Swelling (Edema)
Visible fluid swelling — usually in legs and ankles, sometimes face or abdomen. Reflects heart, kidney, liver disease or hypothyroidism; the lab work-up rules them apart.
What it means
Edema is excess fluid in interstitial tissue. The body normally balances fluid in and out of capillaries through pressure gradients and protein levels; edema appears when capillary pressure rises (heart failure, venous obstruction) or protein levels fall (nephrotic syndrome, liver failure, malnutrition) or membranes become more permeable (inflammation, allergy). Location matters — bilateral leg swelling is usually systemic; unilateral often points to a vein, lymph or local cause. Sudden facial swelling is allergy or angioedema; periorbital swelling on waking suggests kidney or thyroid disease.
Common causes
- Heart failure — bilateral leg swelling, worse at end of day, with breathlessness on exertion.
- Chronic venous insufficiency — bilateral leg swelling, varicose veins.
- Kidney disease (nephrotic syndrome) — periorbital and leg swelling, urine froths with protein.
- Liver disease — abdominal ascites, leg swelling.
- Hypothyroidism — non-pitting facial and periorbital swelling.
- Medications — calcium channel blockers, NSAIDs, steroids.
- Deep vein thrombosis — unilateral leg swelling, often with pain.
Lab work-up approach
Mediora interprets albumin (synthesis + protein losses), creatinine + eGFR (kidney function), TSH (hypothyroidism), liver panel, and urinary protein assessment. Echocardiogram and venous Doppler are the clinician's tools.
Tests Mediora.AI can interpret
Related conditions
When to see a doctor
Unilateral leg swelling with pain — emergency evaluation for DVT. Sudden facial swelling, lip/tongue swelling or breathing difficulty — emergency. Persistent bilateral swelling warrants primary-care work-up; rapid weight gain with swelling is a heart-failure warning sign.