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Fluid Accumulation

Meaning

Fluid Accumulation, or edema, is the pathological increase in the volume of interstitial fluid within the tissues, leading to noticeable swelling, typically in the extremities or dependent areas of the body. This condition results from an imbalance in the physiological forces that regulate fluid movement between the vascular and interstitial compartments, such as changes in capillary pressure or plasma oncotic pressure. In the hormonal health space, fluid retention can be a recognized side effect of certain exogenous hormones, particularly those with mineralocorticoid activity, requiring clinical management.