Edema

Edema is swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in the body’s tissues. While edema can affect any part of the body, it is most often seen in the hands, arms, feet, ankles, and legs.

Edema can occur as a result of medication use, due to pregnancy or a pre-existing condition, often congestive heart failure, kidney disease, or liver cirrhosis. It is often relieved by taking medication to remove excess fluid and by reducing the amount of salt in your meals. When edema is a sign ofan underlying disease, the disease itself requires different treatment.

The most common symptoms are:

• Illustration of edema in the foot and ankle.
• Edema in the foot and ankle.
• Swelling or inflammation of tissue directly under the skin, especially in the legs or arms.
• Stretched or shiny skin.
• Skin that retains a dimple (pitting) after being pressed for several seconds.
• Increased abdominal size.
  
  

If you’ve been sitting for a long time, such as on a long flight, and you have leg swelling and pain that doesn’t go away, call your doctor. Persistent pain and swelling in your leg may be a sign of a blood clot deep in your veins (deep vein thrombosis).

Swelling occurs when fluid leaks out of small blood vessels in the body (capillaries) and collects in the surrounding tissues, causing swelling.

Mild cases of edema may be due to the following:

• Sitting or staying in one position for a long time
• Eating too much salty food.
• Having premenstrual signs and symptoms.
• Being pregnant.
• Side effect of some medications.
• The orientation and diagnosis of circulatory pathologies that produce edema in the lower extremities can be an epidemic, lymphedema or phlebolynthema.