Idiopathic Edema Quiz
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Swelling
Edema
Fluid retention
Swelling in the body
The whole body is swollen
Fingers and toes are swollen
Swelling skin
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
What is Idiopathic Edema?
Idiopathic edema is a fluid retention syndrome characterized by swelling of the face, hands, trunk, and limbs in premenopausal women who do not have heart, liver, or kidney disease.
Typical Symptoms of Idiopathic Edema
- Swelling in any body part
- Swelling leaves a dent when pressed for at least 15 seconds
- Strict dietary restrictions
- Swollen legs / fluid retention in the legs
- Unintentional weight gain of more than 4.4lbs/2kg in a month
- History of anxiety disorder or panic attacks
- Unbalanced diet
- Swelling of the arms or hands
Diagnostic Questions for Idiopathic Edema
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Is there swelling in any body part?
- Does the swelling leave a dent when pressed for at least 15 seconds?
- Are you on a strict diet?
- Are your legs swollen?
- Have you gained more than 4.4lbs/2kg in one month without trying?
Treatment of Idiopathic Edema
Treatment of idiopathic edema includes avoiding excessive salt intake, not standing or sitting for long periods of time, and medication to reduce fluid retention.
Reviewed By:
Unnati Patel, MD, MSc (Family Medicine)
Dr.Patel serves as Center Medical Director and a Primary Care Physician at Oak Street Health in Arizona. She graduated from the Zhejiang University School of Medicine prior to working in clinical research focused on preventive medicine at the University of Illinois and the University of Nevada. Dr. Patel earned her MSc in Global Health from Georgetown University, during which she worked with the WHO in Sierra Leone and Save the Children in Washington, D.C. She went on to complete her Family Medicine residency in Chicago at Norwegian American Hospital before completing a fellowship in Leadership in Value-based Care in conjunction with the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, where she earned her MBA. Dr. Patel’s interests include health tech and teaching medical students and she currently serves as Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Arizona School of Medicine.
Yoshinori Abe, MD (Internal Medicine)
Dr. Abe graduated from The University of Tokyo School of Medicine in 2015. He completed his residency at the Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Longevity Medical Center. He co-founded Ubie, Inc. in May 2017, where he currently serves as CEO & product owner at Ubie. Since December 2019, he has been a member of the Special Committee for Activation of Research in Emergency AI of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine. | | Dr. Abe has been elected in the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Healthcare & Science category.
Content updated on Mar 31, 2024
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- Swollen feet
- Swelling face
- Left leg swelling
- Unexplained weight gain
- Puffy eyes
- Swelling in the arm
- Face is swollen
- Swollen tongue
- Fluid retention in the hands that leaves a dent when pressed
- Experienced sudden weight gain without a clear reason
- Swelling in the legs
- Swelling in the hands
- Unintentional weight gain of more than 4.4lbs/2kg
- Significant weight gain over the last month
- I gained more than 5% of my weight in one month
See full list
Symptoms Related to Idiopathic Edema
Diseases Related to Idiopathic Edema
FAQs
Q.
Still Swollen? Why Torsemide Isn’t Working & Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
If torsemide is not reducing your swelling, common reasons include too low a dose or timing, diuretic resistance, high sodium intake, kidney function changes, medication interactions such as NSAIDs, or a non fluid cause like venous insufficiency or lymphedema. Evidence based next steps include adjusting the dose or timing, combining with a second diuretic or using IV diuretics, tightening sodium restriction, using compression and leg elevation, and rechecking heart, kidney, liver, thyroid and all meds. There are several factors to consider and red flags like rapid weight gain or shortness of breath need urgent care, so see the complete answer below to choose the safest next step with your doctor.
References:
* Jentzer JC, DeWald TA, Hernandez AF. Mechanisms and Management of Diuretic Resistance in Heart Failure. Curr Heart Fail Rep. 2020 Jun;17(3):141-150. doi: 10.1007/s11897-020-00465-1. PMID: 32361736.
* Shah S, Kim H, Bhardwaj A, Ziaeian B. Sequential nephron blockade in the treatment of diuretic resistance: a review of the evidence. Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther. 2021 Aug;19(8):721-729. doi: 10.1080/14779072.2021.1947231. Epub 2021 Jun 28. PMID: 34180479.
* Ellison DH, Felker GM. Management of Diuretic Resistance in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure: A Narrative Review. Cardiovasc Ther. 2021 Nov 8;2021:6654929. doi: 10.1155/2021/6654929. PMID: 34747656; PMCID: PMC8593414.
* Krummel T, Topaloglu O, Kavalci M, Dogan Z. Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Loop Diuretics. Semin Nephrol. 2017 Nov;37(6):531-537. doi: 10.1016/j.semnephrol.2017.07.007. Epub 2017 Nov 6. PMID: 29113697.
* Verbrugge FH, Mullens W. Diuretic Resistance: A Clinical Problem in Patients with Congestive Heart Failure. J Card Fail. 2015 Jan;21(1):58-71. doi: 10.1016/j.cardfail.2014.11.006. Epub 2014 Nov 22. PMID: 25482613.
Q.
Is Your Face Always Puffy? Why Your Skin Swells & Medical Gua Sha Steps
A.
