The Pathophysiology Of Lymphedema

In order to elaborate on lymphedema, you have to understand what part of the body it’s affecting, along with the system of the body it affects. Lymphedema affects the lymphatic system of the body, in which is associated/responsible for the immunity of the body to fight off infections or diseases. There are many parts of the body that make up the lymphatic system, and each play an important role. The lymphatic system is a network of tissues and organs that help rid the body of toxins, waste and other unwanted materials. The organs involved are the thymus, spleen, tonsils, and the appendix. The thymus gland develops the immune system, while the spleen is lymphoid tissue. The tonsils produce lymphocytes, a kind of white blood cell. The main function …show more content…
Now that we understand what the lymphatic system does, this is how lymphedema relates to it. Lymphedema is swelling in one or more extremities that results from impaired flow of the lymphatic system. Remember, the main function is to transport lymph, and when it has an impaired flow, there is extreme swelling. This usually happens when there is damage to lymph vessels or lymph nodes and in most cases it occurs in the arms or …show more content…
If extreme swelling occurs in the limbs of the body, that could usually be a pretty good sign to go get things checked out. A physical exam to rule out other causes of lymphedema, a cat scan, a MRI, or lymphoscintigraphy. Although there is no cure for Lymphedema there are some treatment options. One treatment is exercise, which can encourage lymph fluid to process out of the limb. Another treatment option would be wrapping the limbs affected. Along with these options a person could also get a massage, use pneumatic compression, or the use of Lasix which takes excess water out of the blood. For the real life example, there are many cases of lymphedema in the United States. So we are going to be speaking in general about a real life