Every fifth person on our planet experiences swelling of the legs, which causes many different inconveniences. Knowing the causes of swelling of the limbs, you can avoid them, giving yourself more joy in life.
After a hard day of work, in the evening, many people experience swelling of the legs, which causes a lot of inconvenience, because the desire to do anything or go for a walk begins to disappear. Such unpleasant sensations occur in people who spend a lot of time on their feet. In order for leg swelling to stop bothering you in the evenings, you need to know the reasons for its occurrence and try to avoid it in every possible way.
Before you start figuring out why your legs swell in the evenings, you need to know what this term means in medicine. Edema is a large amount of fluid that collects in the internal organs and tissues of the human body.
The main reasons, not related to illness, that cause swelling of the legs in the evening are:
As a rule, after sleep the swelling subsides and the legs look as usual, but after lunch they may appear. All this may be a signal to consult a doctor, because the legs swell in the evening as a result of increased venous pressure. Swelling appears, as a rule, on one leg and is not symmetrical relative to each other, and this is not only a painful sensation, but also a violation of the aesthetic beauty of the human body, because it looks like a barrel.
Not only heavy loads and bad shoes lead to swollen feet in the evenings, but also various diseases.
Edema caused by poor functioning of the heart muscle is called cardiac edema, and at the same time the liver and the heart itself can become enlarged. But a good harbinger of the onset of swelling is shortness of breath. Diseases that can cause swelling in the legs are myocardial infarction, heart defects, vascular aneurysm and cardiosclerosis.
In the evening, these swellings become larger and appear symmetrically from bottom to top. The skin on these swellings is soft and when pressure is applied to it, a dent is formed, which retains its shape for a long period of time. If treatment is not started, cracks in the skin and dermatitis may occur.
Swelling of the legs in the evening can occur as a result of venous diseases. The main reasons for their occurrence:
Harbingers of the formation of edema are heaviness and convulsive compression of the leg muscles during sleep. The legs swell in the evening, and after sleep they become normal. When touched, the skin around it is dense and if the disease is not treated, dermatitis or eczema may develop.
Swelling of the legs occurs mainly in the area of the feet and legs, but with inferior vena cava syndrome it can affect the entire leg. Ulcerative lesions can form at the site of edema, which greatly complicates life.
During the inflammatory process, which is caused by an insect or snake bite, swelling occurs. This happens not only in the evening, but also throughout the day. Towards evening, swelling of the legs begins to itch very much, which increases discomfort. The main reasons for this are the effect on the body of a substance that is found in saliva or poison. Characteristic signs of such edema are redness and pain in the affected area.
Many people often have a question: “Why do my legs swell in the evenings?” The answer may lie on the surface - you may have a neurological disease. The reasons for the appearance of swelling in the legs as a result of diseases of the nervous system are paralysis of the lower extremities due to a stroke, polio, and syringomyelia. On the legs, the capillaries become weaker, which allows blood to penetrate through their walls into the skin.
Diseases of the endocrine system can also cause the lower extremities to swell in the evening. The reason for this is myxedema, during which the subcutaneous tissue of the lower leg is affected. To the touch, such swelling is hard and the skin does not gather, and when you press on the swollen area, no changes occur - the structure does not change.
Often the legs swell in the evening as a result of a disturbance in the outflow of lymph. The reason for this may be lymphanitis, which affects the lymphatic vessels. Swelling of the limb appears only if deep lymph nodes are affected.
Another cause of swelling in the legs can be a disease such as elephantiasis. This disease is characterized by damage to the deep lymph nodes. The legs swell gradually, one at once, and then the other, and the asymmetry on them is observed.
Edema in this disease is divided into 3 stages:
The reasons for the occurrence of secondary elephantiasis can be purulent inflammation of the skin, during pressure on the lymph nodes from injuries and burns, chronic inflammatory processes in the rectum and vagina. The lower extremities swell in the same way as with the primary one.
Everyone knows that during pregnancy, women’s legs swell in the evening and this happens after 30 weeks. They are caused by processes that rebuild her body and thereby disrupt her water-salt metabolism. At the very beginning, the feet and legs swell, and then the thighs, but even in very severe cases the swelling does not rise higher.
