Edema is a medical term for swelling in the body caused by fluid retention. The retention of fluid may be under the skin, and it is usually found in the dependent areas like legs (ankle or peripheral edema). Treatment for edema depends on its types and causes. There are different causes of edema, and each cause is the symptom for another condition:
1. Critical illness
Illness and life-threatening infections may lead to accumulation of fluids in the tissues of the body. These illnesses include liver issues like liver cirrhosis, blood clots, heart failure, kidney disease, thyroid disorders, and severe allergic reactions.
2. Congestive heart failure
When the heart pumps blood less effectively, fluid gets accumulated, and if the fluid gets accumulated quickly, it gets into the lungs, leading to pulmonary edema. Nephrotic syndrome, which is when the kidney is not able to remove enough sodium and water, leads to a buildup of pressure in the body and accumulation of fluid, leading to edema.
3. Medications
Medications prescribed for certain conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, pain, and inflammation may lead to the condition. Some of the medicines that cause edema include NSAIDs (painkiller like ibuprofen and naproxen), calcium channel blockers, corticosteroids (like prednisone and methylprednisolone), pramipexole, pioglitazone, and rosiglitazone.
4. Low protein levels in the blood (low albumin)
This condition is called hypoalbuminemia. By acting like sponges, albumin and other proteins in the blood keep fluid in the blood vessels. If there is low albumin, fluid easily leaks out of the blood vessels.
5. Liver disease
Severe liver diseases like liver cirrhosis cause the body to retain fluid, especially in the third stage which can result in edema, especially in the abdomen. This may be a result of the liver’s inability to make enough of certain blood proteins, such as albumin.
6. Obstruction of flow/venous insufficiency
Sometimes, edema is caused due to varicose veins or a damaged vein in the legs. A blood clot in the veins can cause trouble in supplying enough blood from the heart to the feet, this can result in fluid buildup.
7. Lung problems
A pulmonary edema is caused by too much fluid in the lungs. The fluid can collect in the many air sacs of the lungs, which can make it difficult to breathe. Lung conditions like emphysema can also lead to edema if there is high pressure in the lungs and heart.
8. Head trauma
A condition called hyponatremia or low blood sodium, hydrocephalus or a buildup of fluid in the brain, and brain tumors may cause cerebral edema. Any trauma to the brain can cause a brain edema which is often, unfortunately, fatal.
9. Pregnancy
It is common that mild edema is caused during the time of pregnancy. Apart from that, serious complications of pregnancy like vein thrombosis and preeclampsia also cause the condition and can lead to complications.
10. Symptoms of edema
The symptoms depend on the mentioned causes. Swelling, tightness of the skin, and pain are common symptoms, along with swollen and stretched skin, puffiness of the ankles, face, or eyes, body ache and stiff joints, weight gain or loss, higher pulse rate and blood pressure, headache, confusion and lethargy, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, changes in bowel habits as well as visual abnormalities.
