WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF EDEMA?

Until the extra fluid in the body increases by more than approximately 15%, edema may only show it self through weight gain. After a 15% increase in extra fluid, swelling indicates the presence of edema. Edema is usually present in the lower part of the body, such as the legs, ankles, and lower back because the force of gravity pulls the liquid downward. Sometimes, if you press your finger against a part of the body affected by edema, it will make an indentation in the skin that will flatten out as the fluid returns back to that area. When this happens, it is known as pitting edema.

In cases of severe edema, the fluid will build up in large spaces in the body. For example, in a condition known as pleural effusion, fluid fills up in a space that contains the lungs. The lungs are two organs in the body that help people breathe. Fluid buildup in the space that contains the lungs makes it difficult to breathe because the lungs get pushed in by the fluid. Difficulty breathing can also be caused by pulmonary edema, in which too much water enters the lung tissue and the air sacs in the lung. In a condition known as ascites, fluid builds up in the space between layers that line the abdomen.  Build up of fluid in this area will cause the abdomen to appear swollen.