Metabolic contribution to swelling Discussion
Metabolic contribution to swelling: A number of health related factors may
aggravate effects of local inflammation or swelling. Commonly recognized
conditions include pregnancy, thyroid or other hormonal imbalance,
inflammatory bowel disease, or any other situation associated with a
systemic inflammatory process or fluid retention. Upper extremity disorders
which involve swelling or inflammation - such as tendinitis or compressive
neuropathy - will be made more symptomatic by changes in the body's fluid
balance. In some patients, changes in fluid balance will be the triggering
factor or final straw which leads an underlying problem to produce its
first major symptoms. In others, it will lead tolerable symptoms to become
intolerable. If the metabolic problem is temporary or correctable, so may
be the aggravation of symptoms. However, this is unpredictable, for the
effect of fluid retention is usually only that of making a preexisting or
underlying condition more noticeable.
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