Edema

Edema (oedema) is swelling caused by extra fluid trapped in the body's tissues. It most often shows up in the feet, ankles, and legs, but can affect the hands, face, or any part of the body. Edema is usually a symptom, not a disease — it can be mild and harmless, or it can signal a serious problem like heart, kidney, or liver disease.

Common causes

• Long standing or sitting — mild swelling of feet by evening
• Heat — common in India's hot months
• Pregnancy — especially in the third trimester
• Menstrual cycle — fluid retention around periods
• High salt intake
• Some medicines — calcium-channel blockers, certain painkillers (NSAIDs), steroids, some diabetes medicines, hormonal contraceptives
• Injury or infection — swelling at one spot
• Venous insufficiency — veins can't return blood efficiently
• Heart failure — fluid backs up in legs, and sometimes lungs
• Kidney disease — especially around the eyes in the morning, and in legs later
• Liver disease — fluid in the abdomen (ascites), later legs
• Lymphoedema — blocked lymph drainage; often one-sided, common after breast cancer surgery
• Allergic reaction — sudden swelling of face, tongue, throat can be life-threatening

When to see a doctor urgently

• Sudden swelling of face, lips, tongue — with breathing difficulty (dial 112)
• Breathlessness, chest pain, or fast heartbeat along with leg swelling
• One-sided leg swelling, especially with pain, warmth, or redness (could be a blood clot)
• Swelling with significantly reduced urine
• Swelling with fever
• Skin over the swelling is ulcerating or very tight
• Rapid weight gain from fluid

Diagnosis

A doctor's examination + basic tests — urine, blood (kidney and liver function), sometimes ECG, echocardiogram, ultrasound of legs for clots or ascites, chest X-ray. The cause determines the treatment, so diagnosis matters.

What you can do

• Elevate the swollen limb when sitting or lying
• Compression stockings for chronic leg swelling (if advised)
• Reduce salt
• Regular gentle exercise — walking, swimming — helps circulation
• Watch your weight
• Take medicines as prescribed — stop diuretics only on medical advice
• Address the underlying cause