Swelling

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What to Expect at your Health Care Provider's Office

Except in emergency situations (such as cardiac failure or pulmonary congestion), your health care provider will obtain your medical history and will perform a physical examination.

Medical history questions documenting swelling in detail may include the following:

• Time pattern
  • When did you first notice this?
  • Is it present all the time?
  • Does it come and go?
• Quality
  • How much swelling is there?
  • When you poke the area with a finger, does the dent remain?
• Location
  • Is it overall or in a specific area (localized)?
  • If swelling is in a specific area, what is that area?
• Other
  • What seems to make the swelling better?
  • What seems to make the swelling worse?
  • What other symptoms are also present?

• Albumin levels
• ECG
• Echocardiography
• Serum electrolyte tests
• Urinalysis
• X-rays
• Liver function tests
• Kidney function tests

Treatment may include fluid and sodium restriction, diuretics, or water pills. Your fluid intake and output should be monitored, and you should be weighed daily.

Avoid alcohol if liver disease (such as cirrhosis or hepatitis) is causing the problem. Vascular support hose may be advised.