Causes of Leg Edema

Edema is a health condition that is characterized by accumulation and retention of excess water in certain parts of the body. Other than the blood vessels, water can be found in cells and the interstitial spaces between the tissues of the body. Excess of salt in the body also augments the water retention, thereby causing swelling in the affected area. The parts of the body that may get affected due to water retention are the feet, ankles, legs, hands, and arms.

This condition is also known to occur in the other organs of the body such as abdomen, or the peritoneal cavity of the chest. Pulmonary edema is a condition in which the fluid gets accumulated in the lungs. Swelling of the legs due to water retention is medically called Peripheral edema. The common symptoms of this condition include swelling of skin, stiff joints, high blood pressure, weight loss or gain, and shiny skin in the affected part.

The following is a list of the various reasons and situations that can be the possible causes:

• Heart diseases affect the pumping capacity of the heart, which in turn disrupts the pressure and the flow of blood. This may lead to seepage of the watery plasma from the blood vessels to the interstitial spaces between the tissues of the leg, where it may get accumulated and cause swelling.

• Hypoalbuminemia, which is characterized by a low level of the protein albumin in the blood, could be a contributing factor. Albumin and other proteins in the blood help to retain fluid in the blood vessels. The liver disease (cirrhosis) affects the production of albumin, thereby causing loss of fluids from the blood, resulting in swelling in the legs.

• When we exercise, the blood flows to active parts of the body to feed the muscles. The muscular contraction & relaxation facilitates the flow of blood. If these muscles are left inactive for a long time, the excess blood is supplied to that particular part of the body. This blood gets accumulated, leading to seepage of plasma, which causes the legs to swell.

• Standing or sitting for long period at a stretch, affects the movement of blood within the leg, and is one of the most common causes of swelling.
• Sometimes, the lymph that flows through the lymphatic system is obstructed and gets accumulated. This condition is termed as lymphedema and is one of the causes.

• Allergic reactions to chemicals in food or insect stings may lead to swollen legs. In such situations, the body tries to fight the changes by producing histamine, and by mobilizing the cells of the immune system. The aggregation of these cells along with the blood, eventually leads to swelling in the affected area.

• Prolonged use of certain kind of chemicals such as steroids, painkillers, drugs used for hypertension and hormone replacement can cause edema.
• Diseases that drastically affect the functioning of the kidney can lead to fluid retention in the legs.
• The problem may also be brought on by internal bleeding, which results in the accumulation of fluid in the legs.

• Ankle edema is a condition which causes the swelling in the ankles, toes, and feet. It is common in pregnant women.
• Enlargement of the varicose veins in the legs may lead to swelling in the lower portion of the leg.

• A blood clot in the arteries or veins of the leg, or deep vein thrombosis can obstruct the flow of the blood in the legs, leading to the accumulation of the fluid in them.
• The other conditions that might lead to fluid retention in legs include cellulitis, hereditary angioedema, and Baker's cyst.

A patient affected by this condition should take the situation seriously and seek medical advice, as it might point to underlying diseases of the heart, liver, and kidney. The use of natural diuretics can be considered in order to get some measure of control over it, and prevent severe swelling in the leg.

Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.