Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat It IsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisHow Do You Get Rid of Edema?Complications
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What It Is
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
How Do You Get Rid of Edema?
Complications
Edema describes swelling associated with injury, inflammation, or fluid overload. It happens when fluid from the small blood vessels leaks into tissues.
Edema can affect a small or large area or even the entire body. It is most likely to appear in the legs and feet. Some causes of edema include pregnancy and certain medications.
This article discusses edema, what causes it, and how it’s treated.
Verywell / JR Bee
What Is Edema?
Symptoms of Edema
There are various different types of edema, and each has different health risks that go along with it. The symptoms of each type of edema are dependent upon the type, location, and cause.
Peripheral Edema
Peripheral edemais common, especially in older people.It affects the feet,ankles, legs, arms, wrists, and hands. Symptoms usually include increased swelling, puffiness, pain in muscle tissues and joints, and difficulty moving. Skin symptoms include pain, swelling, tightness, and a shiny, stretchy appearance.
Additional symptoms of peripheral edema include:
Macular Edema
Macular edemainvolves swelling in the macula, the part of the eye responsible for detailed and centralized vision. This type of edema will change central vision and how colors are perceived. Macular edema is often acomplication of diabetic retinopathy, an eye disease that affects people withdiabetes. It is a leading cause of visual impairment in this group.
Early on, macular edema does not cause symptoms. When symptoms are present, it is an indication of blood vessel leakage. Symptoms include:
Left untreated, macular edema will eventually cause vision loss.
Pulmonary Edema
Symptoms of pulmonary edema include:
Cerebral Edema
Cerebral edema happens in the brain for any number of reasons, many of which are life-threatening. Symptoms of edema in the brain include:
Symptoms of severe cerebral edema may include:
Be sure to make an appointment to see a healthcare provider for swelling, stretching, or pitting of skin.
Seek out immediate medical attention for shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chest pain, confusion, mental health changes and changes in consciousness.
What Are the Main Causes of Edema?
There are many causes of edema. Causes are dependent on the type of edema.
Peripheral edema can result from sitting or standing in one place for too long. Fluid will get pulled into the legs and feet and cause swelling. In addition, other causes include medications (such as blood pressure drugs and pain medicines), too much salt in a person’s diet, and low protein levels in the blood (often due to malnutrition).
Other causes of peripheral edema include:
Many different conditions and risk factors can cause macular edema, including age-related eye conditions, such asmacular degenerationandcataracts. These conditions can cause macular swelling that leads to blood vessels leaking fluid in the retina. Certain medications can also cause macular edema.
Hydroxychloroquine (an antimalarial drug) and Tamoxifen (a breast cancer treatment) are medications that may affect the retina, but there are many others. It is a good idea to ask your healthcare provider if any medications you are taking may affect your eye health, especially if you have other risk factors.
Other causes of macular edema include:
Respiratory problems, blood clots, inhaling toxins, and lung injuries can also lead to pulmonary edema.
Several factors can lead to brain swelling, with the most common being traumatic brain injuries, strokes, infections—both viral and bacterial and brain tumors.
Other causes include:
How Edema Is Diagnosed
Diagnosing peripheral edema involves a simple physical exam. In peripheral edema, the skin of the swollen area is often stretched and shiny. Gently pushing on the swollen area for about 15 seconds will leave a dimple.
Other types of edema require a medical history, symptom history, and additional testing (such as blood work and imaging) in order for a healthcare provider to determine if someone has edema, the type of edema, and treatment options.
The only way to treat edema is to treat the cause of it.
Healthcare providers may prescribediuretic medications(water pills) to help push salt and extra fluid out of the body with urine output in peripheral edema.
To help reduce swelling at home if you have edema in the lower part of your body, try elevating legs with sitting or lying down.
Wearing supportive stockings can put pressure on legs to reduce fluid collection in the legs and ankles. Avoid standing or sitting for long periods. Lastly, reduce the amount of salt in your diet.
Treatment for macular edema depends on the severity of the condition and the health of the patient. Treatment may include ocular steroid and non-steroid anti-inflammatory eye drops, ocular steroid injections, anti-inflammatory medications to be taken orally, and/or surgery to remove excess fluid from the eye.
Most people will experience significant vision improvements with treatment.
Pulmonary edema can be a life-threatening condition. Therefore, it requires prompt treatment. Oxygen therapy is usually the first treatment healthcare providers will use to manage symptoms, which may include a breathing tube or oxygen delivered through an oxygen mask.