During pregnancy, the legs may also swell as a result of congenital kidney pathologies, but these changes are also visible when urine is submitted to the laboratory. As a result of a hormonal imbalance during menstruation, women may experience slight swelling of the feet and legs in the evening, and after the end of the cycle they decrease and disappear altogether. All this can be caused by a lack of sodium and water in the body.
In order not to wonder why swelling in the legs began to appear in the evening, it is advisable not to overload and get plenty of rest. Limit yourself from uncomfortable shoes, but you should not buy ones with flat soles, because this can lead to the development of flat feet. If you follow these basic rules, then the percentage of their occurrence is negligible, but treatment must be agreed with a specialist.
Lightly salted herring eaten and washed down with a liter of water can be the main reason why your hands and feet swell and itch. If you didn’t eat salty foods the night before, and in the morning your feet won’t fit into your shoes or your pant leg won’t fit over your swollen calves, the reasons may be more serious. Why does swelling of the legs occur, and what to do about it?
The following organ dysfunctions cause severe swelling and itching of the legs:
Vienna. The constant flow of blood increases the pressure in them. This causes slight swelling of the legs in the afternoon, which subsides overnight. In people who are constantly on their feet, the disease progresses, blood vessels burst and appear on the skin of the legs. The swollen areas of the spider veins are very itchy and painful.
Visit to a therapist
To understand why swelling of the arms and legs occurs and itches, you should consult a therapist. After performing a visual examination of the patient, listening to existing complaints and clarifying the existing medical history, the doctor will prescribe diagnostics using the following means:
A consultation with a gynecologist, endocrinologist, cardiovascular surgeon, cardiologist, nephrologist and a vein and vascular specialist - phlebologist is also scheduled.
If a pregnant woman has itchy swelling of her arms and legs, it is important to rule out gestosis. To do this, a general urine test is taken, the level of blood pressure is determined, and the weight gained during pregnancy is calculated. This must be done in a hospital setting.
During diagnostic studies, you can try to remove the swelling with diuretics until the cause of the pathology is determined.
It is important not to overdo it and do this only with the permission of a doctor.
At home, swelling of the legs can be eliminated:
The doctor may prescribe the following:
It is important to remember that swelling of the legs may indicate serious pathological processes in the body. And therefore, any treatment should be prescribed only by a specialist, even treatment with traditional medicine recipes.
Many women try not to notice that their legs begin to swell after a day of work. The process is noticeable in the area of the ankles and feet.
It becomes difficult to fasten boots in the evening, and putting on shoes is difficult. Women believe that in the morning the condition will return to normal and the swelling will disappear. If swelling of the legs becomes a constant phenomenon in the evening, therefore, the cause must be sought not only in ordinary fatigue; the onset of serious illnesses may develop. Let's understand the causes of edema.
The main syndrome of swelling of the extremities is when the intercellular space begins to be occupied by fluid that is difficult to remove from the body. The process is associated with individual diseases:
Local swelling of the legs is usually the first symptom indicating the possible appearance of a disease at a certain stage.
When there is no pronounced swelling of the legs, the looseness of the tissues does not increase much, contains a small accumulation of water, and is said to be pasty. It is difficult to see the swelling with ordinary eyes; the skin becomes pale and becomes excessively soft.
To determine pastiness, a test called the “McClure-Aldrich test” is done. Necessary to determine the rate of resorption of a physical solution injected into the skin.
The resulting tubercle after the injection, when the legs become very swollen in the evening, disappears much faster in comparison with normal tissues. If you lightly press on the tubercle, pronounced swelling forms a small hole.
Evening swelling of the legs associated with circulatory disorders or diseases of the lymph nodes exhibit specific differences.
Lymphedema, or lymphedema, reveals increased density, the patient does not feel pain. The disease is determined by the Kaposi-Stemmer syndrome. On the back of the foot it is impossible to make a fold from the base near the second toe. The development of lymphedema is associated with the accumulation of fluid, which has a lot of protein in the skin.
