Conditions and symptoms
What Is Edema? Swelling and Fluid Retention Explained
Edema · say it: eh-DEE-muhAlso written: oedema, swelling, fluid retention, dropsy
Short answer
Edema is swelling caused by extra fluid trapped in the body's tissues, often in the feet, ankles and legs.
What it means
Edema means swelling caused by fluid building up in the tissues. It is most often seen in the feet, ankles and lower legs, but it can affect the hands, face, belly or lungs. Pressing on swollen skin may leave a dent for a few seconds. It can come from standing a long time, heat, some medicines, or conditions of the heart, kidneys, liver or veins.
Medicine labels list edema as a side effect for some medicines, such as some blood pressure medicines (calcium channel blockers), some diabetes medicines and corticosteroids. Labels for other medicines warn about fluid retention in people with heart failure. The warning is telling you to report new or worsening swelling, especially with sudden weight gain or breathlessness.
Edema is different from angioedema, which is deeper swelling, often of the face, lips or throat, that can be part of an allergic reaction.
Where you may see it
- Side effect lists in medicine leaflets ('swelling of ankles')
- Examination findings in clinic notes, e.g. 'pitting edema'
- Discharge summaries and heart failure letters
📄 How it looks on a report
Bilateral pitting edema to mid-shin.
🙅 What it does not mean
- It does not always mean a heart or kidney problem. Mild ankle swelling has many everyday causes.
- It is not the same as weight gain from fat.
- It is not the same as angioedema, which affects the face or throat and can be urgent.
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Edema”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Acetaminophen
A pain reliever and fever reducer
- Albuterol
A bronchodilator (a medicine that opens the airways) of the beta-2 adrenergic type. The FDA class is not listed, so this description comes from the label's own wording.
- Alendronate
a bisphosphonate, a medicine that slows the breakdown of bone by blocking cells called osteoclasts
- Allopurinol
a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, a prescription medicine that acts on uric acid
- Alprazolam
a benzodiazepine, a type of central nervous system medicine
- Amitriptyline
An antidepressant of the tricyclic type
- Amlodipine
a calcium channel blocker, a type of medicine that relaxes blood vessels
- Ampicillin Sodium
a penicillin-type antibacterial medicine
- Apixaban
A factor Xa inhibitor, a blood thinner medicine (anticoagulant)
- Artemether and Lumefantrine
an antimalarial medicine, which is a fixed combination of two blood-stage antimalarial ingredients (artemether, an artemisinin derivative, and lumefantrine)
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Edema” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
- NCI Dictionary definition ↗
US National Cancer Institute: “edema”
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