heart to cause:
- shortness of breath,
- heart attack.
High blood pressure can impair the function of the kidneys, leading to fluid retention and swelling of the legs, and even kidney failure. High blood pressure can affect the eyes, causing vision loss. High blood pressure can seriously affect the circulation causing pain in the legs with walking, cold feet, and stroke.
Fortunately, when high blood pressure is detected early, treated, and monitored, the consequences of high blood pressure can be avoided.
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How Is Blood Pressure Measured
Blood pressure is defined as the amount of pressure that is exerted on the artery walls as blood moves through them. It is measured in millimetres of mercury, or mmHg.
A more detailed explanation is provided below.
Two measurements are used to measure blood pressure:
- Systolic pressure – the measure of blood pressure exerted when your heart beats and forces blood around your body.
- Diastolic pressure – the measure of blood pressure when your heart is resting in between beats.
Both the systolic and diastolic pressures are measured in millimetres of mercury .
The figures are usually represented with the systolic pressure first, followed by the diastolic pressure. Therefore, if your GP says that your blood pressure is ‘120 over 80’, or 120/80mmHg, they mean that you have a systolic pressure of 120mmHg and a diastolic pressure of 80mmHg.