Why edema occurs

You may hear conflicting reports from different sources. The U. Visit The Symptom Checker. Read More. Food Poisoning. Acute Bronchitis. Eustachian Tube Dysfunction. Bursitis of the Hip. Abnormal Uterine Bleeding. High Blood Pressure. Home Diseases and Conditions Edema. Table of Contents.

What is edema? Edema symptoms. What causes edema? How is edema diagnosed? Can edema be prevented or avoided? Edema treatment. Living with edema. The following are some things you can do at home to keep the swelling down: Elevate your legs when you are sitting or lying down. If you have edema of the legs, wear support stockings.

You can buy these at most drugstores. Support stockings put pressure on your legs to keep fluid from collecting in your legs and ankles. Do not sit or stand for long periods of time without moving around.

When a person is resting in a reclined position during pregnancy, the enlarged uterus can press on a vein known as the inferior vena cava. This can obstruct the femoral veins, leading to edema. During pregnancy, the blood clots more easily. This can increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis DVT , which is another potential cause of edema. Eclampsia, which results from pregnancy-induced hypertension , or high blood pressure , can also cause edema.

A number of dietary factors can also affect the risk of edema, such as:. Some complications of diabetes include:. These complications, and certain medications for diabetes , can result in edema. Some foods and insect bites may cause edema of the face or skin in people who have allergies or sensitivities to them.

Severe swelling can be a symptom of anaphylaxis. This is a medical emergency. Edema occurs when fluid builds up in the body. This causes swelling, which can sometimes be painful.

There are several potential causes of edema, including pregnancy, heart failure, liver disease, and certain medications. The treatment a person receives will depend on the cause. Pulmonary edema occurs when fluid collects in air sacs of the lungs, making it difficult to breathe.

It can develop suddenly or gradually, and it is…. Edema refers to swelling caused by excess fluid. When swollen skin remains indented after being pressed, this is called pitting edema. It is most…. A look at anasarca, a condition that causes a general swelling of the body.

Included is detail on how it is diagnosed and the outlook for the…. Hypervolemia is a condition in which there is too much fluid in the blood. It is also known as fluid overload. Learn more about the causes. Deep vein thrombosis is the formation of blood clots in a deep vein that can be fatal. Read about the causes, symptoms, and treatments here. Everything you need to know about edema. What is edema? Also, surgery can sometimes obstruct a lymph node, leading to swelling in an arm or leg, usually on just one side.

Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Edema is swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in your body's tissues. Edema in foot and ankle Open pop-up dialog box Close. Edema in foot and ankle Swelling of the foot, ankle and leg can be severe enough to leave an indentation pit when you press on the area.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Longo DL, et al. In: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. New York, N. Accessed Aug.