Cause | Common Features* | Diagnostic Approach† |
---|---|---|
Normal (physiologic) edema | Painless swelling (edema) in both legs | A doctor’s examination |
High blood pressure High Blood Pressure High blood pressure (hypertension) is persistently high pressure in the arteries. Often no cause for high blood pressure can be identified, but sometimes it occurs as a result of an underlying... read more (140/90 mm Hg or higher) Swelling in both feet and ankles and sometimes in the face and/or hands Sometimes, severe persistent headache, confusion, problems with vision, severe upper abdominal pain, or difficulty breathing If very severe, seizures may occur Sometimes risk factors for preeclampsia | Measurement of blood pressure Measurement of protein in the urine Blood tests to check liver and kidney function and a complete blood count | |
Swelling and pain in only one leg or calf Often tenderness, redness, and warmth in the affected area If a blood clot travels to the lungs and blocks a blood vessel there (causing pulmonary embolism Pulmonary Embolism (PE) Pulmonary embolism is the blocking of an artery of the lung (pulmonary artery) by a collection of solid material brought through the bloodstream (embolus)—usually a blood clot (thrombus) or... read more ), chest pain and difficulty breathing Sometimes risk factors for deep vein thrombosis | Ultrasonography of the affected leg to check for a blockage in the veins Sometimes a blood test to measure a substance released from blood clots (called D-dimer) If the woman has chest pain and difficulty breathing, sometimes CT of the chest or ventilation/perfusion (nuclear imaging test) lung scan Nuclear Lung Scanning Chest imaging studies include X-rays Computed tomography (CT) CT angiography Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) read more | |
Swelling in both legs Shortness of breath and fatigue Difficulty laying flat | Chest x-ray Electrocardiography Echocardiography Blood tests that measure stretch in the heart | |
* Features include symptoms and results of the doctor's examination. Features mentioned are typical but not always present. † In pregnant women with concerning symptoms, the doctor assesses maternal vital signs, does a physical examination, and evaluates the status of the fetus with a fetal heart rate monitor or ultrasound. |