Facial edema is not only a cosmetic defect if it appears frequently or is accompanied by redness and pain, but it is also a sign of serious enough health problems that need to be identified and treated.
Facial edema is not a separate disease, but only a reflection of an imbalance between retention and excretion of fluid in the body. But what problems of the body can cause swelling of the face and how serious is it?
Why does the face swell in adults?
Swelling on the face can occur at different times of the day - mainly in the morning or late afternoon, or they persist throughout the day, decreasing or intensifying.
There are two types of reasons:
physiological (or natural, not associated with diseases), they are usually not pronounced, not very strong, quickly disappear;
pathological can be very strong, with changes in facial features, signs of inflammation, often quite persistent.
Each type of edema has the most typical causes, they occur mainly in the morning or evening hours, or do not depend in any way on the time of day. These characteristics are important for the doctor so that he can identify the leading causes, determine the tactics of examination and treatment.
Is there swelling on the face with heart disease?
Yes, usually women are concerned about these issues, they run to see a cardiologist when they cannot put a ring on their finger in the morning due to its swelling or put on makeup, as their face is swollen. The patient wants to look great regardless of age and health condition. And this is commendable.
Men, as a rule, do not apply to a cardiologist with such questions. The peculiarity of this issue is because in patients with cardiovascular diseases, as a rule, edema on the face appears at the final stage of such a complication as heart failure. First, they appear on the legs (the lowest point about the heart), then fluid accumulates in the abdominal cavity, the liver and spleen enlarge (as a blood depot). And only after the fluid reaches the pleural cavities and the heart bag, swelling may occur on the face or hands.
When do they occur more often?
Due to several circumstances, cardiologists add, such as fluid overflow to the upper half of the body in the supine position, changes in the biorhythms of hormone production (more often their active synthesis occurs at night or in the early morning hours), edema syndrome most often manifests itself in the early morning hours ...
Morning
If we talk about physiological reasons, morning swelling is usually associated with a constant lack of sleep, fasting, or strict diets (restricting protein and fat). Sometimes swelling in the morning is caused by the wrong choice of cosmetics (face cream, toner, or cleanser). Also, morning swelling of the face can be caused by crying or stress in the evening or at night.
Swelling of the face in the morning is possible due to an incorrectly selected pillow (it is too high, provokes a narrowing of the vessels of the neck). Another physiological factor is the excess of fried, salty food or liquids taken in the evening hours before bed. In women, facial swelling in the morning can be triggered by hormonal fluctuations, PMS, or pregnancy. Some women note morning swelling during menopause.
The pathological causes of morning edema are mainly kidney damage. Such edema is usually soft, mobile, occurs on the face after sleep, while the skin acquires a waxy or yellowish tint. The most common causes of facial edema are:
glomerulonephritis - an acute form of the disease leads to edema that lasts up to 2-3 weeks, if the process enters the chronic phase, edema is typical for periods of exacerbation of inflammation;
amyloidosis of the kidneys - edema is typical for the second stage (proteinuria) when protein loss occurs, kidney function gradually deteriorates;
membranous nephropathy - occurs after taking certain medications, therapy of tumors, acute infectious pathologies. Swelling occurs in waves, with sharp or barely noticeable symptoms;
chronic kidney disease (previously called renal failure) - edema occurs gradually, as renal damage progresses;
kidney damage in severe systemic pathologies - edema is typical for nephropathy associated with diabetes or systemic lupus erythematosus.
Evening
Sometimes facial swelling becomes noticeable in the evening, especially after an active day. Often this is one of the manifestations of pathologies of the cardiovascular system. Often, swelling of the face is accompanied by severe swelling in the limbs - hands and feet, legs. These edemas are denser, the skin has a lower temperature than the rest of the body, such edemas go away slowly. Often arise against the background of the following pathologies:
amyloidosis of the heart and blood vessels;
cardiomyopathy;
sclerotic heart disease (cardiosclerosis);
certain types of arrhythmias;
constrictive pericarditis;
part of the heart defects;
arterial hypertension;
cardiac affections in rheumatism.
