Which term describes swelling due to excess fluid in the body?

Which term describes swelling due to excess fluid in the body?

• A. Dehydration
• B. Hypertension
• C. Edema
• D. Anemia

Answer: (C)

Edema is swelling caused by fluid accumulating in the tissues. When fluid leaks out of small vessels or the body can’t remove excess fluid effectively, you’ll see puffiness or swelling in areas like the feet, ankles, legs, hands, or around the eyes. This concept is important for CNAs because edema can indicate underlying issues such as heart, kidney, or liver problems, or immobility that leads to poor circulation. In practice, you might assess edema by gently pressing a finger against a swollen area to see if an indentation remains (pitting edema) and noting how widespread or symmetric the swelling is. It’s different from dehydration, which means not enough body fluids and typically presents with dry mucous membranes, skin turgor changes, or concentrated urine. Hypertension is high blood pressure, a vascular condition that may accompany edema but doesn’t itself describe swelling. Anemia is low red blood cell count, causing fatigue and pallor rather than swelling.

Edema is swelling caused by fluid accumulating in the tissues. When fluid leaks out of small vessels or the body can’t remove excess fluid effectively, you’ll see puffiness or swelling in areas like the feet, ankles, legs, hands, or around the eyes. This concept is important for CNAs because edema can indicate underlying issues such as heart, kidney, or liver problems, or immobility that leads to poor circulation. In practice, you might assess edema by gently pressing a finger against a swollen area to see if an indentation remains (pitting edema) and noting how widespread or symmetric the swelling is. It’s different from dehydration, which means not enough body fluids and typically presents with dry mucous membranes, skin turgor changes, or concentrated urine. Hypertension is high blood pressure, a vascular condition that may accompany edema but doesn’t itself describe swelling. Anemia is low red blood cell count, causing fatigue and pallor rather than swelling.