For many lymphedema sufferers, their condition is more of a nuisance than a crisis. While certainly not welcome, some patients find that lymphedema is a condition that can be managed, at least. For example, lymphedema of the arms, which may affect the upper arm(s), lower arm(s), and/or hands, is not uncommon among women who have undergone treatments for breast cancer. …
Lymphedema Patients Need to Exercise Special Care During Flu Season
The influenza virus is not a singular virus. Rather, it is a family of virulent, always mutating viruses, capable of doing extreme harm, depending on the patient, the strain, and even which variants happen to be circulating in the general population during a given flu season. Most people are aware that the annual spike in flu cases in the Northern …
The Importance of Hydration for Managing Lymphedema
Lymphedema is a chronic illness that affects about one-third of women who undergo armpit lymph node removal due to treatment for breast cancer. The condition can strike soon after radiation, chemo, or surgical interventions. Or it can manifest years after these treatments have concluded. Damage to the lymphatic vessels and/or nodes causes patients to experience a loss in the lymphatic …
What is a Lymphedema Therapist and How Can One Help You?
Lymphedema Therapist: How Can One Help You If you have been diagnosed with lymphedema, you know it must be carefully managed. Proper treatment will require careful compliance with doctor’s orders on your part. With some diligence and help from a lymphedema therapist, you may be able to thwart the progression of this disease and minimize its impact on your daily …
Summer Pampering: Skip the Salon for a Medical Pedicure
Summer Pampering: Skip the Salon for a Medical Pedicure Everyone likes a little pampering once in a while. Call it self care, a “decompression day,” or simply some “me time”. Whatever you call it, we all enjoy a little special attention occasionally. This summer many women—and more than a few men—will trot their toes into a salon for a pedicure. …
Leg Exercises and Stretches to Manage Lymphedema
Leg Exercises and Stretches to Manage Lymphedema People used to believe that it was best to avoid exercise if you suffer from lymphedema. In part, this was based on the observation that limbs at risk for lymphedema are more sensitive to injury. However, it has been shown that staying active can actually prevent or mitigate the condition. Targeted stretches and …
The Benefits of Arm Exercises for Lymphedema Patients
The Benefits of Arm Exercises for Lymphedema Patients The arm(s) are among the most common sites affected by lymphedema. This chronic condition primarily affects women. Women who receive treatment for breast cancer often undergo radiation therapy or surgical removal of tissues to eradicate their tumors. Unfortunately, this often involves damaging, or surgically removing, one or more lymph nodes in the …
How Yoga Can Help with Lymphedema
Lymphedema is a condition that cannot be cured. But it can be treated and managed. The trick is to find ways to minimize symptoms, avoid progression, manage one’s illness, and enhance quality of life. In addition to faithfully wearing their compression garments, many patients wonder if there are other steps they can take to alleviate the swelling and discomfort associated with their condition.
Top Foods that Fight Inflammation
So, what, exactly does an anti-inflammatory diet look like? For that, we need only look to the Mediterranean diet. Studied for decades, this dietary pattern features plenty of whole foods, including vegetables, herbs, fruit, nuts, legumes, and whole grains. It also features fish. And very little red meat. The primary oil in the Mediterranean diet is olive oil, and some experts believe this may be one of the crucial keys to the healthful effects of the diet.
Factors that Can Make Lymphedema Worse
People living with a diagnosis of lymphedema know they must remain vigilant and take steps to control the symptoms-and progression-of their condition. Most patients will have received instructions about how to don and doff appropriate medical-grade compression wear. They may also have received instructions regarding the role of healthful diet, adequate exercise, and other lifestyle factors in managing this disease.