Swelling of the legs can occur in anyone. Often this condition is preceded by excessive stress. This may include standing for a long time or walking for a long time. Swelling is caused by wearing tight clothes and uncomfortable shoes that compress the blood vessels. But sometimes such a problem is a symptom of various ailments. And in some cases - quite serious. Therefore, we will consider, if your legs are very swollen, what to do with such manifestations.
Why do my legs swell a lot? Unfortunately, there is no clear answer. Doctors identify many different causes that lead to swelling of the lower extremities. Among them, harmless sources occupy a special place. As a rule, they are associated with wrong habits and a negative lifestyle. In this case, it is not difficult to understand, if a person’s legs are very swollen, what to do. Just fix your lifestyle.
The main causes of swelling of the legs are:
Sometimes completely different sources provoke severe swelling of the legs. The reasons may be hidden in pathologies developing in the body. Only a specialist can determine what causes these symptoms. Therefore, people who experience systematic swelling are advised to go to the doctor. Only a doctor can recommend, if your legs become very swollen, what to do in such a situation.
Among the diseases that can provoke this situation are the following:
Some disorders can cause severe swelling of the legs. The reasons are hidden in a variety of pathologies:
Almost all women who are preparing to become mothers face a similar problem. The question arises: if your legs swell very much during pregnancy, what should you do? Initially, you should determine the reason why these symptoms are observed. After all, most often swelling is caused by physiological changes and is temporary.
Severe swelling of the legs during pregnancy can be caused by the following reasons:
Despite the fact that most often the culprit for this symptomatology is a physiological reason, it is necessary to consult a doctor if a woman notices that her legs are very swollen during pregnancy. Only a doctor can tell you what to do in such a situation.
It is strictly forbidden to resort to diuretics without the prescription of a specialist. A pregnant woman should understand that such medications affect not only her, but also the baby’s body. Some diuretics can wash away minerals necessary for the full development of the baby.
Unfortunately, some people cannot always identify this condition. Unpleasant manifestations are completely ignored. A person notices a negative condition only when the swelling is clearly visible visually. But, as a rule, in this case, the ailments developing in the body are already progressing. There are several simple recommendations to help identify pathology.
So, if your legs begin to swell very much, then use these tips:
Do not forget that you should not joke with such symptoms. Therefore, consider the following question: “If your legs begin to swell greatly, what should you do?”
Patients who have severe swelling and pain in their legs are advised to start with a visit to the doctor. After all, sometimes unpleasant symptoms are provoked by illnesses. It should be remembered that fighting pathologies on your own is extremely dangerous. Therapy will be selected depending on what disease is causing the severe swelling of the legs.
Treatment is recommended as follows:
An unpleasant condition is most often provoked by harmless reasons. Sometimes, as a result of excessive stress and fatigue, the legs become very swollen. What to do in such a situation?
It is recommended to resort to the following measures:
It is fluid retention in the body that causes severe swelling of the legs. Treatment includes diuretics. However, such medications can only be prescribed by a doctor, since they all have contraindications and can cause a wide variety of side effects in humans.
However, there are also folk remedies that allow you to achieve the desired result. They have fewer contraindications and often do not cause negative reactions. However, before using such recipes, be sure to consult a specialist.
The following drugs have a diuretic effect:
If unpleasant discomfort is caused by poor nutrition, you should definitely reconsider it. As a rule, such measures are enough to get rid of discomfort.
Doctors often recommend the following:
If the patient is prescribed diuretics, then foods that protect the body from potassium leaching should be consumed. Dried apricots, beans, baked potatoes, and cabbage have these properties.
It is useful to introduce into the diet foods that have a diuretic effect: celery, pumpkin, garlic, parsley. It is recommended to diversify your diet with the following foods: onions, watermelons, black currants, grapes. We should not forget about fermented milk products - yogurt, cottage cheese, kefir.
