Symptoms of cardiac edema

Heart disease is a very common disease nowadays, especially in people around 40 years old. Some heart diseases are hereditary, while others are caused by the acquired environment. If edema occurs in the heart, it will hinder the heart's beating rate, which is slower than that of a normal person, so symptoms such as myocardial ischemia and hypoxia will appear, and problems such as rapid weight gain, decreased urine output, and systemic edema will occur.

Cardiogenic edema is edema of the body caused by cardiac dysfunction. It occurs in heart diseases caused by various reasons and when heart failure occurs. Cardiogenic edema may present as systemic or localized edema, characterized by gradual development of edema, first manifested by decreased urine volume, heaviness of limbs, and weight gain, followed by gradual development of edema of the lower limbs and the entire body. Edema starts in the sagging parts of the body and gradually develops into systemic edema. Generally, pitting edema of the lower extremities appears first, most obviously in the ankles. Accompanied by other symptoms and signs of right heart failure and increased venous pressure, such as palpitations, shortness of breath, distended jugular veins, hepatomegaly, and even pleural effusion and ascites. The principles of treating cardiogenic edema are to strengthen the heart, promote diuresis, and protect the heart.

Heart dysfunction caused by various reasons leads to cardiac ejection dysfunction, which will increase the pressure of the venous system and reduce cardiac output, resulting in secondary fluid retention. Edema occurs when heart disease is caused by various reasons and heart failure occurs. Left heart failure mainly causes pulmonary edema, while right heart failure, cardiac tamponade and tricuspid valve disease cause systemic circulation congestion and lead to peripheral edema.

Common diseases causing cardiogenic edema: congestive heart failure, acute or chronic pericarditis, large pericardial effusion, constrictive pericarditis, restrictive cardiomyopathy, hyperthyroidism, hypertension, acute or chronic pulmonary vascular disease, etc.

The cause of systemic edema helps differentiate cardiogenic edema from other edemas:

(1) Cardiogenic edema: common in congestive heart failure, acute or chronic pericarditis, etc.

(2) Nephrogenic edema: common in glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis and nephrotic syndrome.

(3) Hepatic edema: common in viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, etc.

(4) Malnutrition edema: common in hypoproteinemia, vitamin B1 deficiency, etc.

(5) Edema caused by connective tissue diseases: common in systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma and dermatomyositis.

(6) Allergic edema: such as serum sickness.