Depending on the cause of pulmonary edema, additional treatments may be prescribed including medications to decrease fluid in the heart and lungs, to reduce blood pressure and control pulse, to take pressure off the heart, and/or to relieve anxiety and shortness of breath.
Treatment for brain swelling should be immediate as this is a life-threatening condition.
It is important to reduce swelling and restore blood flow and oxygen to the brain as soon as possible.
Treatment options include medications to reduce swelling and blood clots. Further treatment may include:
Complications of Edema
Untreated edema can lead to complications. For peripheral edema, this includes stiffness and problems with walking, stretched and itchy skin, scarring between layers of tissue, andskin ulcers.
Among the complications of pulmonary edema is respiratory failure. Heart attack or stroke is a risk of both pulmonary and cerebral edema.
Cerebral edema could also lead to neurological issues, and vision loss could result from macular edema. Additionally, aside from the complications unique to certain types of edema, there are overlapping conditions that could occur as a result of every type of edema.
Potential Complications of EdemaLoss of elasticity in the joints, veins, and arteriesPainful swellingInfectionPoor blood circulationIn severe cases, death related to untreated complications
Potential Complications of Edema
Loss of elasticity in the joints, veins, and arteriesPainful swellingInfectionPoor blood circulationIn severe cases, death related to untreated complications
The best way to prevent complications is to treat underlying conditions appropriately to keep them from getting worse.
Summary
Treatment can help to relieve swelling and prevent complications. It is a good idea to see a healthcare provider if you are unaware of the cause of edema or if there are symptoms more than just minor swelling and fluid buildup, especially if breathing or consciousness is affected or an injury has occurred.
Symptoms and Causes of Pulmonary Edema
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Besharat S, Grol-Prokopczyk H, Gao S, Feng C, Akwaa F, Gewandter JS.Peripheral edema: A common and persistent health problem for older Americans.PLoS One. 2021;16(12):e0260742. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0260742Kim EJ, Lin WV, Rodriguez SM, Chen A, Loya A, Weng CY.Treatment of diabetic macular edema.Curr Diab Rep. 2019;19(9):68. doi:10.1007/s11892-019-1188-4Herrero R, Sanchez G, Lorente JA.New insights into the mechanisms of pulmonary edema in acute lung injury.Ann Transl Med. 2018;6(2):32. doi:10.21037/atm.2017.12.18Hariz Bin Ramli AR, Lees T.Varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency. In:Postgraduate Vascular Surgery: A Candidate’s Guide to the FRCS and Board Exams.2018:371-398)Halstead MR, Geocadin RG.The medical management of cerebral edema: Past, present, and future therapies.Neurotherapeutics. 2019;16(4):1133-1148. doi:10.1007/s13311-019-00779-4Additional ReadingAdukauskiene D, Bivainyte A, Radaviciūte E.[Cerebral edema and its treatment].Medicina (Kaunas). 2007;43(2):170-6.Cleveland Clinic.Edema.Ely, JW, Osheroff JA, Chamblis ML, et al.Approach to Leg Edema of Unclear Etiology.J Am Board Fam MedMarch 2006, 19 (2) 148-160; doi:10.3122/jabfm.19.2.148Familydoctor.org.Edema.Mayo Clinic.Pulmonary edema.MedlinePlus.Edema.MedlinePlus.Pulmonary edema.National Eye Institute.Macular Edema.Porter D. American Academy of Ophthalmology.What Is Macular Edema?
