Swelling (Legs, Ankles, or Feet)
The medical term for swelling brought on by fluid retention is edema. It may be brought about by wounds, diseases, or medical disorders. Heart failure, however, is one of the more severe disorders that can lead to edema. It occurs when the heart muscle deteriorates and cannot adequately pump blood throughout the body. It may also occur when a heart valve causes fluid retention or if the pressure is raised, driving the fluid back into the legs or belly.
Heart failure or whatever is causing the edema should be treated appropriately to reduce swelling and other symptoms in the body. Blood can start to pool when the heart cannot adequately pump blood out through the arteries and back into the veins, especially in the legs and feet.
Blood must be forced upward via the veins by the heart to reach the heart and lungs, where it is supplied with oxygen and other nutrients. Due to increased pressure in people with heart failure, the pressure inside the veins is also higher.
