What Does A Swelling In The Legs Indicate?

Oedema, (also known as edema) is caused by water retention in tissues. When extra fluid is retained in the spaces between cells in body tissues, the tissues swell up and become oedematous.

- Amritha Sridaran

It can happen anywhere in the body, however, in this case, where fluid is retained in the tissues of the leg, the oedema is termed pedal oedema (swelling of the foot/feet) or peripheral oedema, as limbs are considered peripheral as opposed to the central part of the body which is the trunk.

There can be multiple factors that contribute to swelling of the lower extremities. Some are physiological causes and some are pathological. Physiological changes are changes in the body that are normal, and acceptable. Example: Pregnancy and old age. Pathological changes are those that are caused by an injury or illness.

As swelling is a result of water retention, it can be caused by a problem in the systems that are involved in handling and filtering fluid such as the venous circulation system, the lymphatic system, or the kidneys. Long-term kidney disease and acute kidney disease can cause oedema, as the kidneys lose their efficiency to filter blood as they are supposed to.