Swollen face and eyelids when you look in the mirror in the morning, severe swelling in the legs and feet in the evening, hands so swollen that you can’t take off the ring on your fingers—this is a major health problem that scares many. Scientifically, this swelling that occurs throughout the body is called Generalized Edema or Fluid Retention. This swelling occurs when there is excessive fluid (water) in the tissues between our cells. This can be a sign of damage to the main organs of the body. Here are the 5 main scientific reasons behind this:
Kidney Disease / Renal Failure: The most important scientific reason for swelling all over the body is kidney failure. The kidneys are responsible for excreting excess water and toxins in our blood through urine. However, when the kidneys fail, sodium and water in the body do not get excreted and accumulate in the blood. Along with this, in conditions like nephrotic syndrome, a large amount of protein is lost through the urine, causing water to leak out of the blood vessels and cause severe swelling throughout the body.
Congestive Heart Failure: When the heart is unable to pump blood throughout the body properly (Heart Failure), blood backs up into the veins. Due to the excessive pressure that occurs at this time, fluid leaks out of the blood vessels and fills the cells. Heart-related swelling usually first appears in the legs and feet (Pitting Edema).
Liver Cirrhosis: Liver cirrhosis is a condition in which the liver is completely damaged due to chronic fatty liver or alcoholism. The liver produces an important protein called albumin that keeps water from leaving the blood vessels. When the liver stops functioning, albumin decreases, resulting in water retention in the abdomen (ascites) and severe swelling in the limbs and face.
Severe Hypothyroidism / Myxedema: When the level of thyroid hormone in the body is severely reduced, the body’s metabolism slows down completely. In this condition, certain types of carbohydrate molecules accumulate in the layers below the skin and attract large amounts of water. This is scientifically called myxedema. This causes non-pitting swelling on the face and body.
High Sodium & Medications: When the amount of salt (sodium) in the food we eat is excessive, sodium draws water into the body to maintain hydration. In addition, people who regularly take certain medications for high blood pressure (such as Calcium Channel Blockers like Amlodipine), painkillers (NSAIDs), and steroids can also experience swelling throughout the body as a side effect.