These events are very useful. They will relieve the patient of discomfort if the ankles of the feet are severely swollen as a result of wearing tight shoes or fatigue.
The following exercises are recommended:
Be sure to consult a doctor if you experience very severe swelling of your legs. In most cases, your doctor will recommend using an ointment. However, we should not forget that this remedy is a medicine. Therefore, resorting to self-therapy is highly undesirable.
The doctor may prescribe the following remedies to effectively get rid of swelling of the lower extremities:
Now you know the answer to the question: “If your legs swell very much, what should you do?” However, remember that it is important to correctly identify the cause of the problem. Unpleasant symptoms are the consequences of an illness developing in the body. Therefore, in order to get rid of puffiness, it is necessary to eliminate its cause.
Common situation: swollen legs. Any doctor will tell you what to do at home. Medicinal plants will come to the rescue. They help to successfully cope with this problem even in cases where the root cause of swelling is a serious illness.
Swelling of the legs indicates the presence of one or more diseases. The following ailments can cause swelling of the legs.
Swelling of the legs occurs in pregnant women with dropsy. Swelling occurs in women during the period of hormonal changes in the body during menopause.
Even completely healthy people may experience leg swelling from time to time. The reasons for this phenomenon are different:
The first signs of swelling of the feet are marks from the elastic bands of socks. In these places, distinct stripes remain for some time. Swelling of the feet is not such a rare occurrence in people who wear tight, uncomfortable shoes. Ladies who like to walk in heels especially suffer from this scourge.
If swelling in the legs constantly torments and is accompanied by pain, you should immediately undergo an examination (ultrasound, ECG), visit a urologist, cardiologist, endocrinologist and gynecologist.
Swelling usually appears at the end of the day. At other times of the day, in a healthy person they occur as a result of excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, unhealthy food, or extreme heat. When the cause of edema is pathology, the time of onset of edema cannot be predicted.
Swelling of the legs with each disease has its own characteristics. With varicose veins, the swelling in the legs is not symmetrical. The skin in these places is painful. There is a feeling of heaviness in the legs. People with heart disease have swelling in both legs. When pressing on the swollen area, a dent is formed, which disappears after a while.
For people with problem kidneys, it all starts with swelling in the eyes. As the pathology progresses, the legs swell. The limbs turn pale. If there is a malfunction of the pancreas, the legs in places of swelling are elastic. When you press on these areas, the skin springs back and pits do not form.
If a person is not sick with a chronic disease of the heart, kidneys, endocrine system and does not suffer from other pathologies, the swelling of the legs can be prevented. It is enough to follow some rules.
You should control your water consumption: drink no more than 1.5-2 liters of liquid per day, as modern nutritionists advise. Try to drink less in the evening.
There are people who do not accept treatment with folk remedies; they trust only drug treatment. How to treat swelling in this case? They should take diuretics in accordance with the biorhythms of the human body. So, in case of kidney pathology, it is recommended to take diuretics in the early morning, around five o’clock in the morning. In addition to pills, special medicinal pharmaceutical gels and rubbing help a lot. A particularly noticeable effect is provided by means for relieving swelling of varicose veins.
It won't hurt to do special exercises for your legs. They improve blood circulation. Make it a rule to do a set of exercises every day.
At the end of a working day spent on your feet, or, conversely, after sitting at the computer for a long time, which is also harmful to your feet, you should lie down for a while. Swollen legs should be elevated. This not only relieves swelling, but also allows you to have a good rest.
Removing excess fluid from the body using traditional methods is much safer. If your legs are swollen, there is no better and simpler way to relieve swelling of the legs than the use of medicinal herbs. A simple homemade diuretic relieves swelling: a mixture of carrot, cucumber and lemon juices. It must be diluted with water to taste. Drink three times a day.
How to remove swelling gently and easily? Mint tea will help. Place a teaspoon of herbs in a glass of boiling water. Drink lukewarm several times during the day to relieve swelling. Infusions and teas made from medicinal herbs such as burdock root, birch leaves, horsetail, bearberry, thyme, knotweed are good for removing water from the body and relieving swelling of the legs.
