Edema is the medical term for swelling caused by fluid trapped in the body’s tissue. This swelling is often a symptom, not a condition, caused by diverse medical problems.
Common causes of edema include:
Sitting or standing too long
Venous insufficiency (weakness or damage to the veins in the leg)
Congestive heart failure
Kidney disease & damage
Thyroid diseases
Liver damage (cirrhosis)
Medication such as blood pressure medication, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAIDs), steroids, diabetes medication
Allergic reactions
High salt diet
Pregnancy
Edema frequently affects the hands, arms, legs, feet, and ankles.
Common symptoms of edema include:
Swelling in the affected area
The skin over the affected area looks stretched out or shiny
The skin holds a dimple after pressure is applied to it for several seconds
Difficulty breathing (if the edema is in lung tissue)
Difficulty with movement
Swelling in the abdomen
While symptoms associated with edema can be fairly mild, the swelling itself is usually a symptom of a more serious underlying health condition. If you are experiencing unexplainable swelling, or skin that looks stretched out and dimples after contact, talk to your doctor promptly. If left untreated, the underlying cause of edema can significantly damage your health, while also leading to more swelling and mobility loss.
Treatment Options
Treatment for edema depends on the underlying cause of the symptom. During your appointment, talk to your health care provider about your medical history, any conditions you are dealing with, and the best treatment plan for you.
If your edema is being caused by an underlying medical condition, your doctor will look to treat that problem to reduce swelling and fluid build-up. If your doctor suspects that your edema is being caused by a medication you are currently taking, they may adjust your prescription to see if that reduces symptoms.
In moderate-to-severe cases of edema, your doctor may prescribe a diuretic such as furosemide (Lasix) to help eliminate excess fluid in the body through urine.
There are several self-care strategies you can use at home to reduce
swelling and relieve the symptoms of edema. These include:
- Elevate your legs while sitting or lying down for long periods. For example, put a pillow underneath your legs as you sleep to help drain fluid from the area.
- Move around regularly to keep fluid from building up in your lower body. This keeps blood circulating and pumps the excess fluid back towards the heart, reducing swelling.
- Apply compression to the area. Compression sleeves, socks, and gloves can help prevent fluid from building up in the limbs.
- Massage the swelling. Gentle pressure applied to the affected area can help reduce excess fluid build-up.
Edema may be reduced with some changes to your lifestyle and habits. Some changes that can prevent and reduce edema include:
- Limit your salt intake. Eating a highly salty diet can result in swelling and increased blood pressure. Lower your salt intake to reduce swelling.
- Quit smoking. Quitting smoking will positively impact nearly all aspects of your health, and can reduce the swelling caused by edema.
- Limit alcohol and caffeine intake. These substances can dehydrate you and worsen conditions that cause edema.