What Is Edema?

Edema is the swelling of body tissues. It can occur anywhere around the body and is caused by fluid buildup. Fluid buildup can result from heart failure, kidney disease, and cirrhosis.

Treatment for edema includes medication, reducing intake of salt, wearing compression stockings, and keeping legs raised. Common drug classes used to treat edema include corticosteroids, loop diuretics, thiazide diuretics, potassium-sparing/thiazide diuretic combinations, thiazide-like diuretics, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, and potassium-sparing diuretics.