Swelling of the legs in the foot area is most common among the fair sex, which is explained by wearing narrow shoes with high heels. Among men, such symptoms are extremely rare and are caused by the development of certain diseases. Any swelling involves the use of therapeutic measures, which directly depend on identifying the cause of leg swelling in the ankle and foot.
The occurrence of swelling in the ankle and leg area can be caused by external and internal factors.
Depending on the factor that provokes the development of edema, they are classified as:
In addition, Quincke's edema is quite common, which is extremely dangerous and threatens the patient's life due to paralysis of the respiratory muscles.
Swelling in the feet does not always indicate the development of serious diseases. Quite often, this phenomenon has physiological causes, for example, women’s legs may swell during pregnancy or menstruation. The limbs can swell even in completely healthy people when standing for a long time, flying on an airplane, walking in high heels, etc.
Among the diseases that lead to swelling of the lower extremities, the most common are:
This disease poses a serious danger to the patient, since a blood clot may form in the vascular lumen, which can clog the vascular lumen and lead to the death of the patient. It is the accumulation of blood in the walls of blood vessels that leads to the development of swelling of the legs.
Factors in the formation of blood clots can be:
With the development of thrombosis, the site of edema becomes hyperemic, compacted and hot to the touch. In this case, the right limb may be more swollen than the left. In severe cases, ulcers may form
It is important to remember that if a limb is swollen due to thrombosis, it is necessary to urgently seek medical help. Otherwise, irreversible consequences are possible.
With this disease, swelling is accompanied by the appearance of a purplish-bluish tint at the location of the veins of the lower extremities. Swelling appears in the evening, and after rest it decreases. Due to the expansion of the veins, a vascular pattern is visible, and subcutaneous hemorrhages and the formation of trophic ulcers are observed. On palpation, the patient's feet are cold to the touch.
If symptoms of varicose veins are detected, you need to consult a doctor who will prescribe a number of diagnostic measures in the form of Doppler ultrasound, biochemical blood test, etc. The patient is recommended to wear compression garments, reduce physical activity on the lower extremities, drug therapy, and in case of severe symptoms, surgery is recommended.
Swelling that occurs with decreased production of thyroid hormone can lead to the development of tibial myxidema, in which the skin becomes rough and cracks, but the swelling does not hurt. The swelling is quite dense, and the characteristic pits after pressure are absent. At the beginning of the development of the disease, swelling appears on the extremities and then spreads upward. For this disease, consultation with an endocrinologist is necessary, who will prescribe diagnosis and subsequent treatment.
As a rule, any kidney disease is accompanied by symmetrical swelling of the extremities (the volume of the right and left feet is the same), but most often the back of the feet swells. During the day, the swelling does not decrease even after rest, but there is no characteristic pain. In case of renal failure, in addition to the limbs, the face also swells.
Joints can swell due to arthrosis and arthritis, which reduces their mobility. In this case, swelling most often occurs on one leg, while the other leg at the ankle does not change. The pain is present in the morning and after heavy physical exertion. Such diseases last quite a long time, alternating with remissions and exacerbations, which lead to the development of dystrophic changes in the cartilage tissue, leading to severe swelling in the ankle area.
In this disease, edema is caused by stagnant processes in tissues and organs, which arise as a result of insufficiently good blood supply to the heart muscle. The limbs swell symmetrically, they are painless and cold to the touch.
Treatment of the disease involves taking antihypertensive and antihypertensive drugs, as well as cardiac glycosides, which normalize the strength and rhythm of cardiac activity. In addition, you should follow a salt-free diet and moderate physical activity.
During pregnancy, swelling, especially in the feet, is caused by increasing pressure from the enlarging uterus and compression of the ureter. As a preventive measure, gynecologists recommend adjusting the diet and limiting salt consumption (no more than 8 grams). In case of edema, accompanied by changes in urine analysis and hypertension, there is a suspicion of gestosis, which requires mandatory hospitalization.
In severe cases of edema, immediate consultation with a doctor is required.
Swelling of the lower extremities as a result of fractures, sprains and ligament ruptures are most often observed. Another reason why a limb swells is a sedentary lifestyle. This leads to joint pain and increased swelling.
In order to select the most effective therapy, a number of diagnostic measures are prescribed, which include the following procedures:
If necessary, X-ray examination, MRI and CT are prescribed. If the swelling is short-term and is not accompanied by a number of negative manifestations, then treatment is not required. As a rule, they go away on their own. In more severe cases, after a diagnostic study, complex therapy is prescribed.
