The lymphatic system returns excess interstitial fluid to the blood, absorbs fats and fat-soluble vitamins, and provides defense against disease. Lymph is the fluid in the lymphatic vessels. It is picked up from the interstitial fluid and returned to the blood plasma. Lymphatic vessels carry fluid away from the tissues. The right lymphatic duct drains lymph from the upper right quadrant of the body and the thoracic duct drains all the rest.

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Did you know?

The thymus gland is large in infants, but after infancy, it grows and reaches its maximum size during puberty. After puberty, the thymus gland shrinks and becomes largely replaced with fat.

Your lymphatic system, part of your immune system, has many functions. They include protecting your body from illness-causing invaders, maintaining body fluid levels, absorbing digestive tract fats and removing cellular waste

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dysfunctions can occur several ways.

By immune deficiencies, hypersensitivity, or autoimmune diseases

You may have a weakened immune system if you have

Swelling in lymph nodes. A feeling of heaviness or tightness. Restricted range of motion. Aching or discomfort. Recurring infections. Hardening and thickening of the skin (fibrosis) .Discoloration of skin or rashes. Unexplained weight loss.

Lymphedema

Lymphedema refers to swelling that generally occurs in one of your arms or legs.

Lymphedema is most commonly caused by the removal of or damage to your lymph nodes as a part of cancer treatment or injury. Which results in a blockage . The blockage prevents lymph fluid from draining well, and the fluid buildup leads to swelling.

Edema

Edema is swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in your body's tissues. Although edema can affect any part of your body, you may notice it more in your hands, arms, feet, ankles and legs.

Edema can be the result of medication, pregnancy or an underlying disease — often congestive heart failure, kidney disease or cirrhosis of the liver.

Massage

To move waste fluids away from the damaged area, lymphatic massage, which uses a gentle pressure, can help. Only massage therapists with specialized training in manual lymphatic drainage techniques should work on lymphedema and edema.

For generalized & localized swelling, heat therapies are contradicted because it can increase swelling

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Lymphangitis

Lymphangitis can spread very quickly. In less than a day, it can become a medical emergency. Lymphangitis is an infection of the lymph vessels . It is a complication of a bacterial infections, often from an acute streptococcal . Red streaks could mean the infection has entered the blood stream. DO NOT MASSAGE!

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

HIV causes AIDS and interferes with the body's ability to fight infections.

The virus can be transmitted through contact with infected blood, semen, or vaginal fluids.

Within a few weeks of HIV infection, flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat, and fatigue can occur. Then the disease is usually asymptomatic until it progresses to AIDS. AIDS symptoms include weight loss, fever or night sweats, fatigue, and recurrent infections.

No cure exists for AIDS, but strict adherence to anti-retroviral therapy can dramatically slow the disease's progress, prevent secondary infections and complications, and prolong life.

No known reported cases have surfaced of a massage therapist contracting HIV from a client while performing massage, and only one instance of a patient being infected by an HIV-positive health care worker has been reported. This case involved transmission from an infected dentist to six of his patients

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Hodgkin lymphoma

Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of lymphoma in which cancer originates from white blood cells specifically B lymphocytes. Hodgkin lymphoma is considered one of the most treatable cancers, with more than 90 percent of patients surviving more than five years

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

is a Cancer that starts in the lymphatic system like in Hodgkin's lymphoma. The difference is Non Hodgkin's is more common and has the Reed-Sternberg cells absent ( giant cells present in the lymph fluid)

Some factors that may increase NHL risk include:

older age, since most people are aged 60 or older when diagnosed. The use of immunosuppressant drugs. an infection, particularly with HIV or Epstein-Barr virus, and exposure to certain chemicals, such as weed and insect killers.

Did You Know?

One of many Roundup lawsuits occurred in May 2019, when a California jury awarded a $2 billion Roundup verdict to a husband and wife who both developed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that they claim was caused by their use of Roundup. The amount awarded in that Roundup trial was later reduced to $86.7 million.

Allergies are altered immunologic responses to an otherwise harmless substance. Reactions can be immediate or delayed.

Nut allergy is one of the eight most common allergies, affecting roughly 1% of the U.S. population. Always ask clients if they have a nut allergy before using massage oils made from tree nuts such as almonds or coconuts.

Lupus

When people use the term “lupus,” they usually refer to systemic lupus erythematosus, or “SLE.” It is an inflammatory disease caused when the immune system attacks its own tissues.

Lupus can affect the joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart, and lungs.

Symptoms vary but can include fatigue, joint pain, rash, and fever. These can periodically get worse and then improve. There's no cure for lupus, 

Kahler's disease aka Multiple myeloma

In multiple myeloma, cancerous plasma cells accumulate in the bone marrow and crowd out healthy blood cells. Rather than produce helpful antibodies, the cancer cells produce abnormal proteins that can cause complications.