Facial puffiness often comes from fluid retention, hormonal changes, inflammation, or slowed lymph flow, but persistent or unexplained swelling can signal thyroid, kidney, or heart problems that need medical evaluation. A gentle medical gua sha routine can support lymph drainage when you open collarbone drainage first, sweep from the center of the face outward with light pressure, and finish with downward neck strokes, though it is supportive only and not a cure. There are several factors to consider; see the medical gua sha steps, red flags, and lifestyle changes below to guide your next healthcare decisions.
References:
* Wenzel, U., & Juenemann, K. (2018). Differential diagnosis of facial swelling. *MMW Fortschritte der Medizin*, *160*(Suppl 4), 16-20. PMID: 29809088.
* Chen, W., Li, Y., Wu, H., Wei, J., He, J., & Li, C. (2023). Skin barrier dysfunction and inflammatory skin diseases. *Current Medical Science*, *43*(1), 1-8. PMID: 36735500.
* Liu, M., Zhang, Y., Wu, H., Lu, Y., He, C., Gao, Q., ... & Luo, R. (2021). The effect of Gua sha on microcirculation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. *Journal of Pain Research*, *14*, 987-997. PMID: 33816223.
* Nielsen, A. (2012). Gua sha: a descriptive review of an ancient technique. *Journal of Chinese Medicine*, (99), 5-16. PMID: 22253402.
* Cho, H. J., & Song, J. S. (2021). Pathophysiology of Edema. *The Korean Journal of Medicine*, *96*(3), 200-204. PMID: 34182449.
Q.
Swollen and worried? Why your body has edema and medical next steps
A.
Edema, or swelling from fluid buildup, has many causes, from common triggers like prolonged sitting, high salt, hormones, and medications to more serious problems with veins, the heart, kidneys, liver, or a possible blood clot. Key next steps include elevating the area, moving regularly, cutting salt, considering compression, and seeking medical care if swelling persists, is one sided or painful, or comes with shortness of breath, chest pain, or rapid weight gain. There are several factors to consider, and important details that could change your next steps are summarized below.
References:
* Wirtz, S., & Bütikofer, P. (2021). The Many Faces of Edema: A Review of Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Management. *Journal of Clinical Medicine*, *10*(16), 3588.
* Kim, D. W., & Han, S. H. (2020). Generalized Edema. *Cardiovascular Ultrasound*, *18*(1), 10.
* O'Dowd, K. D., & El-Khoury, K. N. (2021). Peripheral Edema: A Clinical Approach. *Clinics in Liver Disease*, *25*(3), 329-346.
* Ma, Y., Liu, P., Yang, C., Yuan, J., Ma, W., & Zhang, J. (2022). Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Edema. *Frontiers in Physiology*, *13*, 900508.
* Elias, S., & Shavit, L. (2022). Edema: Differential Diagnosis and Approach to Management. *Internal Medicine Journal*, *52*(12), 2098-2104.
Q.
Heavy, Puffy Limbs? Why Your Body Traps Fluid & Medically Approved Relief
A.
Heavy, puffy limbs are usually edema, fluid trapped in tissues from common triggers like prolonged sitting or standing, excess sodium, hormones, or medications, but they can also signal vein problems or heart, kidney, liver, or lymphatic disease. There are several factors to consider; see below to understand causes, red flag symptoms, and when to seek care. Medically approved relief includes leg elevation, frequent movement, compression garments, cutting sodium, staying hydrated, weight management, and reviewing medications, with diuretics or targeted treatment used only under medical guidance. For a safer next step and condition-specific advice, including urgent warning signs like shortness of breath, one-sided painful swelling, or rapid weight gain, see the complete details below.
References:
* Shah A, Patel B. Edema: aetiology and management. Br J Hosp Med (Lond). 2021 Jul 2;82(7):1-7. doi: 10.12968/hmed.2021.0182. Epub 2021 Jul 2. PMID: 34215286.
* Rockson SG, et al. Lymphedema: a review of the literature. J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord. 2018 Mar;6(2):247-259. doi: 10.1016/j.jvsl.2017.11.006. PMID: 29559312.
* Eberhardt RT, Raffetto JD. Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Venous Insufficiency. Circulation. 2018 Jul 10;138(2):E10-E14. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.118.033231. PMID: 29959045.
* Ellison DH. Role of Diuretics in the Treatment of Edema. Cardiol Rev. 2017 Sep/Oct;25(5):207-212. doi: 10.1097/CRD.0000000000000155. PMID: 28841808.
* Singh M, et al. Management of Edema in Patients With Heart Failure. Curr Treat Options Cardiovasc Med. 2016 May;18(5):34. doi: 10.1007/s11936-016-0460-7. PMID: 27040409.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Oelkers W. Idiopathic edema. Contrib Nephrol. 1980;23:47-54. doi: 10.1159/000389998. PMID: 7002454.
https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/389998Kay A, Davis CL. Idiopathic edema. Am J Kidney Dis. 1999 Sep;34(3):405-23. doi: 10.1016/s0272-6386(99)70067-3. PMID: 10469850.
https://www.ajkd.org/article/S0272-6386(99)70067-3/fulltext