The main cause of swelling in a woman’s legs is considered to be venous insufficiency. The liquid begins to penetrate the tissues, resulting in an increase in the amount of intercellular fluid, which is characterized by low viscosity. Normal drainage is disrupted.
Other causes of edema include:
In most cases, evening swelling of the legs is diagnosed in women who work on their feet for a long time.
The feet begin to swell every day in women who sit for a long time, wearing uncomfortable shoes.
The habit of sitting with your legs crossed leads to the appearance of edema in the morning and evening.
High-heeled shoes prevent the calf muscles from contracting normally. As a result, blood stagnation and swelling of the legs occurs.
The main cause of swelling of the right or left leg with the onset of evening is considered to be the following diseases:
The cause of the disease is “elephantiasis”. It is characterized by the outflow of lymph that occurs in the tissue under the skin. The metabolism of the whole organism is disrupted. Severe swelling occurs on the legs, reminiscent of elephant legs.
Liver diseases can cause swelling; a similar disease is affected by disruption of the thyroid gland.
Acute edema refers to those whose development is observed within two days. There are two types of lesions:
The first types of chronic edema include:
Acute bilateral edema is caused by:
Thrombotic complications are in most cases associated with varicose veins of the legs. For example, when you have to stay in bed for a long time or immobilization of the limbs occurs.
The occurrence of complications is associated with chemotherapy for cancer patients. An acute situation often occurs, with partial disruption of the free passage of blood through the deep veins of the legs. The doctor diagnoses cyanosis of the foot, swelling of the lower leg, and sharp pain.
A number of “silent” thromboses are known, characterized by minimal pain and swelling of one leg. The process can proceed in different ways. Possible unilateral course or bilateral swelling.
The doctor examines the patient, notes characteristic changes in skin color and an increase in the volume of the legs. In some cases, the limb becomes noticeably cold, and a sharp pain is felt in the muscles.
To determine vein thrombosis in the lower leg, a Homans test is performed. In case of pain when sneezing, when the saphenous vein is affected on the thigh, a Louvel test is done.
Unilateral edema occurs as a result of:
Usually the disease is associated with chronic problems in the functioning of the venous vessels. Quite often the disease concerns hemodynamic disorders:
When the venous trunks form a bilateral expansion, clearly visible under the skin, swelling, rapid fatigue of the legs, and severe pain after removing the load are observed.
You need to come for a consultation with a therapist. The doctor will order a full examination to determine the condition of the body, then prescribe treatment. In serious cases, he will refer you for examination to a specialist - a phlebologist.
Try to alternate physical activity on your legs with rest. It is useful to sit for a short time at the end of each hour with your legs raised up. Postural drainage is performed in a similar manner. Lymph and accumulated blood will begin to quickly drain away from the swollen lower extremities.
When pregnancy is the cause of swelling, use therapeutic compression stockings. There are no contraindications to wearing anti-edematous tights. Compression stockings are permitted.
To combat edema, you will have to follow a diet. We'll have to forget about smoked meats and stop eating all kinds of salty foods. Replace what has been removed with foods high in iodine. Fruits and vegetables will bring great benefits. Certain items are considered excellent natural diuretics. This includes:
You need to limit your fluid intake.
When preventing swelling of the legs, it is recommended to use ointments designed to improve blood circulation and normalize venous outflow. Remember, ointment cannot cope with the cause of swelling.
Popular medications used externally for leg swelling are:
When the calves of the legs swell, varicose veins are diagnosed, and slimming tights help a lot.
To prevent swelling of the legs, it is not recommended to sit for a long time or be in a static position. You need to change the position of your legs more often. It is useful to place your feet down on a stand. It is advisable not to carry heavy weights; it is better to transport it in a cart. At night, place your feet on a hill, easily made from a blanket.
Wear comfortable shoes. It should not be tight so that it is pleasant to put on shoes. Prefer shoes made of genuine leather; the heel shows complete stability. If your feet often swell, it is not recommended to wear stilettos; the heel height should not exceed five centimeters.
While at work, do not put your legs on top of each other. It is advisable to raise your legs every hour for a few minutes.