For any cause of swelling of the lower extremities, it is recommended to go on a pumpkin diet. This vegetable in any form - fried, steamed, baked, raw, and even porridge made from it - is an excellent diuretic. Removes all excess fluid from the body.
This folk remedy is also useful: drinking the water obtained by soaking dried apricots. You can steam this dried fruit in a thermos. But dried apricots should be dried, not dried!
How to relieve swelling in another way? Along with other methods of getting rid of swelling of the legs, treatment with folk remedies such as various baths is recommended. Contrast baths relieve swelling very quickly. Place two basins next to each other: with hot and cold water. It is necessary to dip your feet and keep them for five minutes, alternately in a bowl of cold water, then with hot water.
Foot baths with table or sea salt have a therapeutic effect.
It is useful to make baths at home using medicinal infusions. In a bowl of boiling water, steam one hundred grams of chamomile, mint and birch leaves. When the water becomes acceptably warm, place your feet in it. With the help of such procedures, swelling quickly goes away.
Often in the evening, adults discover an unpleasant symptom. These are swollen feet. When swelling occurs, you immediately feel a feeling of heaviness in your legs. Even small feet turn into something like bedside tables. It happens that this disease does not cause pain symptoms - at least at the initial stage. But in most cases, people understand that immediate action needs to be taken. It must be admitted that swelling occurs even without wearing uncomfortable shoes - at least with certain diseases.
This does not mean that shoes have nothing to do with swelling. Sometimes it’s enough to stop wearing uncomfortable shoes and your feet will look normal. In most cases, you want to have the means at hand to immediately get rid of the unpleasant formation. But usually, to get rid of swelling, you need a course of treatment, which takes some time. If you have doubts and sincerely care about your health, then it is better to consult a doctor who will accurately determine the cause of the illness and, accordingly, give a good prescription. Let's try to take a closer look at both of these means.
Often the root of the problem is cardiovascular and metabolic failures, or kidney disease. In this case, treatment is usually used to cure all manifestations of the underlying disease. At the same time, we recommend keeping in mind several tips, the purpose of which is to significantly reduce the severity of clinical signs of the disease.
That is, in this case it is necessary:
Stop wearing uncomfortable shoes that constrict your feet, with completely flat or excessively high heels.
Reduce salt and liquid foods in the diet.
Minimize standing or sitting.
Maintain an active lifestyle with maximum mobility.
Do not overuse medications, the purpose of which is to provoke swelling of the legs, replacing them with harmless analogues.
Be as careful as possible to avoid injury.
All these are simple measures that give noticeable results. In addition, we recommend doing simple exercises every day:
Having taken the starting position, sitting or standing, try to press your heel to the floor and lift your toe up several times, then again lean it against the floor surface and lift your heel several times in a row.
Try to lift a small diameter ball or pencil placed on the floor with your bare foot.
Observing the order, spread and press your toes more tightly together.
Walk, if possible, on the very tips of your feet.
Make rotational movements with your feet, moving them smoothly.
Bend your toes, straightening them as quickly as possible.
Stand on your toes and do a few easy jumps.
Patients often ask for a modern topical remedy. Sometimes it's simply necessary. Then decongestant medications are prescribed. According to the rules, drug therapy for leg swelling is based on special ointments and drugs called diuretics.
Now the list of these funds is very large. You can use gels whose task is to eliminate inflammation and relieve symptoms, products aimed at treating venous stagnation, as well as compounds that improve blood circulation. You cannot choose such means at random. But, nevertheless, it is necessary to mention the group of the most popular drugs, which have a minimum of contraindications. That is, they are safely recommended to almost all users.
Ointments for swelling of the legs - a large section that includes very well-known names. Among them:
Troxevasin is an ointment that has a strengthening effect on the walls of veins and capillaries, which is used to obtain a cooling, decongestant, anti-inflammatory, angioprotective and analgesic effect. The basis of the composition is troxerutin.
