Swelling why

Why do we ask this question? The medical assessment of symptoms is based on the body parts you have. If you are transgender or non-binary, choose the sex that matches the body parts such as ovaries, testes, prostate, breasts, penis, or vagina you now have in the area where you are having symptoms. If you have some organs of both sexes, you may need to go through this triage tool twice once as "male" and once as "female".

This will make sure that the tool asks the right questions for you. Could you be having a severe allergic reaction? This is more likely if you have had a bad reaction to something in the past.

Are you having trouble breathing more than a stuffy nose? Would you describe the problem as severe, moderate, or mild? Do you have pain in the area with the swelling? How bad is the pain on a scale of 0 to 10, if 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain you can imagine? Do you think you may have a fever related to the swelling problem?

Do you have swelling all over? Do you have swelling in your legs? Have you been urinating a lot less than usual lately? Is the swelling:. Quickly getting worse? Slowly getting worse? Staying about the same? Do you have heart failure? Do you think that a medicine may be causing the swelling?

Think about whether the swelling started soon after you began using a new medicine or a higher dose of a medicine. Has any swelling that does not have a clear cause lasted for more than a week? These include: Your age. Babies and older adults tend to get sicker quicker.

Your overall health. If you have a condition such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, or heart disease, you may need to pay closer attention to certain symptoms and seek care sooner. Medicines you take. Certain medicines, such as blood thinners anticoagulants , medicines that suppress the immune system like steroids or chemotherapy, or natural health products can cause symptoms or make them worse. Recent health events , such as surgery or injury.

These kinds of events can cause symptoms afterwards or make them more serious. Your health habits and lifestyle , such as eating and exercise habits, smoking, alcohol or drug use, sexual history, and travel.

Try Home Treatment You have answered all the questions. Try home treatment to relieve the symptoms. Call your doctor if symptoms get worse or you have any concerns for example, if symptoms are not getting better as you would expect.

You may need care sooner. Pain in adults and older children Severe pain 8 to 10 : The pain is so bad that you can't stand it for more than a few hours, can't sleep, and can't do anything else except focus on the pain. Moderate pain 5 to 7 : The pain is bad enough to disrupt your normal activities and your sleep, but you can tolerate it for hours or days. Moderate can also mean pain that comes and goes even if it's severe when it's there.

Mild pain 1 to 4 : You notice the pain, but it is not bad enough to disrupt your sleep or activities. A few examples are: Corticosteroids. Hormones, such as birth control pills and hormone therapy used to treat menopause symptoms. Some blood pressure medicines. For example: You may feel a little out of breath but still be able to talk mild difficulty breathing , or you may be so out of breath that you cannot talk at all severe difficulty breathing.

It may be getting hard to breathe with activity mild difficulty breathing , or you may have to work very hard to breathe even when you're at rest severe difficulty breathing. Severe trouble breathing means: You cannot talk at all. You have to work very hard to breathe. You feel like you can't get enough air. You do not feel alert or cannot think clearly. Moderate trouble breathing means: It's hard to talk in full sentences. It's hard to breathe with activity.

Mild trouble breathing means: You feel a little out of breath but can still talk. It's becoming hard to breathe with activity. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction anaphylaxis may include: The sudden appearance of raised, red areas hives all over the body. Rapid swelling of the throat, mouth, or tongue.

Trouble breathing. Passing out losing consciousness. Or you may feel very light-headed or suddenly feel weak, confused, or restless.

Seek Care Today Based on your answers, you may need care soon. Call your doctor today to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care. If you cannot reach your doctor or you don't have one, seek care today. If it is evening, watch the symptoms and seek care in the morning. If the symptoms get worse, seek care sooner. Make an Appointment Based on your answers, the problem may not improve without medical care. Make an appointment to see your doctor in the next 1 to 2 weeks. If appropriate, try home treatment while you are waiting for the appointment.

If symptoms get worse or you have any concerns, call your doctor. Seek Care Now Based on your answers, you may need care right away. Call your doctor now to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.

If you cannot reach your doctor or you don't have one, seek care in the next hour. You do not need to call an ambulance unless: You cannot travel safely either by driving yourself or by having someone else drive you. You are in an area where heavy traffic or other problems may slow you down.

Call Now Based on your answers, you need emergency care. Home Treatment Mild swelling will usually go away on its own. Mild swelling Rest and protect a sore area. Stop, change, or take a break from any activity that may be causing your pain or soreness.

Elevate the injured or sore area on pillows while applying ice and any time you are sitting or lying down. Try to keep the area at or above the level of your heart to help minimize swelling. Avoid sitting or standing without moving for prolonged periods of time. Exercising the legs decreases the effect of gravity, so swelling goes down. Swelling of the tendon and swelling caused by a series of small tears around a tendon tendinosis can occur together or separately.

Swelling of the sac that cushions and lubricates the joint bursitis can be caused by prolonged or repeated pressure or by activities that require repeated twisting or rapid joint movements.