To relieve swelling and remove excess fluid from the body, traditional therapy is prescribed, including:
When fluid is removed from the body as a result of taking diuretics, the concentration of potassium in the body decreases, which can provoke seizures and cardiac problems.
Before starting therapy, it is necessary to consult a doctor, since some medications, for example, diuretics, eliminate only the symptoms of the disease without affecting their cause
Alternative medicine methods are often used to relieve swelling.
The following recipes are most often used in treatment:
A compress of onions and honey is quite effective, despite the simplicity of preparation.
It is important to remember that, despite the relief of pain symptoms as a result of exposure to alcohol compresses, in some cases they are contraindicated, as they have a vasodilating effect. Therefore, before prescribing therapy, consultation with a doctor is required.
In addition to external treatment, proper nutrition is of great importance in preventing the development of edema of the lower extremities. It is preferable to include fermented milk products (cottage cheese, kefir, low-fat natural yogurt, etc.) in the diet, as well as cucumbers, spinach, pumpkin, apples and other vegetables and fruits that have a diuretic effect.
As a rule, traditional treatment includes the complex use of exercise therapy:
The set of therapeutic exercises may vary depending on the causes of edema, the presence of chronic diseases and the severity of the patient’s general condition
Since in some cases swelling indicates hidden diseases, the main method of preventing such a condition is prevention, which consists of the following measures:
The treatment of edema should be taken very seriously and first of all you need to visit a doctor who will find out the cause of the development of the pathological condition. If these conditions are ignored and therapy is not started in a timely manner, a number of serious consequences are possible, which will require a long period of time and more aggressive therapy to combat. The prognosis for recovery depends on the results of early diagnosis. In most cases, the therapy leads to a successful result.
Swelling of the ankles causes a lot of trouble: you can’t fasten your boots, you can’t put on your shoes. Fortunately, this phenomenon goes away on its own. But only in the absence of serious pathologies that provoke swelling that does not subside for a long time.
First you need to analyze all possible deviations and find “yours.” And only then start therapy. Expectant mothers often experience swelling. Especially in the second half of the term. The main reasons for the phenomenon:
1) The growing uterus puts pressure on large vessels. Therefore, venous outflow from the extremities is disrupted. At the same time, the normal functioning of the kidneys becomes difficult. They cannot remove fluid from the body as usual. Such swelling is physiological in nature and does not pose a danger to the child and mother. After rest, swelling disappears.
2) Malfunctions of the liver, kidneys or heart. Edema associated with diseases of these organs affects not only the limbs, but also other parts of the body. They don't go away after a night's rest.
It is necessary to be fully examined. Once the exact diagnosis is known, serious treatment can begin.
Damage to the ankle or foot (sprain, sprain, fracture) is accompanied by swelling of the ankle. The leg hurts, and when there is a load on it (while walking, for example), the pain intensifies.
1) Apply ice;
2) Make a tight bandage;
3) Lie down or squat, immobilize the injured leg by lifting it.
The swelling should decrease. If this does not happen, the pain persists, and qualified help from a traumatologist is needed.
Swelling of the legs due to heart failure is not accompanied by pain. It appears as a result of weakness of the heart muscles. Blood flows to organs and systems through arteries from the left ventricle. It supplies oxygen to the tissues and takes away waste elements. Next, the blood is sent through the veins to the right side of the heart. From there it goes to the lungs, where it is again saturated with oxygen. Then the blood returns to the ventricle of the left half of the heart and repeats its path again.
As a result of diseases of the cardiovascular system, the heart muscles weaken. The human motor cannot fully perform its functions. The heart is unable to push all the blood without oxygen into the lungs. It collects in the veins. Over time they increase. The liquid component of the blood seeps into the tissue. Swelling appears.
Frequent accompanying symptoms:
Treatment of cardiac edema consists of treating the underlying disease. If shortness of breath appears, blood pressure rises, or heaviness in the chest is felt, it is necessary to urgently call for medical help.
The disease develops due to problems in the lymphatic system. Lymph is a protein fluid. It is cleared of unnecessary elements in the lymph nodes. If the lymph flow is disrupted, fluid accumulates in the tissues. This is why your legs and arms swell. At first the swelling is not noticeable. But over time it increases in size. This is the main sign by which the disease can be recognized.
