What is Edema (swelling)?

Edema is when your body gets swollen because too much liquid is trapped in your tissues.

Imagine you have a balloon that's filled with water. If you squeeze it too hard and don’t let the water escape, the balloon gets bigger, just like your skin or your leg when edema happens. The extra liquid makes the area feel full and tight, almost like a water-filled balloon inside your body.

Sometimes, your body’s little pumps (like your heart) can't push the water around as well as they should. It's like when you're playing with a hose, if the water doesn’t flow properly, it can back up and make everything soggy. That extra liquid ends up in places like your legs, feet, or hands, making them feel bigger and softer, almost like they’re wearing a water-filled sock.

You might notice this when you sit for too long or stand all day, your body is just trying to do its job, but sometimes it needs a little help!