Edema is the swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in the body’s tissue. It usually occurs in the feet, ankles, and legs, but it can happen in other parts of the body, too.

Edema often occurs as the result of congestive heart failure (CHF), but it can also be the result of pregnancy or another underlying condition, such as kidney disease, cirrhosis of the liver, or venous insufficiency in the legs.

Signs and symptoms that you have edema include:

• Swelling or puffiness of the tissue directly under the skin, especially in the legs or arms
• Arms or legs that feel full or heavy
• Shiny or stretched skin
• Skin that retains pits, or a dimple, after being pressed for several seconds
• Not fitting into clothing or jewelry
• A tightening or warming of the skin near the swelling
• Difficulty moving joints
• An increased abdominal size

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What’s the Connection With Congestive Heart Failure?

When someone experiences heart failure, one or both of the heart’s lower chambers lose the ability to pump blood effectively. The blood can then back up in the legs, ankles, and feet, which leads to swelling, or edema. If the person spends a lot of time on their back, the swelling can end up in the back.

Besides congestive heart failure, edema can be the result of a number of other underlying health conditions.

Chronic Venous Insufficiency This improper functioning of the vein valves in the leg can lead to leg swelling. In people with this condition, the veins are having trouble transporting enough blood all the way to the feet and then back to the heart, so it gathers in the legs. Increased pressure causes the fluid to be pushed out of the blood vessels and into the surrounding tissue, leading to edema.

Kidney Disease Edema can occur because the disease leads to extra fluid and sodium in the circulatory system, which then builds up pressure in the blood vessels and leads to swelling. Kidney disease can cause edema in multiple areas.

Kidney Damage Nephrotic syndrome — which occurs when the small filtering blood vessels in the kidneys don’t work properly and allow too much protein to be lost in the urine — causes a declining level of protein in the blood, which can lead to fluid accumulation and edema.

Liver Cirrhosis A scarring of the liver tissue, liver cirrhosis can lead to abdominal edema. This happens because cirrhosis causes a lack of proteins in the liver, which can lead to increased pressure in the blood vessels and fluid seeping into the abdomen.

Severe Lung Conditions Conditions such as emphysema can lead to edema if pressure in the lungs and heart gets too high.

If left untreated, edema can cause a number of complications:

• Increasingly painful swelling
• Stiffness
• Difficulty walking
• Stretched, itchy skin
• Skin ulcers, with an increased risk of infection in the affected area
• Scarring
• Decreased blood circulation

Mild cases of edema will usually go away on their own, particularly if you make certain lifestyle adjustments.

More severe cases of edema may be treated with diuretics, which are medications that help your body expel excess fluid in urine.

If edema is caused by an underlying health condition like heart failure, long-term management should focus on treating the underlying condition.

There are lifestyle modifications that can help lessen edema:

Elevating the Affected Limb Holding the swollen arm or leg above heart level several times a day can help reduce swelling. In some instances, elevating the affected limb while sleeping may also be beneficial.

Exercise Moving the muscles in the part of the body affected by edema, particularly the legs, can help pump excess fluid back to the heart. Talk to your healthcare provider about exercises that are right for you.

Massage Firm but not painful strokes around the affected area toward the heart may help stimulate excess fluid to move out of the area.

Reducing Salt Intake Too much salt can increase fluid retention and worsen swelling. Talk to your doctor about the best ways to limit sodium intake in your diet.

• Edema occurs when fluids build up in the body’s tissue, which leads to swelling and puffiness in the arms and legs, shiny or stretched skin, and a tightening or warming of the skin around the swollen area.
• Causes vary greatly and can include underlying conditions such as chronic venous insufficiency (veins have a hard time delivering blood to the heart), congestive heart failure, kidney disease, liver disease, or lung conditions like emphysema.
• Mild edema will usually go away without treatment — however, it may require reducing the amount of salt in your diet, doing specific exercises, elevating the affected limb, and/or using compression garments.
• If you have persistent edema from an underlying condition, visit your doctor to discuss lifestyle changes and medication options.