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Is mild edema in the legs normal?
I noticed that when I press my finger on my shin that it leaves a slight indentation, I have had several tests done over the last few years, echocardiogram, cbc's, and a lot more, but all my tests are normal.
My girlfriend seems to also have some edema in her legs, and my 15 year old nephew seems to as well, he was sitting with his legs pressed against a table for a fewm inutes and when he moved he had a big indentation in his leg, not just a mark but a literal dent.
I'm only 27 male not overweight, not very active, but I plan to begin an exercise program soon.
Im not asking for a diagnosis, i'm just wondering can edema be normal bodily function sometimes, It makes me wonder because i'm not the only one who has noticed this around me.
I say around me as in people around me experience the same issue.
2 Answers
- ?Lv 62 years ago
Edema is a sign that you're not drinking enough water. It's also called "water retention" and this is where things get confusing - but I can help you understand how it works.
There are two oceans of water in the body. One consists of fresh water and is located inside the cells. The other is a water/salt mix and is found in the area outside the cells.
The only way to get the fresh water needed by the body is to drink it, where it goes directly into the cells. When you don't drink sufficient water, the body has to try and get it wherever it can locate it. To do this, it holds onto salt that has been eaten because salt retains water and it's the only option the body has to prevent cell damage.
Because it's the salt that attracts and holds onto the water, this "extra" water is held in the water/salt ocean outside the cells. It's because of the force of gravity that it settles into the extremities such as the hands/fingers and legs/ankles/feet.
This stored water has one purpose only - it is used as emergency injections into the dehydrated cells. To inject the water into the cells, it first has to be filtered to become fresh water. This takes place as the water is forced through microscopic holes in the cell membrane and it's called reverse osmosis.
The way to deal with minor edema is to increase the water intake (no water substitutes), cut back on salt intake for a few days (until the swelling appears to subside), and exercise to promote circulation.
Doctors like to prescribe diuretics for this, but it's the wrong thing to do. Diuretics may reduce the swelling, but they can't replace the water in the cells - only drinking it can.