After clarifying the diagnosis, qualified treatment is necessary. If you ignore the alarming symptoms, the chronic stage develops - lymphedema. At this degree, the legs become deformed.
Weakening of the valves in the deep veins interferes with the normal flow of blood. It flows down. For this reason, fluid accumulates in the ankles and feet. Swelling forms.
Other manifestations of the disease:
a) bursting pain, decreasing after rest;
b) night muscle cramps;
c) pigmentation of the skin in the damaged area;
d) ulcers, dermatitis and eczema (in the chronic form of the disease).
1) compression therapy (using elastic bandages or special knitwear);
2) sclerotherapy (injection of special substances into a vein that irritate its inner wall);
3) surgery (removal of a conglomerate of dilated veins and ligation of the area where it flows into the femoral vein).
a) diseased kidneys or liver;
b) infection (causes swelling in diabetics and people who have lost sensitivity);
d) long-term use of hormones, steroids and antidepressants.
In the latter case, a doctor should replace the drug or reduce its dosage.
Swelling of the ankles most often occurs in women. As a result, the weaker half develops a large number of complexes, because the appearance of the legs deteriorates, and the woman has to give up skirts and dresses. Serious problems arise with shoes. When the ankles are swollen, ankle boots or boots put too much pressure on the legs or don’t fasten at all. What to do in this situation? How to get rid of swollen ankles?
There are a large number of reasons that lead to the accumulation of excess fluid. It is worth noting that some causes are quite life-threatening. For example, pathology of the heart, blood vessels, renal and liver failure, pulmonary diseases. If the disease is not treated promptly, it can result in serious complications.
Also lead to ankle swelling :
Sometimes your ankles may swell in the evening after a hot day. Quite often, swelling worries pregnant women.
Attention! It is impossible to find out the cause of ankle swelling on your own, so timely consultation with a doctor is necessary.
A person must undergo an x-ray and a cardiogram. It is necessary to examine the liver and kidneys. Additionally, urine and blood tests are performed. Once diagnosed, timely treatment is necessary.
In some situations, the ankles swell due to arthrosis or rheumatism. In this situation, not only the ankles, but also the surrounding joints can swell and become inflamed. In addition to swelling, severe pain appears, it becomes more intense at night or in the morning. During the day, pain intensifies when a person begins to move a lot. To get rid of unpleasant symptoms, timely treatment is necessary, otherwise everything may end in joint deformation.
An unpleasant symptom may appear after sports training, most often after running. Ankles can also swell when the shoes for sports are not chosen correctly. It is important to choose comfortable sneakers or sneakers for classes. To avoid ankle swelling, do not overload your legs. Be sure to follow the measure.
If you are bitten by an insect and swelling occurs. The following actions urgently need to be taken:
Why does swelling occur after a bite? After the poison is deep in the skin, it begins to become very red, irritated, and swollen. In order not to aggravate the process, you should not touch the wound, much less comb it.
To get rid of itching, you can make a soda solution, use it to wipe the bite area. If the affected area is not treated in a timely manner, the swelling will persist for a long time (about a month), and this can result in problems with blood vessels and serious circulatory problems.
In the event of a fracture or sprain of the ankle, swelling develops immediately because hemorrhage occurs. A person experiences sharp pain, which is especially noticeable after turning the foot.
A bone fracture is dangerous; in this case, the ankle area becomes very swollen. Only the attending physician can find out whether it is a fracture or sprain. To do this, he prescribes an x-ray.
A rather dangerous disease that occurs when there is a malfunction in the lymphatic system. Lymph is a protein fluid that undergoes a cleansing process in the lymph nodes. When the lymph flow is disrupted, fluid begins to accumulate in large quantities in the tissues, causing the arms and legs to swell.
At first, the swelling is unnoticeable, but over time it can significantly increase in size. This is one of the main symptoms of the disease. If you do not pay attention to lymphostasis in a timely manner, everything can end with deformation of the legs.
When the valves in the deep veins weaken, blood flow may be impaired. It begins to flow down. A lot of fluid accumulates in the ankle area, then a large amount of edema forms.
Venous insufficiency can be recognized by the following signs:
To alleviate the condition of venous insufficiency, you need to pay attention to:
In severe cases of venous insufficiency, surgery is necessary.
If the cause of edema is not serious, you need to drink as little water as possible and remove salt from your diet. Also forget about alcoholic drinks.
