Edema stands for swelling that happens when fluid gets stuck in the tissues of your body. Most of the time, edema occurs in your feet, ankles, and legs, but it can also happen in your face, hands, and stomach.
The buildup of fluid in the ankles, feet, and legs is called pedal edema.
Several factors can lead to edema. But, most often, edema is caused by the following conditions.
Prolonged standing or sitting
Water will naturally pull down into your arms, legs, and feet if you stand or sit still for a long time.
Eating an excessive amount of salt
Eating an excessive amount of salty food can give you swelling in your legs.
Obesity
People who are overweight often have edema.
Pregnancy
During pregnancy, it’s normal to have some swelling, especially in your legs, ankles, feet, and fingers.
Medications
Side effects from medication are another common cause of swelling of the feet.
Taking some medicines, like those for high blood pressure, birth control pills, hormone therapy, antidepressants, or steroids, can make you more likely to have edema.
Other things that can cause edema are:
Heart failure
In case of heart failure, one or both of the lower chambers of your heart can’t pump blood as well as they should. Then, blood can pool in your legs, ankles, and feet, leading to edema.
Kidney diseases
Reduced renal function can lead to salt retention, causing feet and ankles to swell.
Nephrotic syndrome is characterized by excessive protein loss in the urine. This results in swelling around the eyes, feet, and hands.
Liver diseases
The feet and ankles can swell when the liver doesn’t work right because of liver disease.
Malnutrition
Malnutrition can result in low blood protein levels, leading to edema.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a condition that occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone. Swelling and thickening of the skin in your lower legs can be a symptom of hypothyroidism.
Physical injury
A physical injury, like a strain or sprain, can cause swelling of the feet on the affected side. Similarly, A bite or sting from an insect can cause the affected foot to swell up.
DVT or Deep vein thrombosis
Deep blood clots in the leg can obstruct one or more of the prominent veins in the legs. Then you might notice swelling in one of your legs, pain, a slight temperature increase, and perhaps a change in the leg’s color.
Cellulitis
Cellulitis is a frequent, sometimes life-threatening bacterial skin illness. Cellulitis typically affects the lower legs but can also affect the face, arms, and other locations. The affected skin is often swollen, inflamed, painful, and warm to the touch.