Heparin ointment is a drug whose task is to improve blood circulation, have an anti-inflammatory effect and dissolve microthrombi. The composition includes heparin, anesthesin and benzyl ester of nicotinic acid.
Essaven Gel strengthens veins and capillaries, at the same time eliminating microscopic blood clots and activating blood circulation. It is created based on the composition of escin, heparin and sodium salt.
Venitan is a herbal venotonic drug based on horse chestnut extract, which has the property of strengthening venous and capillary structures. The ointment is used because of its pronounced angioprotective, anti-edematous and anti-inflammatory effects.
Lyoton 1000 is a gel for anti-inflammatory, anti-exudative, anti-edema and anti-thrombotic effects. The basis of the drug is sodium heparin.
It is often recommended to take a course of diuretics for leg swelling.
There are a number of diuretins that are considered the most effective. Among them:
Decoctions and infusions of a diuretic nature based on some medicinal leaves, herbs and fruits (for their preparation use horsetail, bearberry, lingonberry, birch leaves, black currant, flax seeds, juniper fruits, strawberries, rose hips).
A composition based on the juices of rowan and viburnum (one glass per serving), lemon juice, honey (100 g of both), as well as 50 g. phytolysin (take 20 g solution after eating).
This is a list of drugs that have individual contraindications. They can have a range of side effects. We repeat that only a doctor who examined the patient during an in-person appointment can trust the prescription of medications, determine their dosage, and advise on the procedure for use.
In addition to sedentary work and improper shoes, you often have to deal with other causes of edema - excess weight, heavy physical activity, or sedentary work. Much more dangerous are the other diseases mentioned - kidney failure or varicose veins. Patients understand that the best way to save their health is to eliminate the root cause.
Based on the location of the tumor, we can draw a conclusion about the cause. Thus, heart problems lead to swelling of the ankles. Most often, this symptom occurs in older people. If the disease occurs in a young person, then most often it is due to vascular disorders.
If swelling occurs frequently, with regularity, you need to consult a doctor. It is better to come for a consultation with a therapist, and then follow his recommendations, taking tests on time and visiting a cardiologist, urologist or phlebologist. In particular, the latter’s specialization is the diagnosis and treatment of venous diseases.
Treatment of such a phenomenon as swelling due to weak muscles is associated with a deterioration in their basic function. Thus, the outflow of lymph is disrupted, which leads to certain consequences.
You can help your muscles by strengthening them. To do this you need to master several exercises:
“Scissors”: lying on the floor, swing your legs sideways and cross them.
Birch, or half-birch. This is a complex stand on the shoulder blades. In case of difficulties, beginners lean against the wall, and if there is an assistant, he can hold his feet.
A small complex for the press.
Several exercises with dumbbells for the chest muscles.
This is a small complex that will help train the main muscle systems. They take part in lymphatic drainage, and after some time the legs become much healthier.
Often the legs begin to suffer from swelling after a hard day at work. In particular, if you are forced to be in one position all day. To relieve fatigue of the lower extremities, you can resort to special baths with sea salt. This is necessary to relax swollen areas, and a massage with light pinches will help with this. These are special finger movements, reminiscent of the action of a corresponding device with a similar name.
Thus, contrasting foot baths have proven themselves well. Keep your feet in hot (5-7 minutes) and cold (but not longer than 10-15 seconds!) types of water. But this measure is unacceptable if the veins are dilated.
We have already mentioned pharmaceutical ointments and gels for treating this symptom. In addition to them, all ointments that contain rutin and heparin, or horse chestnut, fight edema. These substances help strengthen the capillary system. If the drug was recommended by a doctor, the course should be started immediately.