Insect bites or stings. Most insect bites or stings cause a small amount of redness or swelling. Some people have an allergic reaction to a bite or sting and develop a lot of swelling, redness, and itching. Other causes, such as swelling related to a sac-shaped structure with clear fluid, blood, or pus cyst or a swollen gland, such as a salivary gland.

Causes of generalized swelling include: Allergic reaction. Sudden swelling of the hands and face may be a severe allergic reaction anaphylaxis and needs immediate medical evaluation.

Autoimmune diseases , such as lupus , rheumatoid arthritis , and scleroderma. These diseases can cause swelling when the body produces antibodies and other cells that attack and destroy tissues in the body. Some medicines change how body fluids circulate, causing swelling. Swelling may also occur as an allergic reaction to a medicine. Circulation problems related to certain medical conditions, such as peripheral arterial disease , heart failure , diabetes , or kidney disease.

Thrombophlebitis causes swelling of an extremity when a blood clot interrupts blood flow in a vein in the arm or leg. Fluid that accumulates in the abdomen ascites because of other problems, such as malnutrition, cirrhosis, or liver disease. Check Your Symptoms Is swelling your main concern? You may have concerns about swelling around the face, in the arms or legs, or in the belly or groin. How old are you? Less than 12 years. Are you male or female? Why do we ask this question?

The medical assessment of symptoms is based on the body parts you have. If you are transgender or nonbinary, choose the sex that matches the body parts such as ovaries, testes, prostate, breasts, penis, or vagina you now have in the area where you are having symptoms. If you have some organs of both sexes, you may need to go through this triage tool twice once as "male" and once as "female".

This will make sure that the tool asks the right questions for you. Could you be having a severe allergic reaction? This is more likely if you have had a bad reaction to something in the past. Are you having trouble breathing more than a stuffy nose? Would you describe the problem as severe, moderate, or mild? Do you have pain in the area with the swelling? How bad is the pain on a scale of 0 to 10, if 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain you can imagine? Do you think you may have a fever related to the swelling problem?

Do you have swelling all over? Do you have swelling in your legs? Have you been urinating a lot less than usual lately? Is the swelling:.

Quickly getting worse? Slowly getting worse? Staying about the same? Do you have heart failure? Do you think that a medicine may be causing the swelling? Think about whether the swelling started soon after you began using a new medicine or a higher dose of a medicine.

Has any swelling that does not have a clear cause lasted for more than a week? These include: Your age. Babies and older adults tend to get sicker quicker. Your overall health. If you have a condition such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, or heart disease, you may need to pay closer attention to certain symptoms and seek care sooner. Medicines you take. Certain medicines, such as blood thinners anticoagulants , medicines that suppress the immune system like steroids or chemotherapy, herbal remedies, or supplements can cause symptoms or make them worse.

Recent health events , such as surgery or injury. These kinds of events can cause symptoms afterwards or make them more serious. Your health habits and lifestyle , such as eating and exercise habits, smoking, alcohol or drug use, sexual history, and travel. Try Home Treatment You have answered all the questions. Try home treatment to relieve the symptoms.

Call your doctor if symptoms get worse or you have any concerns for example, if symptoms are not getting better as you would expect.

You may need care sooner. Pain in adults and older children Severe pain 8 to 10 : The pain is so bad that you can't stand it for more than a few hours, can't sleep, and can't do anything else except focus on the pain. Moderate pain 5 to 7 : The pain is bad enough to disrupt your normal activities and your sleep, but you can tolerate it for hours or days. Moderate can also mean pain that comes and goes even if it's severe when it's there. Mild pain 1 to 4 : You notice the pain, but it is not bad enough to disrupt your sleep or activities.

A few examples are: Corticosteroids. Hormones, such as birth control pills and hormone therapy used to treat menopause symptoms.

Some blood pressure medicines. Symptoms of difficulty breathing can range from mild to severe. For example: You may feel a little out of breath but still be able to talk mild difficulty breathing , or you may be so out of breath that you cannot talk at all severe difficulty breathing.

Severe trouble breathing means: You cannot talk at all. You have to work very hard to breathe. You feel like you can't get enough air. You do not feel alert or cannot think clearly. Moderate trouble breathing means: It's hard to talk in full sentences. It's hard to breathe with activity. Mild trouble breathing means: You feel a little out of breath but can still talk.

It's becoming hard to breathe with activity. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction anaphylaxis may include: The sudden appearance of raised, red areas hives all over the body. Rapid swelling of the throat, mouth, or tongue.

Trouble breathing. Share this on: Swelling, also known as edema, is the name for an increase in size, or change in shape, of an area of the body. Never Miss a Beat! Tap Click to Join! I understand that I may opt out of receiving such communications at any time. Thank you for subscribing! Message and data rates may apply. Nutrition Video Recipe: Carrot Cake.