Final answer:
Edema is the accumulation of excess water in the tissues, while hypervolemia refers to excessive fluid volume in the body. Both conditions require addressing the underlying cause for proper treatment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Edema is the accumulation of excess water in the tissues, commonly seen as swelling in the extremities. It can be caused by various factors such as an underlying medical condition, certain therapeutic drugs, pregnancy, localized injury, or an allergic reaction. To determine if there is edema in a limb, you can press a finger into the suspected area and if the depression persists for several seconds after the finger is removed, it is likely to be edema.
Hypervolemia, on the other hand, refers to an excessive fluid volume in the body due to water and sodium retention. It can be seen in patients with heart failure, liver cirrhosis, certain kidney diseases, hyperaldosteronism, and glucocorticoid steroid treatments. Restoring homeostasis in patients with hypervolemia depends on addressing the condition that triggered it.
Edema and hypervolemia should be taken seriously and should be treated by identifying and addressing the underlying cause.