A good tonic is foot baths. Their duration should not exceed 15-20 minutes. They are well complemented by baking soda, table salt or sea salt. The following procedure gives good results: throw a handful of salt and 1 tbsp into 3 liters of water. soda
Swelling often occurs as a result of fatigue. Then they need to be hardened. They resort to the help of so-called contrast baths. Your legs need to be lowered and raised, alternately dipping them into fairly hot water. Its temperature should be +40-50 degrees. They are then immediately immersed in cold water. You need to do 8-10 repetitions. You need to warm them up well enough - they should stay in a warm liquid at least 3 times longer. Complete the procedure only with cold water. Parts of the infusion of chamomile, linden blossom, and nettle raw materials are diluted in hot water.
These measures are unacceptable if varicose veins or thrombosis are diagnosed. After carrying out a water procedure, regardless of its type, those who suffer from varicose veins and thrombosis need to massage the cream into the feet and legs.
A foot massage is a must. As a result, the skin becomes smooth and elastic. It starts from the foot, gradually moving up to the knee joint. This same path needs to be walked 3-4 times. Next, you need to massage each finger, following the direction from tip to base. Having stretched the entire foot, the massage is completed by stroking, repeating the circle 3-4 times.
How much movement is needed to overcome such a disease? Even just walking around your workspace can help sore feet. Many people ask: will yoga help with this disease? It is often used as an additional remedy to help relax all muscles. Periodic rest is indicated in a position where the legs are slightly elevated. This helps reduce swelling. Sitting with your legs crossed is contraindicated: this can lead to lymph stagnation.
We recommend setting aside the right amount of time for sleep. Lack of sleep is a weapon against the thyroid gland and its health. This is as important as choosing loose, comfortable shoes. In case of varicose veins, it is better to forget about stockings. If ill-chosen shoes are used, the foot feels compressed, and this complicates the process of outflow of fluids, which is already difficult.
Doctors often advise reducing the amount of salt you consume. This is good advice. Thanks to this, the danger of such tumors significantly decreases. This applies not only to the legs, but to the entire body as a whole. A person should limit himself to 1 g per day. sodium, which is 1/4 tsp. salt. This portion is given to us by food in which this seasoning is absolutely not added. If you want to improve the taste of food, it is better to choose the right spices. Salt in salads is replaced with vinegar or lemon juice. And substitutes for salt in fish and potatoes are green onions and parsley. The poultry is flavored with tarragon, the meat with rosemary. And before going to bed - around 19-00 - it is better to stop drinking liquids.
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Their choice, again, depends on the causes of the disease. Traditional medicine offers a large number of recipes that will help those suffering from this disease:
A decoction including raw materials such as birch leaves and buds, linden flowers and horsetail.
Astragalus helps well against swelling of the legs. A decoction is made based on it. It fights swelling while improving the functioning of the cardiovascular system.
You can resort to some other simple methods. For example, you can create a simple solution. It is based on 10 liters of heated water, in which a glass of salt, a spoonful of soda and the same amount of iodine tincture are dissolved. The workpiece should be infused for half an hour, and then the legs are lowered into it. The course lasts one and a half weeks, and procedures are carried out every day.
Parsley roots help a lot. They are washed and finely chopped, and then poured with boiling water. Calculation: one tablespoon of ingredients per half liter of water. Use a thermos to infuse. Infusion time is eight hours. Drink a tablespoon.
Hawthorn flowers are prepared in several ways. First, you need to mix an equal volume of hawthorn flowers and fruits. Then two tablespoons of the composition are poured with half a liter of boiling water. Leave it to steep for half an hour, and then take it strained, distributing the glass into three doses per day.
Use grated potatoes. This is a recipe for “urgent” help. The gruel is distributed over the ankle; for this you will need to chop several potatoes. You need to put cling film on top. For insulation, wrap your legs with a cotton bandage. The compress is kept for two hours, and then a new one is made.
Keep fresh birch leaves in your house. They are poured into linen bags or pillowcases. The legs should fit in them so that the volume of the leaves reaches the knees. On the shins, accordingly, this level should reach two centimeters. This procedure will take about 3 hours. When the procedure time is over, the leaves can be replaced, refreshing them.
