Swelling / Edema

Edema refers to swelling of any part of the body. The condition occurs due to excess fluid trapped in your body tissues. Any part of your body can be affected by edema. However, the condition is more noticeable in the hands, legs, feet, arms, and ankles.

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Furthermore, edema can occur after taking medications that react with the body. It can also be caused by pregnancy or other diseases such as kidney disease, liver disease, congestive heart failure, and so forth.

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To get rid of the excess fluid, patients can take medication or reduce the amount of salt used for cooking. However, if your edema is caused by other underlying diseases, you may need to visit a qualified doctor to receive separate treatment for the disease.

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Causes of Edema

Swelling usually occurs as a result of an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the body. Common causes of swelling include:

• Salt retention

• Side effects of medication such as steroid drugs, high blood pressure medications, estrogens, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

• Congestive heart failure

• Cellulitis

• Inflammation of the veins

• Pregnancy

• Severe protein deficiency

• Inadequate lymphatic system

• Other diseases such as hypertension, kidney disease, liver disease, kidney damage,

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Symptoms of Edema

Related signs of edema include:

• Swelling of the body tissue directly under your skin. It is predominant in the arms or legs

• Increased abdominal size

• Shiny or stretched skin

• Skin retains dimple after pressing for several seconds

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Diagnosis

To understand the cause of the condition, the doctor will carry out a physical exam on the body part. In some cases, there may be a need for a comprehensive exam such as x-ray or ultrasound. With this, the appropriate treatment procedure can be recommended.