To quickly relieve swelling, you need to prepare a chamomile decoction and freeze it in cubes, then wipe the swollen areas. In the evening, your legs should definitely rest: place them on a raised surface.
Salt baths (their temperature should not exceed 35 degrees) and contrast showers will help you forget about swelling. If you want to avoid foot problems, wear comfortable and high-quality shoes, then you will not have any health problems.
So, ankle swelling is a common problem for every woman. To avoid having to get rid of it, you need to take care of your feet in advance. It is recommended to avoid uncomfortable shoes, not to overload your feet, and to give them rest. If swelling and pain begin to constantly bother you, you should consult a doctor. You may have a serious pathology of the heart, kidneys, or liver. Undergo additional examination and course of therapy to avoid complications in the future.
Disturbed water-salt balance in the human body and untimely release of fluid are the main culprits of edema. They provoke the occurrence of swelling of the lower extremities, which is an accumulation of fluid in the tissues of the ankles. It may seem to many that there is no particular danger in the accumulation of excess water in the ankles. Actually this is not true.
If swelling of the legs occurs, you should see a doctor immediately. In the vast majority of cases, edema indicates the development of certain diseases. Therefore, it is extremely important to determine the cause of the unpleasant symptom.
There are many root causes why swelling in the lower leg area may occur. Initially, it should be noted that such swelling can be of two types: unilateral and bilateral . It’s easy to guess that if both limbs swell, then we are talking about bilateral edema, which most often indicates the presence of some kind of illness. Swelling on one leg is called unilateral. The latter appears against the background of trauma.
The above reasons for the appearance of bilateral edema are an alarm for any person, a condition that requires drug treatment. Therefore, when swelling of this kind appears, it is important to immediately make an appointment with a specialist.
Unilateral edema: from what and why?
Swelling of the legs: causes, consequences, treatment of swelling of the lower extremities with folk remedies. Advice from experts in the “Live Healthy” program.
Has there been a fracture? Surely you have already noticed that the injured leg is swollen. Swelling during fractures is a common occurrence, the first symptom of a violation of bone integrity. Swelling around the site of the lesion appears due to poor circulation in the affected area.
Swelling associated with a broken leg usually does not subside for several weeks or even months and can bother a person for a long time. It is not uncommon for swelling to appear not only as a result of circulatory disorders, but also against the background of muscle or ligament damage (severe sprain, rupture, etc.).
The occurrence of edema during a leg fracture is in most cases accompanied by severe pain and redness. A more serious injury is an open fracture, in which not only the area near the fracture site may swell, but the entire leg. Sometimes a person loses sensation in the superficial layers of the skin at the site of swelling.
There are a lot of effective and efficient, as well as dubious, ways to relieve leg swelling after a fracture. Official medicine may recommend taking modern medications or certain procedures. Traditional medicine does not lag behind and gives its recommendations on this matter.
Physiotherapy . In addition to “external” therapy, physiotherapy is widely used:
Massage . To relieve swelling, a traumatologist may recommend hydro or classical massage of the injured limb. It improves not only blood circulation through damaged tissues, but also normalizes the processes of production and drainage of lymph. Ideally, you should entrust the therapeutic massage to a professional massage therapist.
It is not uncommon for the bone to heal well and the cast to be removed, but after a while swelling of the previously injured leg appears. As a rule, such swelling occurs due to impaired lymphatic drainage and is called “lymphostasis.”
In this case, “lymphostasis” develops - a condition characterized by impaired production and drainage of lymph, which is accompanied by swelling of the limb.
Post-fracture swelling is not normal. If the plaster has already been removed, rehabilitation is over, and the swelling has not gone away or, on the contrary, has just appeared, you should immediately see a doctor. Ignoring the problem can lead to disastrous consequences: disruption of the normal functioning and mobility of the limb, and the occurrence of a disease such as elephantiasis.
Traditional methods of relieving swelling did not bring the expected effect? Try turning to people's advice. In some cases, traditional medicine can relieve swelling much faster and reduce pain.
Sea salt . ? pour 2 liters of warm water over a glass of salt. Generously soak a terry towel in the solution and wrap it around your ankles. The procedure should be repeated twice a day. The course of treatment is from 7 to 10 days.
Kalanchoe . Pour a few crushed flower leaves into 1 liter of vodka. Place the jar of tincture in a cool, dark place for 2 weeks. After this time, the tincture should be used to rub swollen ankles before bed.