Use bearberry and lingonberry. They must be taken in equal parts. Then take a couple of tablespoons of the mixture, brew it with a glass of boiling water and place it in a water bath for half an hour. Don't forget to cover it with a lid. Then the product must be cooled and strained. Using cold water, the infusion is brought to its original volume. You should drink the infusion per day, dividing it into three doses.
Parsley, or rather its root, is an excellent remedy that is included in several recipes. It is ground together with the root and poured with half a liter of boiling water. Infusion time – 9 hours. The infusion is diluted with the juice of one lemon. intake - a third of a glass, three times a day.
We have already mentioned baths with salt and soda. There is another option for the procedure. Dissolve half a glass of salt (sea or table) in 2 liters. cold water. You need to dip a thick cloth there, a towel will do. This is a future compress; it is placed on the lumbar region. This universal decongestant treatment option is repeated for a week and a half before bedtime.
Field clover helps a lot. A handful of it is washed and cut into smaller pieces. It is poured with a liter of water, placed in a container on the fire and boiled for three minutes. Then it is tightly covered with a lid. Infusion time is an hour. The decoction is filtered and taken three times a day, dividing one glass of liquid into this amount.
A good example is such raw materials as linden flowers, birch leaves and buds, and horsetail extract. Let us remind you once again that decoctions and infusions are made from them. To the recipes we gave above, we’ll add one more. It is based on 2-3 tablespoons of horsetail, knotweed and birch buds. They are mixed. The resulting mixture in the amount of 1 teaspoon is poured with a glass of boiling water and left for about 30 minutes. Then they need to be expressed. The course is 3 days, including 1 day break. Drink a tablespoon after meals 3 times a day. The full course should last three weeks.
In addition to the baths mentioned above, rubbing with ice cubes is used. The bath should be cold enough. The procedure time is 5-10 minutes. Perform a pinching massage - we described its technique above. Add a few tablespoons of pine extract to the water, and keep your feet in this water for 15-20 minutes. This greatly helps relieve leg fatigue and also combat swelling.
Garlic is often used. The head of garlic is crushed and then poured with a glass of boiling water. When the paste has cooled, rub it on the swelling area, leaving for half an hour. Then it is washed off. Treat this recipe with caution if you have varicose veins. In this case, hot baths and showers are generally contraindicated. Because of them, the blood becomes stagnant and the blood vessels dilate.
Of course, we do not mean purchased juices from the supermarket, but those made independently from fruits and vegetables available to us in our latitudes.
The most popular urinary plant is watermelon. Its juice has the unique property of not only removing fluid from the body, but also saturating it with healthy sugars. This juice does not require a special preparation method. Just eat watermelon as much as you want.
Grape juice will help strengthen blood vessels and remove excess fluid from the body. Take it 1 hour before meals, starting with a serving of 0.5 glasses and increasing the single dose to 2 glasses. The course of treatment lasts up to 1.5 months.
Work on getting rid of swelling in the legs can begin at any time. Take care of your feet today, and tomorrow you will be able to conquer the whole world with an easy step.
We provide simple recommendations that will help everyone. Let's add new ones to those already written above:
It is better to change shoes at least once during the day. This is a special recommendation for those who like to wear high heels. Let there be replacement shoes at work, and it is better to give preference to soft models without heels.
You should not wear the same pair for more than two days in a row.
If you have a tendency to edema, it makes sense to purchase special therapeutic stockings, the purpose of which is to prevent the development of edema.
Skip the salt. Table salt is harmful to health by retaining fluid in the body.
It is better to drink less liquid than before, especially after 7 pm.
If you have a sedentary job, find ways to change the position of your lower extremities more often. Try to take a standing position as often as possible.
When sleeping, place your feet on a pillow. This measure allows you to improve the outflow of blood and lymph, and will relieve leg fatigue.
