Final answer:
Swelling in a patient's arm due to excess fluid accumulation is known as edema. It's most often a symptom of an underlying medical condition and requires an accurate diagnosis for proper treatment.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the arm of a patient is swollen with excess fluids, the condition is called edema. Edema occurs when there is an accumulation of excess water in the tissues, commonly in the soft tissues of the extremities, like the arms. Various underlying medical conditions can lead to edema such as hypertension, heart failure, severe protein deficiency, renal failure, amongst others. It is also associated with the use of certain therapeutic drugs, pregnancy, localized injury, and allergic reactions. The symptoms include swelling, increase in the limb size, and stretched, tight skin. If pressing a finger into the swollen area causes a depression that persists for several seconds, it is referred to as "pitting" edema. To treat edema effectively, the underlying cause must be diagnosed and addressed to restore normal fluid balance in the body.