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.
Edema: The Most Common Cause. In the general population, swollen ankles are often caused by edema, which is the most common cause in elderly individuals. Edema simply means that excess water accumulation in the body causes swelling of the soft tissues under the skin. When the swelling is of the extremities, such as the ankles or feet, it is called peripheral edema.