[1] Unlike typical edema, which almost everyone will experience at some time and can be relatively benign, anasarca is a pathological process reflecting a severe disease state and can involve the cavities of the body in addition to the tissues.

Anasarca is a diagnosis made clinically and differentiated from edema by extent of body involvement and severity.

Anasarca is most often seen in conjunction with a low level of albumin[citation needed] A research paper published in 2001 demonstrated a linkage between low-voltage electrocardiogram (ECG) (LVE) (QRS complexes of <5 mm in the limb and <10 mm in the precordial leads) and Anasarca.

[citation needed] One of the mainstays of any edema treatment, diuretics are a category of medications that help the body excrete fluid by altering the way in which the kidney processes urine.

As such, decreasing salt and simple sugar intake will help prevent accumulation of fluid and potentiate the effect of any diuretics.