It would be a good idea to replace the teas that are familiar to many with herbal decoctions, which also have a mild diuretic effect.
You were examined by a doctor, but it was not possible to establish the visible causes and ailments leading to swelling. In this case, you can try to reduce ankle swelling at home yourself. To this end, you should:
Simple recommendations will help get rid of puffiness and forget about this problem for a long time.
Get rid of swollen feet in 5 minutes. Don't know how? Experts from the “Everything Will Be Good” program give effective recommendations.
In order not to encounter such a problem as swelling of the ankles, you should follow simple rules:
Swelling is not an unpleasant symptom, but an alarm signal warning that the body needs help. If swelling has become regular, swollen areas of the skin have become hard, and the skin temperature has increased, you should immediately make an appointment with a specialist to make a diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment.
The formation of edema is always accompanied by a number of internal changes, which can be caused by both diseases of the body and provoking factors that negatively affect the general state of human health. Most often, areas of swelling are concentrated in the tissues of the lower extremities, which receive significant stress throughout life; in the absence of the necessary attention and support, various pathologies may develop, accompanied by the formation of edema. Swelling of the legs of any localization, in particular in the ankle or ankle area, provokes discomfort in the patient and can cause leg deformation.
Edema developing in the tissues of the lower extremities can be located differently, have a different nature and the reasons that caused them. The areas of swelling can be divided into types depending on their location, degree of manifestation, form of severity and prevalence. The initial stage of any swelling in the leg area is accompanied by minor tissue changes, but you should pay attention to even minor changes: this will prevent a possible worsening of the pathology and prevent the swelling from moving from the initial stage to a more advanced one.
Swelling in the legs can occur in the following parts:
The degree of development of edema also determines the size of the affected area: the initial stage of the pathological process is characterized by a smaller size of the affected tissue; in more advanced conditions, an increase in the affected area is noted.
There is such a division of edema localized in the tissues of the lower extremities:
Depending on the leg on which pathological edema has developed, left-sided and right-sided varieties are distinguished; often the area of edema occurs on both legs symmetrically.
When swelling occurs on one of the limbs, we should talk about unilateral edema. This manifestation is most often observed with local damage to the tissues of the leg, with mechanical damage to a particular leg. And although such swelling, localized on one leg, does not pose a serious danger to human health (a frequent reason for their appearance can be a person’s prolonged stay in an upright or sitting position, or lack of physical activity), however, even minor changes in the tissues of the legs should be promptly treated , preventing the aggravation of pathological manifestations.
In case of mechanical damage to the tissues of one of the legs (for example, due to an insect bite, a blow or sprain of muscles or ligaments), swelling appears very quickly, their treatment is quite simple and does not take long. Such edema goes away faster, requires less serious treatment and is usually not a consequence of organic pathologies.
Swelling of the ankles with the development of a unilateral form of this disease is more common than other types of swelling of the tissues of the legs. This part of the lower extremities is most often subjected to various mechanical influences, as a result of which this type of edema develops. When internal organs are damaged, edema can result from the development of such serious disorders in the functioning of the body as heart failure, inadequate functioning of the kidneys and urinary system. Swelling of any area of the right leg may be considered less dangerous than that of the left leg. This is due to the fact that in case of heart damage (for example, heart failure), the left side of the body suffers, including the lower limbs.
Edema developing on both legs can be a manifestation or consequence of internal pathologies. Congestion in the legs, poor removal of excess accumulated fluid from the body is accompanied by such manifestations as loss of sensitivity in the affected area, change in skin tone at the site of edema.
Swelling of the ankles can have various causes, and identifying them will minimize the likely negative consequences of this manifestation. Also, diagnosing the cause of such edema allows us to minimize the risk of worsening the pathology.
The most common causes of swelling in the legs are the following diseases:
The listed diseases, which most often result in swelling in the tissues of the legs, can be complemented by prolonged wearing of tight or uncomfortable shoes, staying in an upright or sitting position.
Swelling of the ankle is accompanied by a disruption of the normal sensitivity of the tissues of the leg in this area; the color of the skin gradually changes: it turns pale in the early stages of the development of edema, then acquires a bluish tint. Swelling of the ankle can be caused by and aggravated by serious diseases such as diabetes mellitus and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Fractures require the application of a plaster cast to the damaged limb, which prevents constant movement of the broken bones. And after removing the plaster, swelling can often be detected, which is explained by a significant limitation of leg mobility and the appearance of congestion. For faster recovery, fractures or sprains require the application of a tight bandage, which ensures immobility of the leg and faster healing of the bone or restoration of the ligament, which is why plaster is especially suitable in this case.