To get rid of puffiness, you need to walk barefoot at home more often and not wear tight shoes. When standing on your feet for a long time, it is useful to roll from your toes to your heels. Continue movements for several minutes.
When you come home after work, it is recommended to sit on the edge of the bathtub and put your feet in it. Pour cool water over them, then repeat the operation, but with warm water. This procedure should be carried out for about two minutes.
During the daytime, it is advisable to go up or down the stairs more often.
If your legs are swollen in the evening, it is advisable to have lymphatic drainage performed in the physiotherapist's office.
Before going to bed, swollen feet are rubbed with arnica oil.
Be sure to eat as many fruits and vegetables as possible. Taking asparagus is beneficial for the female body. Swelling of the legs will subside if you drink nettle tea and eat lemons. Of course, they are very sour, but if consumed fresh, the acidity is significantly reduced.
To all women who are faced with the occurrence of leg swelling, I would like to say, take the violation seriously! A simple visit to a therapist can save you from serious illnesses in the future.
It is probably difficult to find a person who, sooner or later, does not face the problem of swelling in various parts of the body. Most often, women experience this symptom, and it mainly affects the lower extremities. Let's figure out what the causes of swelling in the calves are, whether the discomfort should be ignored or whether it could be a sign of a serious illness.
The first thing that is associated with the occurrence of swelling is drinking liquid at night, fatigue accumulated during the day, or abuse of salty foods. And few people think that the list of provoking factors does not end there.
In fact, there are quite a few reasons that contribute to the development of pasty limbs. These can be both harmless cases that can be easily corrected, and symptoms of diseases that require immediate consultation with a doctor for examination, diagnosis and effective treatment.
Factors that can cause swelling of the calf muscle:
Among the diseases that provoke the occurrence of swelling, the following are distinguished:
Important! Methods for treating edema of the lower extremities completely depend on the reasons as a result of which fluid accumulates in problematic areas.
Below we will consider in detail some of the above-mentioned diseases, which are mainly the cause of severely burning calves, redness and swelling in the extremities.
This pathology is most often encountered by women, but sometimes occurs in men. There is a genetic predisposition to the occurrence of this problem and a number of contributing factors to the manifestation of the first symptoms: prolonged physical activity on the lower extremities, high heels, pregnancy, smoking, etc. As a rule, the superficial vessels are affected first, which is manifested by blue discoloration of the skin.
In the future, increased fatigue, swelling of the calf muscle are noted, swelling occurs, and the muscle tissue in the area above the ankle may swell. Patients are practically left with a feeling of heaviness in the legs, severe pain, and possible cramps (usually at night), which brings significant discomfort. In later stages, dermatitis and trophic ulcers may develop at the site of the lesion, the treatment of which is often complex and lengthy.
It is worth noting that the pathology, as a rule, begins with one limb and then progresses. Therefore, the patient’s task when symptoms occur is to take measures to avoid the spread of the disease.
Of course, the primary task when swelling of the calves occurs is to consult a doctor and identify the causes of the swelling. If the diagnosis of vascular damage is confirmed, consult a specialist about auxiliary measures to eliminate complaints or prevent their worsening.
Below are general recommendations:
This symptomatology is treated medicinally with external agents: Venoruton, Heparin ointment, Venozol, Ichthyol.
A common vascular disease, which is based on the formation of blood clots. Naturally, this pathology can occur throughout the body, including in one or both limbs. Symptoms are constant throbbing pain, burning, the calf of the leg hurts, swells, and there is a pronounced feeling of heaviness. At the site of damage to the vessel, the skin becomes smooth, shiny, and veins are clearly visible. Complaints are more pronounced along the back of the leg from the foot to the thigh, and they intensify with physical activity.
The pathology is very dangerous: the resulting blood clot can break off and travel through the bloodstream to any organ, including a vital one, block the lumen of the vessel and lead to death.
Therefore, in the event of a tumor in the calves of the legs, it is so important to consult a doctor in time, identify the causes and decide what to do next in order to eliminate the threat to the patient’s life.
Drug therapy consists of the use of the following drugs: Diclofenac ointment, Ketoprofen, Lyoton 1000, Warfarin, Troxevasin.