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Besharat S, Grol-Prokopczyk H, Gao S, Feng C, Akwaa F, Gewandter JS.Peripheral edema: A common and persistent health problem for older Americans.PLoS One. 2021;16(12):e0260742. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0260742Kim EJ, Lin WV, Rodriguez SM, Chen A, Loya A, Weng CY.Treatment of diabetic macular edema.Curr Diab Rep. 2019;19(9):68. doi:10.1007/s11892-019-1188-4Herrero R, Sanchez G, Lorente JA.New insights into the mechanisms of pulmonary edema in acute lung injury.Ann Transl Med. 2018;6(2):32. doi:10.21037/atm.2017.12.18Hariz Bin Ramli AR, Lees T.Varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency. In:Postgraduate Vascular Surgery: A Candidate’s Guide to the FRCS and Board Exams.2018:371-398)Halstead MR, Geocadin RG.The medical management of cerebral edema: Past, present, and future therapies.Neurotherapeutics. 2019;16(4):1133-1148. doi:10.1007/s13311-019-00779-4Additional ReadingAdukauskiene D, Bivainyte A, Radaviciūte E.[Cerebral edema and its treatment].Medicina (Kaunas). 2007;43(2):170-6.Cleveland Clinic.Edema.Ely, JW, Osheroff JA, Chamblis ML, et al.Approach to Leg Edema of Unclear Etiology.J Am Board Fam MedMarch 2006, 19 (2) 148-160; doi:10.3122/jabfm.19.2.148Familydoctor.org.Edema.Mayo Clinic.Pulmonary edema.MedlinePlus.Edema.MedlinePlus.Pulmonary edema.National Eye Institute.Macular Edema.Porter D. American Academy of Ophthalmology.What Is Macular Edema?
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Besharat S, Grol-Prokopczyk H, Gao S, Feng C, Akwaa F, Gewandter JS.Peripheral edema: A common and persistent health problem for older Americans.PLoS One. 2021;16(12):e0260742. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0260742Kim EJ, Lin WV, Rodriguez SM, Chen A, Loya A, Weng CY.Treatment of diabetic macular edema.Curr Diab Rep. 2019;19(9):68. doi:10.1007/s11892-019-1188-4Herrero R, Sanchez G, Lorente JA.New insights into the mechanisms of pulmonary edema in acute lung injury.Ann Transl Med. 2018;6(2):32. doi:10.21037/atm.2017.12.18Hariz Bin Ramli AR, Lees T.Varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency. In:Postgraduate Vascular Surgery: A Candidate’s Guide to the FRCS and Board Exams.2018:371-398)Halstead MR, Geocadin RG.The medical management of cerebral edema: Past, present, and future therapies.Neurotherapeutics. 2019;16(4):1133-1148. doi:10.1007/s13311-019-00779-4
Besharat S, Grol-Prokopczyk H, Gao S, Feng C, Akwaa F, Gewandter JS.Peripheral edema: A common and persistent health problem for older Americans.PLoS One. 2021;16(12):e0260742. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0260742
Kim EJ, Lin WV, Rodriguez SM, Chen A, Loya A, Weng CY.Treatment of diabetic macular edema.Curr Diab Rep. 2019;19(9):68. doi:10.1007/s11892-019-1188-4
Herrero R, Sanchez G, Lorente JA.New insights into the mechanisms of pulmonary edema in acute lung injury.Ann Transl Med. 2018;6(2):32. doi:10.21037/atm.2017.12.18
Hariz Bin Ramli AR, Lees T.Varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency. In:Postgraduate Vascular Surgery: A Candidate’s Guide to the FRCS and Board Exams.2018:371-398)
Halstead MR, Geocadin RG.The medical management of cerebral edema: Past, present, and future therapies.Neurotherapeutics. 2019;16(4):1133-1148. doi:10.1007/s13311-019-00779-4
Adukauskiene D, Bivainyte A, Radaviciūte E.[Cerebral edema and its treatment].Medicina (Kaunas). 2007;43(2):170-6.Cleveland Clinic.Edema.Ely, JW, Osheroff JA, Chamblis ML, et al.Approach to Leg Edema of Unclear Etiology.J Am Board Fam MedMarch 2006, 19 (2) 148-160; doi:10.3122/jabfm.19.2.148Familydoctor.org.Edema.Mayo Clinic.Pulmonary edema.MedlinePlus.Edema.MedlinePlus.Pulmonary edema.National Eye Institute.Macular Edema.Porter D. American Academy of Ophthalmology.What Is Macular Edema?
Adukauskiene D, Bivainyte A, Radaviciūte E.[Cerebral edema and its treatment].Medicina (Kaunas). 2007;43(2):170-6.
Cleveland Clinic.Edema.
Ely, JW, Osheroff JA, Chamblis ML, et al.Approach to Leg Edema of Unclear Etiology.J Am Board Fam MedMarch 2006, 19 (2) 148-160; doi:10.3122/jabfm.19.2.148
Familydoctor.org.Edema.
Mayo Clinic.Pulmonary edema.
MedlinePlus.Edema.
MedlinePlus.Pulmonary edema.
National Eye Institute.Macular Edema.
Porter D. American Academy of Ophthalmology.What Is Macular Edema?
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