Swelling on the ankles of the legs after removing the plaster cast from them can gradually decrease in size and degree of manifestation on their own, however, more attention should be paid to the damaged limb for its speedy recovery and elimination of signs of fluid stagnation in it.
The causes of swelling that occur in the ankle area can also occur with minor sprains of the leg. The reasons for this injury may be increased physical activity, weakness of the ligaments and muscles of the ankle.
The onset of pregnancy is accompanied by significant hormonal changes in a woman’s body. With constantly growing body weight and significant changes in the body of the expectant mother, there is a high probability of developing edema. This can also be caused by an increase in the total volume of blood, which nourishes not only the woman’s body, but also the growing baby. Swelling of the ankles is especially common during pregnancy: it is this area that receives the greatest load due to the movement of the body with increased weight.
Since the internal organs are compressed by the constantly growing uterus, there are disturbances in the functioning of the bladder and kidneys, which are responsible for the process of removing excess fluid from the body. In this case, disturbances in blood flow may also occur, which, due to an increase in blood volume, does not fully perform its functions.
To begin treatment and be confident in its success, you should carry out the necessary diagnostics in a timely manner, which will allow you to make an accurate diagnosis and draw up the most effective treatment regimen. Swelling of the legs at the ankle will require the following measures to diagnose:
With significant swelling, pain is noted, which intensifies with mechanical action on the affected area, and blood and urine tests are performed to identify active pathological processes in the body of an infectious or inflammatory nature. The appearance of the very first symptoms in the form of a change in the size of the legs or part of it, the appearance of pain and changes in skin color is the time to consult a doctor to prevent the intensification of pathological manifestations and aggravation of processes in the tissues of the legs.
Since edema often occurs with kidney disease, the urinary system should be checked first when edema appears.
Methods of therapeutic effects on edema of various natures may vary. Damage that has formed on the ankle and ankle area, caused by stagnation of fluid in the tissues, can be eliminated by the use of medications, physiotherapy, and traditional medicine methods.
Drugs with diuretic and anti-inflammatory effects eliminate even significant swelling of the ankles. The doctor selects suitable diuretic drugs by conducting tests and examining the affected area.
The use of anti-inflammatory drugs makes it possible to prevent the development of inflammatory and infectious processes, speed up recovery and eliminate the most obvious manifestations of swelling. Treatment with medications is considered especially effective for swelling of the legs.
You can follow folk advice after consulting a doctor; it is preferable to carry out such treatment in parallel with the use of drug therapy. Having a good supporting and stimulating effect, traditional medicine stimulates the immune system, preventing the risk of worsening edema.
The impact of physical therapy exercises allows you to speed up the healing process by activating all processes in the body. Stimulating blood circulation, removing toxins from tissues. Fracture sites heal faster under normal loads, but care must be taken during rehabilitation after mechanical damage in order to eliminate tissue swelling.
Massage, exposure to ultrasound and electromagnetic radiation make the use of physical exercise more effective.
Swelling of the ankle, calf, or sole that may develop in the tissues of the left or right leg can be reduced by following these guidelines:
The listed recommendations will help maintain the health of your feet, and at the initial stage of the appearance of swelling, prevent a possible worsening of the pathological process.
To prevent swelling of the ankles, lower legs, thighs and soles, you should follow the recommendations listed above for preventing swelling of the feet. If there is a hereditary tendency to leg lesions or poor circulation, you should carefully monitor your diet, eliminate bad habits, and get diagnosed by a doctor in a timely manner.
The initial stages of the pathological process may be more amenable to therapeutic effects, preventing the occurrence of side effects.
Basically, such a problem as swelling of the legs in the ankle area worries women. After all, as a result, the appearance of their legs deteriorates and it becomes impossible to wear a dress or skirt. Problems arise with the choice of shoes. Tight boots or ankle boots may simply not fasten or put too much pressure on your feet, which often leads to numbness. In general, any swelling is an accumulation of excess fluid in a particular area. Most often they appear in the area of the feet and ankles. There are many ways to deal with this problem.
