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Denise Drisdelle

open suitcase with clothes inside and passport beside it

How to Plan for Air Travel with Lymphedema

Planning a trip is exciting to think about. However, air travel may affect your lymphedema or trigger the onset. Not everyone is affected by air travel and there is research* to show this. In clinical practice we have seen enough patients who are affected so it’s worth noting and taking simple precautions.  When we fly our tissues are affected by the cabin pressure. Our tissue pressure is normally a negative… Read More »How to Plan for Air Travel with Lymphedema

woman lying on chair for radiation therapy

How Lymph Drainage Can Help Cancer Patients During Radiation Therapy

A common form of cancer treatment is radiation therapy which kills cancer cells with external beams of intense energy. The beams come from a machine and aims at a precise point on your body. Radiation therapy destroys the genetic material in the cancer cells preventing them from growing and multiplying. Normal cells may be affected as well. Radiation therapy may be used : as the only treatment for cancer (primary)… Read More »How Lymph Drainage Can Help Cancer Patients During Radiation Therapy

kinesiology tape on upper back for lymphatic drainage

How Kinesiology Tape Encourages Lymphatic Drainage

A growing technique in treating swelling symptoms of lymphedema is the use of kinesiology tape on patients. Kinesiology tape is a fabric tape with elastic embedded within, allowing it to be stretched when applied to the skin. It is used to treat various conditions and injuries. In addition, it can be used in pain management. Once applied, it allows full mobility whereas other rigid tapes do not. Kinesiotaping works by… Read More »How Kinesiology Tape Encourages Lymphatic Drainage

two hands holding alcohol drinks

How Alcohol Affects Your Lymphedema

Drinking alcohol may be part of a social experience, on special occasions or celebrations with friends, as part of your meal or it may even help you relax after a tough day, but even a few drinks can affect your lymphedema.  What alcohol does to your body Alcohol is a diuretic, so when you’re drinking, you’re losing more liquid than you consume. Your kidneys also excrete more fluid as a… Read More »How Alcohol Affects Your Lymphedema

gardening

Gardening Tips to Prevent Lymphedema

If you have lymphedema or are at risk for lymphedema, here are some tips for you to help avoid triggering lymphedema flare-ups or skin infections while you garden. When gardening, it’s best to prevent the following: Bug bites Insects may have venom that will close down the local lymphatic routes so not to spread the venom. This may result in a swelling that might affect the entire limb. Other insect… Read More »Gardening Tips to Prevent Lymphedema

jumping on a trampoline

Rebounding

Rebounding is a type of low-impact aerobic exercise that is performed while bouncing or jumping on a mini trampoline. Rebounding is a low-stress movement that is gentle on the joints. The intensity of the exercise can vary but for lymphatic health we recommend a low to moderate heart rate. Why rebounding? Floors and hard surfaces like sidewalks or pavement are not very giving. Frequent walking or running on hard surfaces… Read More »Rebounding

cording lymph node

Cording

Cording is the hardening of lymphatic vessels or veins. It begins with an inflammatory process that can arise from a bacterial infection, surgery, excessive or prolonged exertion or repetitive strain during exercise. The vessels alone can be the source of inflammation. After the inflammation subsides the vessels can harden, shorten or adhere to surrounding tissues. Cording can be connected to scar tissue. This hardened fibrotic vessel can be located anywhere… Read More »Cording

lymphedema and nutrition

Managing Your Nutrition to Improve Lymphedema

Listen to your belly. Is your body communicating with you? Are you constipated, bloated, have diarrhea, cramps or food sensitivities? This is our body telling us that something is wrong. You could be hindering your lymphatic system from doing its job properly. Managing these four areas of your diet and nutrition will help improve your lymphedema. Recognizing inflammation One important job of the lymphatic system is to remove products of… Read More »Managing Your Nutrition to Improve Lymphedema

manual lymph drainage

History and Techniques of Manual Lymph Drainage

A brief history  Dr. Emil Vodder and his wife Estrid, a naturopath, developed manual lymph drainage (MLD) in France in the 1930s. They treated patients at a physical therapy institute. For years Dr. Vodder had an interest in the lymphatic system and studied this living environment which he felt was the most important organ system in the body. While treating patients with conditions such as acne, migraines and sinusitis, he… Read More »History and Techniques of Manual Lymph Drainage

Walking as an exercise to reduce lymphedema. Compression socks.

Exercising Tips for Lymphedema

The key to exercise for lymphedema is lots of movement while keeping a low to moderate heart rate. Movement through alternating muscle contractions and relaxation allows lymph flow to its maximum.  The pumping action of our muscles causes lymph to pump through its vessels. This is one reason why exercise is good for us. But which kind of exercises are best for the lymphatic system?  Walking A great exercise for… Read More »Exercising Tips for Lymphedema