About the data: We used the family income data from the 2013 American Community Survey. This counts only families, which the government defines as households with two or more people related by birth, marriage or adoption. The graph focuses on families living in the country's 30 most populous cities.
Diseases and conditions that may cause edema include: 1  Congestive heart failure. 2  Cirrhosis. 3  Kidney disease.  Kidney 1  damage. Weakness or damage to veins in your legs.  Inadequate lymphatic 1  system. Symptoms.  Risk factors.
While edema in legs can be caused by lymphatic dysfunction or even a blood clot, painful swollen legs and ankles can also be caused by the progressive stages of venous disease. In these cases, venous reflux forces fluids to collect and pool in the tissues around the ankle and lower legs, causing the tissues to swell.