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What Is Edema?
Medically Reviewed by Dany P. Baby, MD on April 19, 2022 Written by Matthew Hoffman, MD

5 min read

"Edema" is the medical term for swelling. Body parts swell from injury or inflammation. It
can affect a small area or the entire body. Medications, pregnancy, infections, and many
other medical problems can cause edema.

Edema happens when your small blood vessels leak fluid into nearby tissues. That extra fluid
builds up, which makes the tissue swell. It can happen almost anywhere in the body.

Types of Edema
Peripheral edema. This usually affects the legs, feet, and ankles, but it can also happen in
the arms. It could be a sign of problems with your circulatory system, lymph nodes, or
kidneys.

Pedal edema. This happens when fluid gathers in your feet and lower legs. It’s more
common if you’re older or pregnant. It can make it harder to move around in part because
you may not have as much feeling in your feet.

Lymphedema. This swelling in the arms and legs is most often caused by damage to your
lymph nodes, tissues that help filter germs and waste from your body. The damage may be
the result of cancer treatments like surgery and radiation. The cancer itself can also block
lymph nodes and lead to fluid buildup.

Pulmonary edema. When fluid collects in the air sacs in your lungs, you have pulmonary
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edema. That makes it hard for you to breathe, and it’s worse when you lie down. You may
have a fast heartbeat, feel suffocated, and cough up a foamy spittle, sometimes with blood. If
it happens suddenly, call 911.
Cerebral edema. This is a very serious condition in which fluid builds up in the brain. It can
happen if you hit your head hard, if a blood vessel gets blocked or bursts, or you have a
tumor or allergic reaction.

Macular edema. This happens when fluid builds up in a part of your eye called the macula,
which is in the center of the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. It happens
when damaged blood vessels in the retina leak fluid into the area.

Causes of Edema
Things like a twisted ankle, a bee sting, or a skin infection will cause edema. In some cases,
like an infection, this may be helpful. More fluid from your blood vessels puts more infection-
fighting white blood cells in the swollen area.

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Natural Remedies for Edema

Edema can also come from other conditions or from when the balance of substances in your
blood is off. For example:

Low albumin. Your doctor may call this hypoalbuminemia. Albumin and other proteins in the
blood act like sponges to keep fluid in your blood vessels. Low albumin may contribute to
edema, but it’s not usually the only cause.

Allergic reactions. Edema is a part of most allergic reactions. In response to the allergen,
nearby blood vessels leak fluid into the affected area.

Obstruction of flow. If drainage of fluid from a part of your body is blocked, fluid can back
up. A blood clot in the deep veins of your leg can cause leg edema. A tumor blocking the flow
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blood or another
to main contentfluid called lymph can cause edema.

Critical illness. Burns, life-threatening infections, or other critical illnesses can cause a
reaction that allows fluid to leak into tissues almost everywhere. This can cause edema all
over your body.
Congestive heart failure. When the heart weakens and pumps blood less effectively, fluid
can slowly build up, creating leg edema. If fluid builds up quickly, you can get fluid in the
lungs. If your heart failure is on the right side of your heart, edema can develop in the
abdomen.

Liver disease. Severe liver disease, such as cirrhosis, causes you to retain fluid. Cirrhosis also
leads to low levels of albumin and other proteins in your blood. Fluid leaks into the abdomen
and can also cause leg edema.

Kidney disease. A kidney condition called nephrotic syndrome can cause severe leg edema
and sometimes whole-body edema.

Pregnancy. Mild leg edema is common during pregnancy. But serious complications of
pregnancy like deep vein thrombosis and preeclampsia can also cause edema.

Head trauma, low blood sodium (called hyponatremia), high altitudes, brain tumors, and a
block in fluid drainage in the brain (known as hydrocephalus) can cause cerebral edema. So
can headaches, confusion, unconsciousness, and coma.

Medications. Many medicines can cause edema, including:

NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen and naproxen)

Calcium channel blockers

Corticosteroids (like prednisone and methylprednisolone)

Pioglitazone and rosiglitazone

Pramipexole

When they cause swelling, usually it's mild leg edema.

Symptoms of Edema
Your symptoms will depend on the amount of swelling you have and where you have it.
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Edema in a small area from an infection or inflammation (like a mosquito bite) may cause no
symptoms. On the other hand, a large allergic reaction (such as from a bee sting) may cause
edema on your entire arm that can bring pain and limit your arm's movement.

Food allergies and allergic reactions to medicine may cause tongue or throat edema. This can
be life-threatening if it interferes with your breathing.

Leg edema can make the legs feel heavy. This can affect walking. In edema and heart disease,
for example, the legs may easily weigh an extra 5 or 10 pounds each. Severe leg edema can
interfere with blood flow, leading to ulcers on the skin.

Pulmonary edema causes shortness of breath and sometimes low oxygen levels in the blood.
Some people with pulmonary edema may have a cough.

There may be an indent or a “pit” that remains for a while after you push on the skin in some
types of edema. This is called pitting edema. If the tissue springs back to its normal shape, it’s
called non-pitting edema. It’s a symptom that may help your doctor figure out the cause of
your edema.

Treatment of Edema
To treat edema, you often must treat its underlying cause. For example, you might take
allergy medications to treat swelling from allergies.

Edema from a block in fluid drainage can sometimes be treated by getting the drainage
flowing again. A blood clot in the leg is treated with blood thinners. They break down the clot
and get drainage back to normal. A tumor that blocks blood or lymph can sometimes be
shrunk or removed with surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation.

Leg edema related to congestive heart failure or liver disease can be treated with a diuretic
(sometimes called a ''water pill'') like furosemide (Lasix). When you can pee more, fluid from
the legs can flow back into the blood. Limiting how much sodium you eat can also help.