If the swelling is not due to an orthopedic reason, then it is important to choose the right shoes. It should not press or dangle. Fingers should be in a natural position. We have already written about heels above.
Don't limit yourself to traditional recipes. On sale in special departments you can find a special orthopedic variety of compression socks and tights. They are produced specifically so that the vessels can remain in good shape, preventing blood stagnation. These are products of a medicinal nature. Their task is to transfer the strongest compression to the bottom of the lower extremities. The weakest effect is on the upper part. This load distribution allows blood flow to function normally. We recommend knee socks or tights, since stockings are often not the best choice for a diagnosis such as varicose veins. Because of them, the vessels of the thighs are tightened, creating additional stress on the circulatory system.
How to eliminate swelling of the legs? This is a question that is very important to many patients. But it could have been avoided if people were aware of the necessary precautions.
Simple exercises will help avoid fluid stagnation.
Place your right foot on your left, lift your left toe to its greatest height. Repeat the same for the right leg. Stand on your tiptoes and stay there for a few seconds. Do 10 low, easy jumps on your tiptoes.
Sit on a chair and raise your legs, making circular movements with your feet. At the same time, bend your toes down, immediately straightening them sharply.
Place your foot on the floor and move the load from one point to another.
As we can see, the preventive measures are similar to what is recommended for treating swelling of the legs. This is an effective, uncomplicated, universal technique. You can add sports activities, but in this case you will need the supervision of an instructor. So, in addition to yoga, water aerobics gives good results.
Author of the article: Nina Vladimirovna Sokolova, naturopathic doctor, herbalist
Swelling of the legs is a pathology, and not just an aesthetic defect, which requires immediate contact with specialists to find out the reasons for its occurrence, of which there can be many. The legs swell due to the accumulation of fluid in organs and tissues, and this may be a symptom of a serious disease. Externally, swelling is manifested by an increase in the volume of the legs, which is most often pronounced after excessive fluid intake, especially at night. The degree of swelling usually increases in the evening and is a consequence of prolonged stress on the legs after standing or walking.
Like any other pathology of the body, edema is usually classified depending on the reasons that caused its development.
Attention! Edema can form due to high vascular permeability and due to a decrease in the amount of albumin protein in the blood. In addition, swelling of the legs can be a consequence of benign and malignant neoplasms in the body, which a person is not aware of. The fact that swelling of the lower extremities is a common phenomenon does not make it unserious. If your legs are swollen, you should consult a doctor and undergo examination.
Swelling may be:
Edema can be caused by the following diseases:
Swelling of the legs can be observed after acute respiratory viral infection and can be the cause of the development of kidney diseases due to infection.
The main reason for the formation of swelling of the legs is a violation of the drainage of blood and lymph or excessive formation of fluid in the body.
Mechanical obstruction is a common factor that involves compression of vein vessels by malignant or benign tumors. The same thing can happen during pregnancy, when the venous vessels are compressed by the uterus.
When veins become clogged with blood clots in patients with varicose veins, the outflow of lymph through the lymphatic vessels is disrupted due to increased pressure in small capillaries. In this case, fluid from the blood plasma leaks into nearby tissues.
Liquid in the human bloodstream is retained by salts and proteins; when for some reason the amount of salts and proteins begins to decrease, this process facilitates the penetration of fluid from the bloodstream into the surrounding tissues.
Often, swelling is caused by taking medications that are used to treat a disease. Thus, glucocorticoids, which are prescribed by allergists for the treatment of allergic reactions, bronchial asthma, some cancers and diseases of the musculoskeletal system, require frequent use and can cause a side effect in the form of edema of the lower extremities.
