Edema is swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in the body's tissues. Although edema can affect any part of the body, it is most commonly noticed in the hands, arms, feet ankles and legs.
Edema can arise due to medication, pregnancy or an underlying disease - often heart failure, kidney disease or cirrhosis of the liver.
Taking medication to remove excess fluid and reducing the amount of salt in the food often relieves edema. When edema is suspected to be because of an underlying disease, the disease itself requires to be treated separately.