Factors that may increase the risk of developing lymphedema include: Older age. Excess weight or obesity. Rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis.
People who have had surgery to remove part of the lymphatic system are at risk of developing lymphedema, a buildup of fluid in soft bodily tissues. Other risk factors for lymphedema include inflammatory disorders, venous conditions, obesity, and immobility.
What Causes Lymphedema? 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.
Secondary lymphedema may happen if your lymphatic system is damaged from surgery, trauma or radiation therapy. Lymphedema is most common in people who've had breast cancer treatment. That said, not everyone who has breast cancer treatment develops lymphedema.
Lymphedema praecox: This is the most common type of primary lymphedema, accounting for 80% of people who have lymphedema. It generally develops in females between ages 9 and 25. Lymphedema tarda: This hereditary lymphedema occurs in adulthood, typically after age 35.
Lymphedema can happen any time after surgery or radiation to the lymph nodes. The risk continues for the rest of the person's life.
Symptoms of lymphoedema
The main symptom of lymphoedema is swelling in all or part of a limb or another part of the body, which can cause problems fitting into clothes, or jewellery and watches starting to feel tight. At first, the swelling may come and go. It may get worse during the day and then go down overnight.
There's no cure for lymphedema. Treatment focuses on reducing the swelling and preventing complications.
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.
Lymphedema occurs when the lymph system is damaged or blocked. Fluid builds up in soft body tissues and causes swelling. It is a common problem that may be caused by cancer and cancer treatment. Lymphedema usually affects an arm or leg, but it can also affect other parts of the body.
Lymphedema most often occurs in the arms and legs, but it can also affect the head, chest, breast, abdomen, and genitals. Lymphedema occurs when a blocked or damaged lymphatic system causes fluid to build up in the limbs, and lymph can't flow through the body as normal.
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.
"Although obesity can make lymphedema worse, there are also very thin people with lymphedema," Vonarb said.
Stage 1: Mild Stage
In stage 1, fluid starts to collect in the affected area and causes swelling. You may notice that the affected area looks puffy. Elevating your limb will help the swelling to go away. The edema is soft and may leave an impression when you push on the skin, called 'pitting edema'.
The recommended treatment for lymphoedema is decongestive lymphatic therapy (DLT). DLT is not a cure for lymphoedema, but it can help control the symptoms. Although it takes time and effort, the treatment can be used to bring lymphoedema under control.
Levels of a set of proteins circulating in the blood may accurately flag the presence of lymphedema, which currently is difficult to diagnose before the onset of physical symptoms.
Lymphoedema may not prevent you from continuing with your usual lifestyle and activities. However, you may need to modify some aspect of your life if these involve a lot of activity, or inactivity, of a swollen limb. Try to continue with your life as normally as possible but listen to your body.
Lymphoscintigraphy is sometimes used to diagnose primary lymphedema. By identifying the location of fluid buildup, it helps your doctor create a map of how lymph flows and drains—and where it's blocked—in the lymphatic system. Before the scan, a small amount of harmless radioactive dye is injected into an arm.
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.
Will the lymphedema ever go away? About 7% of women who have had lymph nodes removed will develop some swelling of the arm after surgery, which is usually mild and goes away. Transient or temporary lymphedema can also show up years after surgery. It can be caused by infection or other reasons.
On the contrary, foods such as salt, caffeine, omega 6 or 9, alcohol, and sweets exert the opposite effect [32, 49]. Thus, they should be avoided by patients with lymphedema.