A side effect usually develops with very long-term use or an overdose of medications. Therefore, you should strictly follow your doctor’s prescriptions and carefully read the instructions for any medication. A large number of medications have the effect of fluid retention in the body, including sex hormones, both female and male. Women take sex hormones to protect against unwanted pregnancy or as therapy for diseases of the female genital area, for example, the hormones estrogen and progesterone are often prescribed. Men take the male sex hormone testosterone, which is indicated for problems with potency and excess weight. You should not exceed the dosage prescribed by your doctor, and in case of persistent swelling, inform your doctor about this.
Leg swelling is caused by drugs belonging to the group of ACE inhibitors, which are intended for the treatment of high blood pressure, the treatment of renal and heart failure, radiation sickness and in plastic surgery. It should be taken into account that many cardiovascular diseases and kidney diseases themselves cause edema, therefore it is necessary to be attentive to the condition of the body and identify the resulting swelling.
Swelling may not be a manifestation of a disease, but of certain habits, for example, in people who spend a long time in a cross-legged position. You should not sit on chairs that are too soft or low. People often drink too much fluid, especially before going to bed, and this causes swelling. Women who have the habit of constantly wearing high heels or, conversely, who prefer shoes without heels require a special conversation. Both types of shoes are absolutely not physiological and are a traumatic factor, causing swelling of the legs and problems with the spine and joints. Shoes should be comfortable and not tight.
There is a simple test for this that you can easily do yourself.
It is necessary to press on the area of the tibia. Wait just a few seconds. A pit that appears and persists for some time indicates the presence of edema.
You need to get medical advice and undergo prescribed examinations.
To do this, you need to visit a general practitioner. The therapist will conduct an external examination, collect anamnesis and make further decisions.
Based on the medical history and external examination, the therapist prescribes consultations with specialized specialists. Typically, the therapist prescribes laboratory tests - blood and urine tests, which include a general analysis and a study showing the functioning of the urinary system and liver. Common tests also include an electrocardiogram (ECG). The further set of examinations is determined by specialized specialists.
If the examination does not reveal the causes of swelling of the legs, then the occurrence of edema can be prevented very simply. To do this, you need to regularly perform simple and not time-consuming gymnastic exercises for the legs.
Lymphatic drainage massage appeared relatively recently, but has already gained popularity. Massages can be performed at home or in specialized centers. This is an effective method for treating edema, including that of the lower extremities. For massage, special devices are offered on the market, with the help of which the procedure is carried out. Manual techniques are less effective at home, and it is impossible to carry them out on your own. Lymphatic drainage massage treatment is usually part of a course of complex procedures aimed at eliminating the problem.
In addition to gymnastics and massage practices, medication therapy is used. Only a doctor can select an individual treatment algorithm, which is prescribed after a series of laboratory and diagnostic measures based on the results of the examination and medical history. Self-medication can aggravate the condition and trigger pathology, especially if the cause of edema is chronic diseases of the body that a person does not know about. You should not use traditional medicine without first consulting a doctor.
Swelling of the legs during pregnancy deserves special attention. This symptom may signal gestosis, which is a threatening factor for the unborn child and mother. A pregnant woman should be observed by a gynecologist, undergo examinations, take laboratory tests and follow all instructions prescribed to her. During pregnancy, the female body experiences repeated stress, which is why exacerbations of existing chronic diseases often occur. Pregnancy is a serious and responsible period in a woman’s life, requiring special attention to health.
A huge number of pregnant women complain about swelling and heaviness in their legs. There are many reasons for this problem. The main one is hormonal changes in the body, during which a large amount of the hormone progesterone is released. For this reason, the smooth muscles of the uterus and blood vessels relax, and fluid is retained in the tissues. The second half of pregnancy is a significant enlargement of the uterus and compression of the large veins of the abdominal cavity. Therefore, venous blood flow is significantly hampered and pressure in the veins of the lower extremities increases, which leads to edema.
It is easier to prevent any disease of the body than to treat it later. This also applies to edema. Preventive measures include:
If you are prone to edema, you must regularly undergo medical examinations and consult with specialists. Treatment of any chronic and acute diseases should be carried out in a timely manner and as prescribed by a doctor.