Lymphedema can be caused by cancer or by cancer treatment. Sometimes a cancerous tumor can get big enough to block the lymph system. Surgery to remove cancer may also remove lymph nodes or some of the vessels that carry the lymph fluid. This can cause the fluid to build up in surrounding tissues.
Lymphedema occurs as a result of a blockage in the lymphatic system. This is most often caused by a traumatic event, such as sports injuries or deep cuts and bruises, as an aftereffect of surgery or cancer treatment. More rarely, lymphedema can occur as birth defect or symptom of infection.
Avoid skin infections, burns, and injuries
Your body responds to infection, burn, or injury to the skin by sending extra fluid and white blood cells to the area. If lymph nodes and vessels are missing or damaged, it's harder for your body to move this extra fluid, which can trigger or worsen lymphedema.
Some foods can exacerbate lymphedema symptoms because of the way they are processed and the additives or high salt content they contain. These foods include added sugars — specifically fructose — refined grains, chemically modified fats and most animal and dairy products.
avoiding very hot baths and showers – the heat from saunas, steam rooms and sun beds may increase the swelling. using sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF) to prevent sunburn. wearing gloves for gardening and household tasks to avoid cuts if your upper limbs are affected.
About lymphoedema
Other symptoms of lymphoedema can include an aching, heavy feeling in affected body parts and difficulty moving them. Lymphoedema can get worse if it's not treated, so you should speak to a doctor if you think you may have the condition.
Avoid trauma or injury to the affected area. Avoid heavy lifting with the affected arm. No new tattoos in the affected area. Do not wear tight clothing, bands, shoes, or jewelry on the affected area.
STAGE III (elephantiasis)
The swelling is extreme, the skin is hardened and shows wart like growths.
Lymphedema can't be cured, but it can be managed. Any swelling should be checked by a healthcare provider right away. There's no way to know who will and won't get lymphedema, but there are things that can be done to help prevent it.
Staying Hydrated for Lymphedema
Because fluid retention can make swelling worse, many people conclude they should drink less water. But it's important to stay hydrated to keep the body in balance. Dehydration tells the body to start retaining fluid. By contrast, healthy hydration keeps flushing sodium out of the body.
Choose grilled or baked lean proteins, like fish or poultry, and use higher fat meat, like beef and pork, sparingly. Also consider low-sugar Greek yogurt and cottage cheese for versatile lean proteins. Choose carbs like sweet potatoes, beans, brown rice and oatmeal, which have fiber.
Raw beets are powerful lymphatic cleansers since they thin the bile for more effective fat digestion and scrub the intestinal villi where the lymphatic vessels originate to keep the lymph flowing. Try fresh raw beet juice or grated raw beets in your salad to enjoy these lymph-cleansing benefits.
How does stress affect the Lymphatic System? When we experience stress, cortisol (a stress fighting hormone) is released, resulting in metabolic acidosis. Cortisol's acidic nature can cause a breakdown of lymphoid tissue and impede lymphatic flow.
Generally speaking, lymphatic drainage massage is a safe treatment to relieve lymphedema. There are some conditions and circumstances where lymphatic drainage massage is not recommended: You have a heart condition.
The available data taken as a whole suggests that chronic use of ketoprofen might help reduce inflammation in the skin of lymphedema patients, and thereby reduce skin thickness and improve skin elasticity.
With severe swelling, the lymph fluid can drain through small breaks in the skin or cause blistering. Skin changes. In some people with very severe lymphedema, the skin of the affected limb can thicken and harden so it resembles the skin of an elephant.
Decreased physical function, dyspnea, and fatigue occurs frequently in patients with lower limb lymphedema. Nearly a third of patients with lower limb lymphedema experienced three of more physical symptoms,17 and these symptoms are exacerbated by prolonged standing, heat, and walking.
The primary difference between lipedema vs lymphedema is that the former is characterized by an accumulation of fatty tissue in the affected areas, whereas lymphoedema is caused by an accumulation of lymph fluid in these tissues. Lymphoedema occurs because of a blockage in your lymphatic system.
Physical activity encourages fluid to drain into the lymphatic system in the abdomen. Walking, swimming, yoga, pilates and Tai chi all might help to encourage the lymph to move. Pelvic floor exercises may also help.
Diuretic dietary supplements or medications might help with certain amounts of fluid drainage but do not help with lymphedema. Alcohol and caffeine-rich drinks help you get rid of fluids in your body but, at the same time, make the lymphatic tissue diаlate and cause more swelling which worsens your condition.
Vitamins that support the lymphatic system include, vitamin A, C, E, and B-6. Common herbs that also help include goldenseal, echinacea, and poke root.