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Best and Worst Foods for Heart Failure
Medically Reviewed by James Beckerman, MD, FACC on November 17, 2022 Written by
Stephanie Watson

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Best: Colorful Fruits and Veggies

Fresh produce is the backbone of a heart-healthy diet. Fruits and vegetables are high in
nutrients and low in calories and salt. The more colorful your plate, the better. Berries are
packed with fiber and plant nutrients. Green veggies like kale, broccoli, and spinach are good
sources of vitamins C, E, and folate. With orange fruits and veggies like carrots, sweet
potatoes, and cantaloupe, you’ll get your fill of beta-carotene and fiber.

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Best: Whole Grains

These are heart-friendly for several reasons. They're full of fiber, which lowers levels of artery-
clogging cholesterol. Fiber also digests slowly, so it keeps you full for longer and could help
curb your appetite. Whole grains are a good source of B vitamins that help your heart deliver
oxygen to your body. Oatmeal, whole wheat, popcorn, and brown rice are all whole grains. If
you're not sure, look for the words "whole grain" first on the ingredient list.

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Best: Beans
They really are good for your heart. Whether you prefer the kidney, lima, or pinto variety, they
make a hearty and filling addition to meals. These colorful legumes will give you your daily
protein without the calories and fat of meat. As part of a heart-healthy diet, they can help
improve your cholesterol levels. If you buy canned beans for convenience, choose salt-free or
rinse them first to cut the extra sodium.

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Best: Omega-3-Rich Fish

This is another good alternative to meat. Omega-3 fatty acids are unsaturated fats that bring
down artery-damaging inflammation. Two servings of fish a week might also slightly lower
blood pressure and reduce the risk of death from heart disease and cardiac arrest. Choose
fish that are high in omega-3s but low in mercury, such as salmon, sardines, pollock, and
albacore tuna.

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Best: Healthy Oils

Just as important as the foods you cook is what you cook them in. Use vegetable oils instead
of solid fats like butter, margarine, shortening, or lard. Canola, olive, safflower, corn, and
soybean oils have healthy monounsaturated fatty acids. Choose the one that tastes best to
you. Use these oils to sauté, bake, or stir fry, but never to deep fry, which adds calories and
fat.

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Best: Nuts
They’re a filling snack and a good source of healthy fat, protein, and nutrients. Add them to
your diet to help lower LDL or "bad" cholesterol. Nuts also reduce inflammation in your body.
If you eat them a few times a week, they might lower your risk of a heart attack or of dying
from heart disease. Just watch your portion sizes. Nuts are high in calories, so a few handfuls
can add up fast.

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Best: Herb Blends

Excess salt raises blood pressure, which makes your heart work harder. But cutting salt
doesn't mean you have to sacrifice flavor. Replace salt in your cooking with herbs and spices
such as curry, garlic, ginger, lemon, pepper, parsley, oregano, and thyme. Use fresh herbs
when possible. You can also buy pre-mixed spices at the supermarket, but watch the sodium.
Many seasoning blends contain added salt.

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Worst: Cheese, Butter, and Cream

Dairy products such as milk and yogurt are a good addition to your diet. They supply protein,
plus bone-building calcium and vitamin D. But the type of dairy you choose matters. Whole
milk, ice cream, butter, and cream are high in saturated fat, which raises levels of harmful LDL
cholesterol. Stick to low-fat dairy. Buy plain yogurt without added sugar. And limit yourself to
a small piece of cheese daily.

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Worst: Salty Condiments and Sauces

Store-bought condiments and sauces often contain lots of salt. Some of the worst offenders
are soy sauce, salad dressing, and hot sauce. Check the salt content on the label before you
buy. Look for low-sodium alternatives. Better yet, make your own salad toppings and sauces
with salt-free flavorings such as lemon, olive oil, and vinegar. Use orange or pineapple juice
as a marinade for poultry and fish.

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Worst: Processed and Smoked Meats

Bacon, sausage, and hot dogs, with their high fat and cholesterol content, don't do your heart
any favors. These processed meats are smoked, salted, or infused with chemicals to preserve
them. Both processed and fatty red meats like burgers are harmful to your heart. Fish, lean
poultry, beans, and tofu are healthier sources of protein, and they also fit on a bun (whole
grain, of course!).

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 11/14

Worst: Sweets
Sugary foods and drinks like cookies, cakes, candy, and soda contribute to obesity, which is
harmful to your health. Sugar raises blood sugar and increases inflammation. That may be
why people who overdo it on sweets face a greater risk of dying from heart disease. How
much sugar is OK? The American Heart Association recommends that women get no more
than 6 teaspoons and men no more than 9 teaspoons of added sugar a day.

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Worst: Fried Foods

As soon as you dip foods like potatoes or chicken into batter and fry them in oil, you add fat
and cholesterol. Eating fried foods on a regular basis leads to weight gain, which can raise
your blood pressure. Research finds that fried foods increase the risk for heart disease and
heart failure. Bake, broil, roast, or stir-fry vegetables and lean proteins like chicken and fish
for a heart-healthy but still tasty meal.

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Worst: Alcohol
Alcohol contains empty calories that put on weight without adding any nutrition. Plus,
alcohol doesn't mix well with some blood pressure drugs and other heart medicines.

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Worst: Excess Fluids
Heart failure prevents your heart from pumping blood as well as it should. As a result, fluid
builds up in your body. If you drink too much water and other fluids, you may gain weight
and have symptoms like swelling and shortness of breath. Ask your doctor how much liquid
you should drink each day. Watch for foods that have a lot of liquid, such as soup, fruit, and
ice pops. And keep track of how much you drink each day.

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