If there is swelling for no reason, there is a suspicion of lymphedema, how to get rid of lymphedema?

A healthy person does not swell in the morning. Many people take it for granted that they have a swelling in the morning, but that's not the case. Swelling is a sign that oxidized waste is circulating throughout the body. If it's been a long time since you've had a late-night snack, that's great, but if you're eating a late-night snack every day, or if you're feeling swollen even though you haven't eaten, it's definitely a red flag.

Definition of lymph and its role

Lymph is a fluid that circulates "separately and together" with the blood. While arterial blood from the heart circulates through capillaries and into the veins, some of the blood remains between cells to form fluid, which is lymph. Lymph is responsible for water retention, immune function, and waste processing.

Lymphatic fluid passes through the neck, armpits, abdomen, and groin, and only partially returns to the veins through the lymphatic vessels of the chest. The fluid that is not filtered is processed as waste and expelled into the lymph nodes. Bacteria and toxins excreted into the lymph nodes are killed by lymphocytes. It's a kind of septic tank.

The problem is that it can't even get into the lymph nodes, and it's leftover. These are proteins that are left over after metabolism and are oxidized in the body by interacting with moisture, ultraviolet rays, and temperature. Clean fluids bind to cells, but contaminated fluids are rejected by cells. The result of acidified fluid is 'edema'.

Often, when only one leg is swollen like an elephant's leg on TV, or when the face is covered with flesh as a side effect of plastic surgery, these are extreme examples of lymphedema. At first, it is just numbness in the limbs, but as the swelling continues, it causes pain, skin changes, and body deformity. That's why edema is not to be taken lightly.

Stage 3 of lymphedema

Lymph is distributed throughout the body. Among them, lymph nodes are concentrated in the lymph nodes, which are distributed around the base of the ears, collarbones, armpits, abdomen, and groin. The number of lymph varies from person to person, and the more it is, the better. But it's all about functionality.

For example, if there is a problem with some lymph nodes, only one side of the lymph node will be swollen or painful. This is when the lymph nodes are damaged due to surgery. According to a 2013 survey, 15.5% of all cancer patients and more than 20% of breast, cervical, and ovarian cancers suffer from lymphoma. Primary lymphedema is when there is a congenital lymph problem, and secondary lymphedema is the swelling caused by damage to the lymph nodes due to surgery.

It's important to treat lymphedema as soon as possible. This is because if edema is left untreated, the subcutaneous tissue becomes fibrotic and difficult to treat. Lymphedema is divided into stages 1-3. If the swelling goes away when the swelling is raised higher than the heart, it is diagnosed as stage 1 lymphedema, if there is fibrosis of the tissue and indentation (a phenomenon in which the depressed area remains indented for a long time even when the skin is pressed and removed with a finger), it is diagnosed as stage 2 lymphedema, and if the subcutaneous tissue is completely deformed due to chronic inflammation, it is diagnosed as stage 3 lymphedema. Treatment methods include lymphatic massage, compression therapy, exercise, and skin care, and medications or surgery are available depending on the patient's condition.

How to prevent lymphedema

Fortunately, preventing lymphedema is not difficult. You just have to distinguish between what your body likes and doesn't like.

Helping lymphatic circulation is 'hydration' and 'stretching'. Foods should also be high in fiber and water, as well as vegetables and fruits. But it's useless to grind it. This is because you need to chew it as it is to get fiber. Juice ground in a mixer increases digestion and absorption, increases the viscosity of the blood, and hinders blood circulation.

As I mentioned before, lymph works separately and together with blood, so blood circulation is important. Therefore, it is also recommended to refrain from salty foods and fats.

You should also drink plenty of water. IN SOME PLACES, 3,000 CC PER DAY IS RECOMMENDED. That's a lot, but when you consider that it takes about as much as two large bottles of water for lymphatic circulation, you should drink this much. However, it is recommended to drink it several times every 30 minutes before meals.

Stretching is also important. Stretching moves the lymph to get waste, oxygen, and nutrients back in place. When stretching, hold for 10~30 seconds per movement and then return to the original state to finish. Walking, biking, swimming, and jogging are also good. It's also a good idea to wear compression stockings when exercising. As for breathing, it is recommended to breathe deeply enough for the diaphragm to rise and fall.

You should also be careful about excessive sunbathing. As I mentioned earlier, this is because protein residues interact with heat and ultraviolet rays to oxidize body fluids. In this regard, it is also not a good idea to take a long sauna.

Finally, posture is also important. When sleeping, you should sleep on your back and not lie on your stomach or side. Even when working, do not sit for more than 40 minutes, and keep your shoulders and neck straight. This is because sitting for long periods of time or slouching can interfere with lymphatic circulation.

In the picture above, the areas marked in blue are the lymph nodes. You should massage the area around the lymph nodes in a downward direction with the palm of your hand. (1) Massage the head, face, neck, flanks, lower abdomen, and groin from top to bottom, (2) Upper abdomen, arms, and thighs from bottom to top, and (3) Armpits in both directions. It is best to do it in the morning and evening.