Edema: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment of Fluid Retention

Edema is the medical term for abnormal fluid accumulation in body tissues. Fluid may collect in interstitial spaces, organs, or body cavities.

Common Causes

• Heart failure
• Kidney disease
• Liver failure (cirrhosis)
• Certain medications (e.g., calcium channel blockers, NSAIDs)
• Venous insufficiency, lymphatic obstruction, pregnancy

Symptoms

• Swelling (often in legs, ankles, feet, or face)
• Skin tightness or shine
• Pain or stiffness in affected area
• Pitting edema (indentation remains after pressure)

Treatment

Management targets the underlying cause: diuretics, compression stockings, elevation, dietary sodium restriction, and treating the primary disease (heart, kidney, liver).