Hello gapgapgap-ga:
You asked:
"My question revolves around facial swelling. I seem to carry a large
amount of water and it affects my face. Are there any products that
work that truly reduce facial swelling due to water retention and or
general swelling?"
It appears you have a common condition called "edema." When this
condition
mainly affects the face, it is often (and very rudely) referred to as
"Moon Face." There isn't really one single magic bullet for this
problem, but diuretics are by far the first line of defense in
treating it.
First, I'll list some possible causes, and then some treatments, which
include exercise, massage, herbs, and dietary changes.
You didn't mention if you've been given a diagnosis, but I do hope
you've
seen a doctor, or will be seeing one soon, as edema should be
monitored by a
physician.
At WebMd, I found a good capsule description of "Idiopathic Edema,"
linking
this condition to severe salt retention:
http://my.webmd.com/content/healthwise/155/38675.htm?lastselectedguid={5FE84
E90-BC77-4056-A91C-9531713CA348}
Also see the article "Facial Swelling" at the A.D.A.M.site. (The site
doesn't explain the acronym, but does note that A.D.A.M "is accredited
by
URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission
(www.urac.org)":
http://www.1uphealth.com/health/facial_swelling_info.html
The above article contains some checkpoints, including whether or not
pain
is associated with the swelling. Clicking "Next" on that page will
bring up
more links containing more possible causes of facial edema, at:
http://www.1uphealth.com/health/facial_swelling_causes.html
Also see "Facial Swelling" at Maryland General Hospital:
http://www.marylandgeneralhospital.com/ency/article/003105.htm
It's important for you to consider if you're having other symptoms.
Your
doctor needs a full picture of what's going on in order to diagnose,
then
treat you, properly. This swelling may be caused by allergies or even
sinusitis. You should also be aware that edema can be a symptom of
pulmonary
problems -- another good reason to be checked by your doctor.
Edema can also be caused by certain medications. You didn't mention if
you
take corticosteroids drugs (usually prescribed for arthritis), but
they
trigger fluid retention.
What You Can Do To Relieve Edema:
Treatment will be easier for the doctor once he or she has ruled out
any
other associated cause such as sinusitis. If you just have an
unfortunate
tendency toward retaining fluid, check out this advice at WebMd:
What Causes Swollen Legs," by Elizabeth Smoots, M.D.:
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/43/1689_51511.htm?lastselectedguid={5FE8
4E90-BC77-4056-A91C-9531713CA348}
The article contains some very useful information for anyone with
edema anywhere in their body. Dr. Smoots suggests exercise, dieting,
taking diuretics, and cutting back on sodium intake.
In fact, reducing salt intake is a suggestion that popped up over and
over, along with keeping your legs elevated, and moving around as much
as possible.
See the Salt-Free Life Web site for suggestions on cooking and dining
out, without salt, at:
http://www.saltfree.com/
You can join the site for $4.95 per year, and get a wealth of
sodium-reduced and sodium-free recipes.
You can get some recipes for free at the Heart Disease Zone's "Salt
Free Cooking" site:
http://www.heartdiseasezone.com/Salt-Free-Cooking.html
Aetna's Intelihealth has suggestions on reducing edema:
http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9339/9883.html#treat
similar to what Dr. Smoots suggests.
That page will also link you to information on edema, including
diagnosis
and prevention. The "Prevention" link is especially helpful:
http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9339/9883.html#prevent
HealthNotes e-zine "Health Concerns" has a page on edema, at:
http://www.mycustompak.com/healthNotes/Concern/Edema.htm
The site lists quite a few herbs that help reduce edema, including
flavonoids. You'll see numerous clickable links that will help you
learn more about which vitamins and herbs may help you.
Learn more about flavonoids, found in tomatoes, apples, strawberries,
and chocolate(!), and what they can do for you, at the George Mateijen
Foundation's "World's Healthiest Foods":
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=119
Support stockings, which are often used on post-op patients to reduce
swelling, can be found in most drugstores. Be sure to purchase a pair
that won't be too constricting. I was very pleased with them when I
had leg edema.