Day
Sometimes facial edema is most pronounced during the day or its appearance is not clearly associated with the time of day. Among the main pathologies that lead to such edema, endocrine disorders can be distinguished - especially a lack of thyroid hormones (hypothyroidism). Facial edema is especially striking in congenital hypothyroidism, in pregnant women, or in autoimmune thyroiditis, cytokine-induced hydropathy.
Rapidly increasing facial swelling during the day can be a sign of allergies - to food, insect bites, cosmetics, medications, and even cold. Sometimes swelling of the face occurs against the background of an attack of bronchial asthma due to difficulty breathing and fluid retention in the veins.
Facial edema is possible in smokers and alcohol lovers. This is due to the increased work of the lymphatic system to remove toxins from the tissues.
Severe swelling of the face during the day is possible with respiratory infections and their complications - sinusitis, tonsillitis, frontitis. Swelling of the face is possible with a deficiency or excess of vitamins (especially fat-soluble ones).
How to quickly relieve facial swelling in adults
If this is physiological edema of the face that is not associated with serious pathologies that require medical supervision and the use of selected drugs, you can eliminate excess fluid through certain simple measures and actions.
Taking a contrast shower or washing with cold/hot water. This method refreshes improves tissue tone, enhances the outflow of fluid from the skin, and reduces edema.
Using ice - a couple of ice cubes will help to deal with swelling on the face quickly and effectively. In addition, you can pre-prepare decoctions of herbs with a tonic effect and freeze them using for washing.
Facial massage is an effective remedy that helps to improve microcirculation and swelling. Manual massage, use of rollers, ice cubes, cold spoons help. Sometimes, you can first use wiping your face with green tea, applying compresses it to the face and eye area.
Popular questions and answers
Why is it important to pay attention to the appearance of edema, when you need not hesitate to see a doctor, is it worth drinking diuretics or using traditional medicine? All these issues require discussion.
Why is face edema dangerous?
Although swelling of the face can occur often enough, this does not mean that the condition is safe. If left untreated, swelling on the face can lead to complications. These are painful sensations in the area of swollen tissues, stretching of the skin, itching and discomfort, impaired blood circulation, atrophic phenomena. In addition, facial edema with allergies can threaten a transition to more serious conditions - Quincke's edema with suffocation or anaphylactic shock. Renal and cardiac edema indicates that the organs are not coping with the stress, and immediate elimination of fluid retention is needed.
When to see a doctor for facial swelling?
The appearance of edema on the face is always a reason for contacting a doctor if it is not an episodic phenomenon associated with nutritional errors or physiological changes. You definitely need to see a doctor if:
swelling appeared in the morning, immediately after waking up, it is difficult to open the eyelids;
swelling is strong, with other symptoms, it literally grows by the hour;
the face swells in the evening, facial features are deformed.
In addition, it is important to consult a doctor if pressure fluctuates against the background of edema, a headache, cloudy urine, or urination disorders.
What diuretics can you drink with facial swelling?
Do not take any diuretics without a doctor's recommendation. If this treatment is under the guidance of a doctor, he can individually select the drug, including Triampur, Furosemide, Arifon, Hydrochlorothiazide, Trifas, Diver. Each of the drugs has its own indications for admission and several contraindications. Therefore, the reception should be carried out in a dose strictly determined by the doctor, taking into account all the additional drugs that the patient drinks.
Will facial massage help with swelling?
If it is edema caused by fluid retention when taking excess salt, water, associated with physiological hormonal fluctuations in women, it is possible to use facial massage, including ice cubes or cold spoons, toning creams, or serums. With pathological edema against a background of various diseases, and especially with allergic edema, massage should not be done.
Is it possible to remove facial swelling with folk remedies?
Various diuretic preparations and decoctions, herbs cannot be used independently at home. It can only hurt. In complex treatment, doctors can use Phyto preparations, but they individually select fees, types of plants that can complement the main treatment.