Why does tissue swell

Remember, swelling is the body's reaction to an injury; if the swelling is still present, so is the injury. Kluchurosky says, "You should be able to perform multiple repetitions of the activities your sport requires jumps, sprints, kicks, etc without an increase in swelling or pain in the injured area before attempting to return to competition. Services are available in multiple locations throughout central Ohio.

To make an appointment, call or request an appointment online. Skip to Content. Urgent Care. In This Section. To Tape or to Brace What is swelling? Why can swelling be a bad thing? Rest means not moving the body part in a painful way. Movement is good, and can increase healing, but it should be pain free at this stage.

Inflammation that occurs when tissue is irritated by overuse or repeated motion. Swelling of the tendon and swelling caused by a series of small tears around a tendon tendinosis can occur together or separately. Swelling of the sac that cushions and lubricates the joint bursitis can be caused by prolonged or repeated pressure or by activities that require repeated twisting or rapid joint movements.

Insect bites or stings. Most insect bites or stings cause a small amount of redness or swelling. Some people have an allergic reaction to a bite or sting and develop a lot of swelling, redness, and itching.

Other causes, such as swelling related to a sac-shaped structure with clear fluid, blood, or pus cyst or a swollen gland, such as a salivary gland. Causes of generalized swelling include: Allergic reaction. Sudden swelling of the hands and face may be a severe allergic reaction anaphylaxis and needs immediate medical evaluation. Autoimmune diseases , such as lupus , rheumatoid arthritis , and scleroderma.

These diseases can cause swelling when the body produces antibodies and other cells that attack and destroy tissues in the body. Some medicines change how body fluids circulate, causing swelling. Swelling may also occur as an allergic reaction to a medicine. Circulation problems related to certain medical conditions, such as peripheral arterial disease , heart failure , diabetes , or kidney disease.

Thrombophlebitis causes swelling of an extremity when a blood clot interrupts blood flow in a vein in the arm or leg. Fluid that accumulates in the abdomen ascites because of other problems, such as malnutrition, cirrhosis, or liver disease. Check Your Symptoms Is swelling your main concern? You may have concerns about swelling around the face, in the arms or legs, or in the belly or groin. How old are you? Less than 12 years. Are you male or female? Why do we ask this question? The medical assessment of symptoms is based on the body parts you have.

If you are transgender or nonbinary, choose the sex that matches the body parts such as ovaries, testes, prostate, breasts, penis, or vagina you now have in the area where you are having symptoms. If you have some organs of both sexes, you may need to go through this triage tool twice once as "male" and once as "female". This will make sure that the tool asks the right questions for you. Could you be having a severe allergic reaction?

This is more likely if you have had a bad reaction to something in the past. Are you having trouble breathing more than a stuffy nose? Would you describe the problem as severe, moderate, or mild? Do you have pain in the area with the swelling? How bad is the pain on a scale of 0 to 10, if 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain you can imagine?

Do you think you may have a fever related to the swelling problem? Do you have swelling all over? Do you have swelling in your legs? Have you been urinating a lot less than usual lately? Is the swelling:. Quickly getting worse? Slowly getting worse? Staying about the same? Do you have heart failure? Do you think that a medicine may be causing the swelling? Think about whether the swelling started soon after you began using a new medicine or a higher dose of a medicine.

Has any swelling that does not have a clear cause lasted for more than a week? These include: Your age. Babies and older adults tend to get sicker quicker. Your overall health. If you have a condition such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, or heart disease, you may need to pay closer attention to certain symptoms and seek care sooner. Medicines you take.

Certain medicines, such as blood thinners anticoagulants , medicines that suppress the immune system like steroids or chemotherapy, herbal remedies, or supplements can cause symptoms or make them worse. Recent health events , such as surgery or injury. These kinds of events can cause symptoms afterwards or make them more serious.

Your health habits and lifestyle , such as eating and exercise habits, smoking, alcohol or drug use, sexual history, and travel. Try Home Treatment You have answered all the questions.

Try home treatment to relieve the symptoms. Call your doctor if symptoms get worse or you have any concerns for example, if symptoms are not getting better as you would expect. You may need care sooner. People living with an underlying health condition, such as heart disease or kidney disease, should also talk to their doctor if they experience any new swelling. Swelling is a common condition. Many people experience swelling for benign reasons, such as standing for too long or sustaining a minor injury.

However, in some cases, swelling could be a side effect of a medication or a more serious underlying health condition. A person should talk to their doctor about what is causing their swelling and take steps to treat any underlying conditions.

Swelling can occur for a variety of reasons. For example, a person may have a bone broken, poor circulation, or an underlying health condition. Treatment and prevention should help alleviate symptoms of swelling, but a person needs to receive treatment for any underlying health conditions they have to prevent or reduce future swelling.

There are many explanations for why a person may have swollen feet. Some causes, such as a twisted or sprained ankle, are obvious. Others might be…. Edema, or water retention, occurs when fluid builds up in the tissues of the body.

Learn about edema here. Some causes of swollen legs and ankles are relatively harmless, while others can be more serious. Discover the different causes and their associated…. Some causes of swollen hands include pregnancy, exercise, and fluid retention.

Treatment depends on the underlying issue. Comprehensive Metabolic Panel. Blood Glucose Testing. A1C Test. Urinary Tract Infection. Urgent Care. Strep Throat. Sore Throat.

Sinus Infection. Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Seasonal Flu. Pink Eye. High Blood Pressure. Heart Health. Hand Foot and Mouth. Ear Infections. Cuts and Lacerations.