What should i do for swollen lymph nodes?

Monitoring Centers: Lymphatic system absorbs/carries things too big to go into the arteries/veins like bacteria eaten by white cells/digested food. Lymph nodes "taste" the lymph everywhere for bad stuff like bacteria/viruses/cancers, etc. When it detects a problem, it alerts the immune system and your body reacts. They enlarge in response to the inflammation they create when they react. They shrink when all is well.

Many causes: Almost everyone has at least one palpable lymph node in the neck, more if you're had a cold or sore throat recently. I own a 1/2" scarred node that i let people feel for reassurance. If a node feels rubbery or is fixed to the surrounding structures or last more than a week, it's time to investigate. Nodes around the body warn of infectious mono / acute HIV or a few other infections. Good luck.

Monitoring Centers: Lymphatic system absorbs/carries things too big to go into the arteries/veins like bacteria eaten by white cells and digested food. Lymph nodes "taste" the lymph for anything bad like bacteria, viruses, cancers, etc. When it detects a problem, it alerts the immune system and your body reacts. They enlarge in response to the inflammation they create when they react. They shrink when all is well.

See your doctor: Often this is a sign of infection, either viral or bacterial. There are other more serious causes. Your doctor can evaluate you an put your mind at ease.

Monitoring Centers: Lymphatic system absorbs/carries things too big to go into the arteries/veins like bacteria eaten by white cells and digested food. Lymph nodes "taste" the lymph for anything bad like bacteria/viruses/cancers, etc. When it detects a problem, it alerts the immune system and your body reacts. They enlarge in response to the inflammation they create when they react. They shrink when all is well.

Enlarged glands: Lymph nodes are there to help fight off certain disorders. For example, when someone has an infection, it is not uncommon to have enlarged nodes. They can also be enlarged with cancer as a way to drain the site of disease. If a cancer spreads, for example breast cancer, the first place it typically goes is the nodes. They are there to try and protect us. Hope this helps.

Monitoring Centers: Lymphatic system absorbs/carries things too big to go into the arteries/veins like bacteria eaten by white cells/digested food. Lymph nodes "taste" the lymph everywhere for bad stuff like bacteria/viruses/cancers, etc. When it detects a problem, it alerts the immune system and your body reacts. They enlarge in response to the inflammation they create when they react. They shrink when all is well.

Find out why: Swollen lymph nodes can be caused by everything from allergies to cancer. So if you have swollen lymph nodes you should want to find out why. If you have a lymph node that is very tender to touch or swollen for more than 6 months this is highly suspicious for cancer and you need to see your doctor for a biopsy.

Watch for changes: If the nodes are swollen for a long period of time or change in number without diminishing in number, they should be checked for pathology. They maybe enlarged from inflammation, infection or presence of tumor. Increase in number or size may require biopsy.