Edema
Some people with ascites experience swelling or fluid buildup in the extremities, like the legs and ankles. This condition is known as edema.
Edema is the swelling of the extremities and other body parts like the hands, arms, feet, ankles, and legs. It is usually caused by the excess fluid trapped in the body’s tissues, either due to medication, pregnancy, or diseases like congestive heart failure, kidney disease, or liver cirrhosis.
Just like ascites, edema in the extremities happens when pressure builds up in the veins of your liver, causing a blockage in the blood flow and trapping excess fluid in the tissues. This pressure keeps the liver and kidneys from clearing out the excess salt in the body resulting in fluid buildup.
In essence, it’s precisely the same as ascites, only that in some cases, when the fluid seeps and gathers around other body parts, the name changes. When the extra fluid seeps and accumulates into the lungs, it becomes known as pleural effusion.
