Understand the Causes of Swelling

As you adjust your lifestyle and habits to take control of your swelling, it can be helpful — and empowering — to understand what causes swelling and how it works in your body.

What is swelling?

As a normal part of blood circulation, fluid shifts into the tissues around your blood vessels, and your body’s lymphatic system collects and releases the fluid back into the circulatory system.

When that process breaks down, the fluid collects in the tissues and this causes swelling, called edema.

What causes swelling?

People experience mild, temporary swelling for a wide variety of reasons, including:

• Excess salt consumption
• Poor circulation
• Allergic reaction
• Injury
• Healing after surgery

Swelling that lasts longer than a few weeks, gets progressively worse, or gets in the way of your normal activities can be a sign of a more serious medical condition and should be discussed with your doctor. Chronic swelling may be caused by factors such as:

• Cancer or cancer treatments
• Medical trauma
• Infection
• Obesity
• Congestive heart failure
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Chronic venous insufficiency/vein disease
• Lymphedema
• Lipedema

Why should I track my swelling?

Tracking your symptoms and treatments in the Kylee app can help you and your doctor understand your condition and keep it under control.