When it comes to women carrying a child, you need to be no less vigilant. After all, the health threat exists not only for her, but also for the unborn baby. The reason may lie in a harmless desire for something salty, which provokes fluid accumulation or excessive drinking. But if the calf on your leg is swollen, this may be an alarming symptom of impaired kidney function. You should definitely talk about this at your appointment with your gynecologist.
Thus, swelling and swelling that occurs on the limbs cannot be ignored and hope that everything will go away on its own. By consulting a doctor and conducting a series of examinations, you can prevent the development of serious diseases.
The causes of leg swelling in the evening are most likely venous insufficiency. The so-called venous pump does not function at full strength as before and the muscles have probably become weaker, i.e. There were problems with blood circulation. Blood begins to stagnate in the tissues of the legs and above the ankle joints. Go to the doctor and check your kidneys, heart, and your doctor will probably send you to a phlebologist or angeologist. The phlebologist will check the condition of the veins of the lower extremities, tell you why your legs swell in the evening and prescribe you stockings or stockings to tighten the veins, which you will have to wear regularly.
Try not to put one leg on top of the other when sitting, especially at work, do not forget about this and raise your legs every hour for at least a couple of minutes, if possible. Walk barefoot at home as often as possible and avoid tight shoes. While standing on your feet, roll from your toes to your heels and in the opposite direction for a couple of minutes, and after work, sit on the edge of the bath, lower your feet into it, and pour over them first with cool water and then with warm water. Change the foot shower like this for two minutes. During the day, try to take the stairs. If your legs swell in the evening, ask your doctor to prescribe lymph drainage to a physiotherapist. Before going to bed, rub arnica tincture or arnica oil on swollen feet. It's good to eat more vegetables and fruits. Now it’s asparagus season and it’s very beneficial for the female body. Drink nettle tea, eat lemons (although they are sour, they reduce acidity when fresh), kiwi, pineapples, parsley, and celery.
I also began to notice that my legs sometimes began to swell in the evening. It turned out to be venous insufficiency. The doctor prescribed the venotonic Detralex to improve blood circulation and relieve swelling. I completed the course prescribed for me and my legs stopped swelling. This drug has helped me very well and is effective. Soon I will need to take another course to prevent chronic diseases.
I had the same problem with my legs, my legs swelled in the evening. At first I applied troxevasin, it became easier and the swelling subsided, and then it all started again. I tried to walk more and take the stairs, but it didn’t help... Then I started drinking Detralex, it relieves swelling very well and lasts for a long time. I take it in courses to prevent chronic diseases. A good product and very effective.
Anti-varicose cream Varicobooster helps me with leg fatigue and swelling. From time to time I treat my legs with it and manage without pills. Of course, I forgot about heels, because they are easier on my feet.
Many people experience swollen feet in the evening; it is more difficult for them to put on shoes or fasten the locks on their boots. You can’t help but attach importance to this, even if everything goes away in the morning. Swollen legs can indicate not only lower limb fatigue, but also serious health problems.
What causes your feet to swell? The first reason may be excessive physical activity, if the type of work requires you to stand on your feet or walk a lot. For example, from sellers in stores. Sedentary work also causes swelling in the legs. Tight shoes and high-heeled shoes cause the calf muscles to be tense, which causes stagnation of lymph and blood in the legs, causing swelling. Legs also swell from excessive fluid intake.
Serious diseases such as varicose veins, kidney dysfunction, cardiovascular failure and flat feet can cause swelling of the legs. A disturbance in the outflow of lymph in the subcutaneous tissue and skin, causing severe swelling, is called elephantiasis. It is caused by chronic liver diseases and decreased thyroid function.
If your legs are swollen, what should you do? When girls, in pursuit of a slim figure, begin to abuse diets and fasting, the protein content in the blood may decrease, which will lead to swelling of the limbs, because protein is a necessary element that can retain water in the blood vessels.
Often swollen legs occur in pregnant women due to hormonal changes in the body, and also because the enlarged uterus puts pressure on other organs. This disrupts blood circulation in the limbs and they swell. Therefore, doctors recommend that pregnant women wear a bandage to avoid this problem.
