Edema from venous insufficiency is typically characterized by which feature?

• A. Worsens with standing due to gravity.
• B. Worsens with lying down.
• C. Is unaffected by leg position.
• D. Only occurs at night.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that venous insufficiency edema is driven by gravity increasing venous pressure when the legs are dependent. When you stand, blood pools in the leg veins and hydrostatic pressure rises, pushing fluid into the tissues and causing more swelling. Lying down or elevating the legs reduces that pressure and helps the edema improve. So this type of edema tends to worsen with standing and improve with elevation or lying flat. It isn’t unaffected by leg position, and it isn’t limited to nighttime.