Activa Hosiery has a good overview of how its "graduated compression
hosiery" can help relieve edema, at:
http://www.activahosiery.com/conditions.asp
BioSkin makes an "Ankle Bracelet" for reducing edema:
http://www.orthopedicquestions.com/ortho-catalog/bioskin/visco.htm
(It's worth asking your doctor if the bracelet will help reduce
swelling in other areas of the body.)
Exercise is often recommended for reducing edema, and Yoga is among
the most popular. See this article aimed at pregnant women who suffer
from edema at Health & Yoga:
http://www.healthandyoga.com/html/pyogaex.html
Your doctor may want you to try more aerobic exercise too, such as
walking or swimming. If you don't like to exercise, then at least
consider something like taking square dancing lessons: anything that
gets you up and moving, and that's been approved by your physician. It
is crucial that you improve your circulation.
CureZone is a holistic, alternative medicine site with some
recommendations on treating edema with diet and exercise:
http://www.curezone.com/dis/1.asp?C0=123
Massage Therapy may also help relieve swelling. See "Research
Citations on the Efficacy of Massage Therapy" at the AMTA's (American
Massage Therapy Association) site:
http://www.amtamassage.org/infocenter/research02.html
Modlife lists a host of alternative therapies at:
http://www.modlife.com/MLG/glossary/terms.html
Scroll down to "Lymph Drainage": "A form of gentle, whole-body massage
aimed at stimulating the lymphatic system to carry away excessive
fluid in the loose connective tissue. This noninvasive, painless
therapy is intended for conditions such as acute and chronic edema . .
."
Some patients have reported relief for edema thanks to electrotherapy.
This high-tech equipment is regulated by the FDA, and may only be used
by licensed physical therapists, athletic trainers, and doctors,
including chiropractors.
See Stanford Medical's research on the efficacy of electrotherapy in
reducing edema, "Lymphatic & Venous Disorders":
http://www.stanfordhospital.com/clinicsmedServices/COE/heart/lymphaticvenous.html
You may want to ask your doctor for a prescription for electrotherapy,
which is performed at a hospital outpatient department, or at a
physical therapy clinic. If your doctor dismisses the idea and you
still want to try it, you can call local chiropractors to see which
ones use this equipment.
If you're not already taking a diuretic, it's a pretty sure bet your
doctor
will put you on one. Diuretics are almost always used to treat edema.
There are several kinds of prescription diuretics. For a good overview
of those, see this page at WebMd:
http://my.webmd.com/content/healthwise/33/8290.htm?lastselectedguid={5FE84E90-BC77-4056-A91C-9531713CA348}
You'll see that "Loop diuretics" are most frequently prescribed for
edema.
And there are herbal diuretics. See HerbsHerbal.com:
http://www.herbsherbals.com/edema.html
for a review of herbs that relieve inflammation.
Dr. Robert C. Atkins -- a harsh critic of diuretics -- always
recommended the herb L-taurine as a diuretic. (See "Dr. Atkins' New
Diet Revolution." New York: AvonBooks: 2002. Pages 267-268.)
Atkins maintained that, unlike other diuretics, L-taurine doesn't
interfere with magnesium and potassium absorption. If you take a
prescription, or other herbal diuretic, be sure to ask your doctor if
you should also take supplements of those two minerals.
It's important to tell your doctor if you're taking any herbs, or
considering taking any, as some herbs can interfere with certain
prescription medications.
Search Strings Used:
"edema"
"facial edema"
"treating facial edema"
"reducing edema"
"relieving edema"
"edema drugs"
"edema herbs"
"edema electrotherapy"
"edema cures"
"salt free cooking"
I hope my research helps you. If you have difficulty with any of these
links, or need further clarification, please post a request for
clarification, and I'll be glad to help you.
Regards,
nancylynn-ga |