As people age, they become more prone to swelling in their legs. The heart begins to work weaker, the connective tissue becomes decrepit, and less collagen remains in the subcutaneous tissue, which causes more fluid to be retained. In women who have problems with veins and are prone to obesity, swelling often occurs in hot weather. In this case, the skin may acquire a bluish tint.
Doctors recommend eliminating the cause that causes leg swelling. You should not self-medicate or drink diuretics. A phlebologist will give you a comprehensive consultation and help you solve the problem.
The following simple exercises will help tidy up swollen feet if the cause lies in uncomfortable shoes and excessive fatigue:
1. Perform rotational movements clockwise and counterclockwise – 20 times.
2. Pick up small objects from the floor with your toes – 10 times.
3. Walk on your toes on the floor for 5 minutes.
4. Rise on your toes and lower on your heels – 20 times.
5. Spread your toes wide and then press them towards your feet. This will help relieve fatigue from your legs (repeat the exercise 20 times).
Do not wear tight shoes, give preference to models made of genuine leather with a comfortable last, with a stable and not very high heel. If your feet often swell, eliminate stiletto heels from your wardrobe. Do not stand or sit in one position for a long time; if possible, raise your legs up more often. Don’t carry heavy things; as a last resort, buy a bag with wheels. Train yourself to sleep with your feet on a blanket cushion. Limit the consumption of liquids, pickles, and smoked foods. Eat more foods that contain potassium and iodine, as well as fruits and vegetables that produce a diuretic effect.
Many adults, especially women, are familiar with the problem of swelling of the legs. Fluid retention in the soft tissues of the lower extremities provokes a feeling of heaviness. Swelling of the legs occurs for many reasons. In some cases, swelling of the legs is provoked only by intense exercise, wearing tight shoes, hormonal changes and other reasons that have nothing to do with health. Swelling of the legs, especially in the evenings, is also characteristic of some diseases, so this symptom cannot be ignored.
Causes of swelling of the legs in the evening in a healthy person:
If a person discovers a tendency for his legs to swell in the evening, he should visit a doctor and undergo all the necessary tests. Only after undergoing diagnostics can you find out why your legs swell and what to do to solve this problem. If a disease is discovered that causes fluid retention in the body, it will need to be cured. Only after recovery will the swelling of the legs disappear.
As for swelling of the legs in pregnant women, this problem requires monitoring by a doctor who is involved in the management of pregnancy. Swelling during pregnancy should not be ignored, as it may indicate gestosis - a dangerous complication of pregnancy.
Swelling in the legs makes a person feel uncomfortable, but there are some techniques that can help solve the problem of swollen limbs. You can relieve swelling with simple exercises (you need to do them after taking off your shoes and socks):
To eliminate the feeling of fatigue, you can take a foot bath in the evening with the addition of a few drops of menthol essential oil or sea salt (a tablespoon per liter of water).
You can effectively eliminate swelling of the legs in the evening by rubbing with an ointment prepared according to this recipe: camphor and olive oils are mixed in equal proportions. Rub the ointment carefully on the feet and put on socks. The procedure should be done at night.
Rubbing your feet and calf muscles with ice cubes will help improve the condition of your legs.
The use of certain medications available in the form of gels and ointments will help eliminate swelling in the legs. These are Lyoton-gel, Troxevasin and heparin ointment. The products have tonic, decongestant and cooling effects. You should consult your doctor before using these medications.
How to avoid swelling?
To prevent the formation of edema, you should eat properly: limit the consumption of salt (especially in the evening), preservatives and processed foods, and also enrich your diet with foods that have a diuretic effect:
You can avoid swelling on your feet by wearing comfortable, high-quality shoes. If a person is forced to sit for a long time, then he should not forget about periodically warming up his legs. You should also avoid crossing one leg over the other in a sitting position, since this habit causes the development of not only edema, but also varicose veins. Avoiding gaining extra pounds is an important measure to prevent leg swelling.
As for the fight against edema with the help of diuretic tablets, such drugs should be taken only as prescribed by a doctor.