Swelling of the legs at night

Which treatment for leg swelling should you choose to get rid of lymphedema?

Swelling of the legs is a disease that is increasingly encountered in everyday life and everyone is concerned with the question - is there a cure? Let's first understand the nature of this disease. Swelling in the legs (most often the ankles and knees affect a person) is the accumulation of fluid in the tissues.

In a healthy body, fluid balance is controlled by the kidneys. In case of problems with the kidneys and other organs, this balance collapses, fluid accumulates, and the human body floats.

Types of swelling in the legs

There are several variations of swelling:

Edema in the legs is also distinguished between venous and lymphatic. Venous edema in the legs occurs if a person suffers from venous insufficiency. Lymphedema in the legs appears if a person suffers from pathologies or vascular abnormalities or due to surgery.

Causes

What causes swelling in the legs? To understand exactly how to deal with swelling in the legs, you must first understand the cause of their occurrence.

The reasons may be the following:

• excessive load on the legs, namely the ankles (often due to excess weight or if the person’s work involves carrying loads);
• excessive fluid intake, especially affected by people who quench their thirst with large quantities of water before bed;
• metabolic problems;
• flat feet;
• incorrect posture in people leading a sedentary lifestyle (crossed ankles) or sitting on a chair or armchair that is too soft;
• shoes of the wrong style (high heels, uncomfortable lasts);
• varicose veins;
• cardiovascular diseases;
• kidney disease;
• disease in the intestines;
• malfunction of the thyroid gland;
• thrombophlebitis;
• obstructed lymphatic drainage;
• rheumatoid arthritis of the joints, this disease always accompanies swelling in the legs, rheumatoid arthritis is observed more often in older people;
• after an insect bite.

It’s hard to believe, but the consequences of a harmless insect bite can lead to itching, wounds, swelling of the legs, and in the later stages shortness of breath and fever may appear. The situation can get so out of control that it can lead to amputation of the lower limbs if measures are not taken in time.

• severe shortness of breath after walking;
• heat in the lower extremities;
• increased calf coverage after drinking water;
• heaviness in the legs (knees, ankles);
• itching after an insect bite;
• small removal of fluid from the body through sweat and urine;
• rheumatoid arthritis (pain in the joints of the fingers, knees).

Clinical causes of swelling

• the main reason is a violation of the water balance of the human body;
• decreased plasma pressure;
• increase in pressure in capillaries;
• increased permeability;
• poor outflow of moisture from veins and lymph;
• increased osmotic pressure in cells;
• cardiology.

Treating leg swelling at home

To “expel” excess water from the body, it is necessary to improve the blood supply to the legs by any means. The best way to do this is physical activity.

Listed below are the basic exercises to improve blood circulation in the legs, designed to get rid of the diagnosis of swelling of the legs:

• rolling from toe to heel, strongly pressing the support point to the floor;
• walking around the house alternately on your toes, then on your heels (2-3 minutes each);
• try lifting any objects from the floor by tensing the muscles of your toes;
• rotation of the ankles clockwise against it;
• jumping from the “on toes” position;
• flexion and extension of toes;
• spontaneous tension of the fingers;
• if swelling in the legs is the cause of an insect bite, then it is better to apply local compresses; areas where itching is present must be carefully treated.

Drug treatment

The following medications are prescribed:

• to treat swelling in the legs, use all kinds of gels and ointments that strengthen the capillary system and the walls of blood vessels (applied to the skin of the toes and knees);
• use of diuretic drugs;
• medications that significantly slow down the growth of aldosterone;
• components containing protein (to increase oncotic pressure);
• bleeding (to reduce hydrostatic pressure);
• medications prescribed for the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis of the joints.

Treatment with folk remedies

We should not forget about folk remedies invented to treat swelling in the legs.

You can use some of these methods:

• 1 to 2 turpentine to heated castor oil;
• mix the yolk with 1 tsp. turpentine and 1 tbsp. l. vinegar;
• astragalus decoction;
• massage with ice cubes;
• bath with cold water and salts;
• contrast shower on the leg area;
• limiting the amount of liquid you drink at night;
• elderberry decoction;
• use of any diuretics;
• decoction of birch leaves;
• flax seeds (1 tsp per liter of water);
• if the swelling is caused by rheumatoid arthritis of the joints, then it is recommended to use clay cakes that are applied to the sore spots of the fingers or knees.

What to do if swelling appears during pregnancy?

Compared to swelling in the legs of ordinary people, swelling in pregnant women occurs differently. It is better not to use medication treatment (due to the risk of harm to the child after taking the medication).

Due to the sharp increase in progesterone, which also affects water balance, pregnant women very often suffer from edema. Such edema is pronounced in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, when the amount of progesterone is greatest. It is at this stage that a woman gains weight and shortness of breath appears.

It should be remembered that restricting a pregnant woman from water is not recommended. Normal consumption of any liquid is 2 liters per day. It would also be useful to limit sweet and salty foods, which cause a strong feeling of thirst. If you are thirsty, it is better to eat 1 apple, which will not only quench your thirst, but also provide useful vitamins and microelements to both the woman and the child.

In some cases, the use of diuretics is allowed, however, such medications can only be taken after the recommendation of a doctor. An inactive and sedentary lifestyle contributes to moisture retention in the body.

Therefore, we recommend that you consult your doctor about prescribing moderate physical activity. Perform preventive foot massages. Tea with lemon and lingonberry compote will perfectly quench your thirst.

Amputation due to swelling

Swelling can arise from either a harmless factor or be a consequence of a serious illness. This is why you need to see a doctor before dealing with the symptoms of lower extremity swelling.

Advanced swelling of the legs can lead to ulcers and gangrene, which leads to surgery, and after them to amputation of the lower extremities (from one finger to the entire leg).

Frequent guests of this disease are diabetics. Due to poor circulation, they are often susceptible to edema, congestion, and, as a result, in old age, amputation of the lower extremities.

A signal to avoid limb amputation is a violation of the integrity of the skin and shortness of breath. Non-healing ulcers and seemingly harmless wounds can later lead to amputation.

The consequences of a simple insect bite can be very dangerous. The consequences of a bite can lead to severe shortness of breath, itching, joint pain, a severe allergic reaction, infection of the lower extremities, which also leads to amputation.

Pay attention to whether a thick blister (the site of an insect bite) has appeared on the skin. You should consult a specialist. Do not neglect the danger from an insect bite.

Also, a sure sign of predisposition to surgery is a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis of the joints.

So, if you treat symptoms wisely even if they are not as significant as they might seem at first glance, then you can live a long life without medications, surgeries, or amputations. You don’t have to learn what cardiology and surgery are, rheumatoid arthritis of the joints and thrombophlebitis, swelling of the limbs, shortness of breath, etc.

Categories : Prevention