Q: Is it true that stress aggravates lymphedema?
A: Stress is the plague of
our modern, fast-track world. The state of being "stressed out" is an all too
common complaint of adults and, more recently, children and teens.
Too much to do in not enough time, the
increasing demands of 10-
and 12-hour workdays while still trying to maintain a balanced life, handling
the
discomfort of being a child that does not "fit in" - these are
just a few of the many causes of stress.
A number of studies have been done
highlighting the negative effects of stress on the major organ systems -
blood pressure, heart rate, blood vessel dilation/constriction,
increased sympathetic nervous system
stimulation triggering the
"fight or flight" response, changes in respiration, muscle tone, etc. All of
the above
directly or indirectly influence the function of the
lymphatic system.
Stress and le
Q: Is it true that those of us with
lymphedema who need teeth cleaning are at a higher risk of developing an
infection in our limb(s)? Should we take antibiotics beforehand?
A:
This question has yet to be answered by any clinical studies, however, it is
common knowledge that the
mouth is an ideal environment for
bacteria. Even during such routine work as teeth cleaning, the gums often
do bleed and bacteria can then enter the blood stream and,
subsequently, the lymphatics. This can adversely
affect a weakened
lymphatic system which may be more prone to developing an infection. For those
with
sensitive gums, a very soft toothbrush is advised and if your
gums bleed after brushing, it may be helpful to
use an
anti-bacterial mouth rinse on a regular basis. Consult with your
dentist.
Dental and LE
These are all old exerpts from the
National Lymphedema Network questions and answers and the
ELymphNotes.com question and answers websites, many of the original
pages do not exist anymore, we
have chose to keep these routinely
asked questions up to help people, we are not medical professionals and
are only sharing this information, it is not meant to replace the
medical advice of your doctor. Page was put
up 1/07, by the
Lymphland Editorial Team.
A: Stress is the plague of
our modern, fast-track world. The state of being "stressed out" is an all too
common complaint of adults and, more recently, children and teens.
Too much to do in not enough time, the
increasing demands of 10-
and 12-hour workdays while still trying to maintain a balanced life, handling
the
discomfort of being a child that does not "fit in" - these are
just a few of the many causes of stress.
A number of studies have been done
highlighting the negative effects of stress on the major organ systems -
blood pressure, heart rate, blood vessel dilation/constriction,
increased sympathetic nervous system
stimulation triggering the
"fight or flight" response, changes in respiration, muscle tone, etc. All of
the above
directly or indirectly influence the function of the
lymphatic system.
Stress and le
Q: Is it true that those of us with
lymphedema who need teeth cleaning are at a higher risk of developing an
infection in our limb(s)? Should we take antibiotics beforehand?
A:
This question has yet to be answered by any clinical studies, however, it is
common knowledge that the
mouth is an ideal environment for
bacteria. Even during such routine work as teeth cleaning, the gums often
do bleed and bacteria can then enter the blood stream and,
subsequently, the lymphatics. This can adversely
affect a weakened
lymphatic system which may be more prone to developing an infection. For those
with
sensitive gums, a very soft toothbrush is advised and if your
gums bleed after brushing, it may be helpful to
use an
anti-bacterial mouth rinse on a regular basis. Consult with your
dentist.
Dental and LE
These are all old exerpts from the
National Lymphedema Network questions and answers and the
ELymphNotes.com question and answers websites, many of the original
pages do not exist anymore, we
have chose to keep these routinely
asked questions up to help people, we are not medical professionals and
are only sharing this information, it is not meant to replace the
medical advice of your doctor. Page was put
up 1/07, by the
Lymphland Editorial Team.