Final answer:
The initial phase for edema is inflammation. To manage it, focus on eliminating the cause and implementing strategies to promote fluid movement and reduce water retention.
Step-by-step explanation:
The initial phase for edema is inflammation. Inflammation is the classic response of the body to injury and follows a common sequence of events.
The area becomes red, feels warm to the touch, swells, and is painful. Injured cells, mast cells, and resident macrophages release chemical signals that cause vasodilation and fluid leakage in the surrounding tissue.
To manage edema, the focus is on eliminating the cause.
This can include appropriate exercises to keep the blood and lymph flowing through the affected areas, elevation of the affected part to assist drainage, massage and compression of the areas to move the fluid out of the tissues, and decreased salt intake to reduce sodium and water retention.