The main cause of swelling in the ankle area is mainly a variety of diseases or disruption of certain processes in the body. They can be very dangerous. For example, cardiac congestive failure. That is why you should always pay attention to such a problem, because it can tell a person about serious disorders and diseases of his body. Including liver or kidney failure, as well as lung diseases.
If you do not pay attention to the signs of your body, then in the future the disease may manifest itself more actively and seriously and lead a person to numerous health problems.
Another common cause of such swelling is any previous leg infections, thyroid problems, blood clots, chronic venous insufficiency and varicose veins.
And less dangerous causes are the bites of certain insects, burns of the skin on the legs and even malnutrition. Sometimes the ankles become swollen after taking any medicine. This is how the body’s individual reaction to taking a new drug is expressed.
The accumulation of excess fluid can also be caused by staying in one position for a long time, especially on hot days. And, of course, swelling very often worries expectant mothers.
It is worth noting that it is quite difficult to independently determine the cause of such an unpleasant phenomenon. To do this, you need to conduct a number of different examinations. A person is usually prescribed a cardiogram, x-ray, examination of the kidneys and liver, and also donation of blood and urine for analysis.
If the doctor has determined one of these causes of ankle swelling, then the patient needs urgent treatment. As a rule, with arthritis, other joints besides the ankle become inflamed. It not only swells, but also hurts, especially at night, closer to the morning. But in the daytime, painful sensations are noticeable only when walking and are much less pronounced.
If proper, competent treatment is not started in time, the consequences for the patient can be very disastrous.
Sometimes swelling in this area occurs after intense sports training, especially after running. Most often this occurs as a result of wearing ill-fitting, uncomfortable shoes. This is why it is very important to carefully choose sneakers for physical activities. Modern sports stores offer their customers special running sneakers. True, many people ignore such suggestions, believing that any sneakers are suitable for this purpose.
In fact, sports shoes should be created taking into account all the characteristics of the human body so that the load on it is optimally distributed.
In addition, physical activity should be individually selected for each person. Don't overload yourself and run around the stadium until your last breath. Everything needs moderation.
Sometimes after being bitten by an insect, noticeable swelling occurs in the ankle area. First you need to try to remove it with ice. To do this, ice is wrapped in thick cloth and then applied to the bite site. The same area can also be wiped with any alcohol tincture. Alcohol not only disinfects, but is also able to stop bleeding and numb the affected area.
At the moment of the bite, the insect's venom is injected into the skin, after which swelling occurs and redness appears. In order not to intensify this, the wounds should not be touched, much less scratched. This will increase their healing period several times. Warm water with baking soda, which can be used to wipe the bite area, will help get rid of the itching.
Swelling after an insect bite in the ankle area can persist for a very long time, up to 2-3 weeks, which sometimes leads to problems with blood vessels as a result of poor circulation. Therefore, you should not leave the problem to chance.
With such a stretch, swelling appears very quickly, as hemorrhage occurs. A person feels a sharp pain in this area, it is especially noticeable if you try to turn the foot inward. Only an experienced specialist can help the patient in this case. Under no circumstances should you self-medicate for sprains.
And, of course, swelling may indicate a fracture of one or another bone. As a result of an ankle fracture, it can instantly become very swollen. Only a doctor can decide whether it is a fracture or just a severe sprain. This may require taking a photo and undergoing some other examinations.
If there are no serious reasons for edema, then you can simply try to reduce the amount of water you drink daily and also consume less salt. It is best to completely eliminate alcohol from your diet during treatment.
You can, for example, freeze chamomile decoction in cubes and then wipe the swelling areas with them. And also always give your legs a rest at the end of the day by placing them on a slight elevation.
Special salt baths, the temperature of which does not exceed 35 degrees, as well as alternating hot and cold showers can also help cope with swelling.
If you always take care of your health and wear only comfortable, high-quality shoes, then such problems will never bother you.
Almost every person experiences swelling of the legs in the ankle area. Most often, this problem affects women who wear high-heeled shoes. Sometimes swollen feet can be caused by constantly straining the foot while walking, causing fluid to accumulate near the ankle. Swelling can occur on both legs equally. The main thing is to identify the cause in time and eliminate it.
In this article, you will learn about the main causes of ankle swelling, precautions and treatment.
Medical experts have come to a consensus that swelling in the legs in the ankle area can have a variety of causes. There are the following types of edema:
Unilateral edema is manifested by the formation of swelling as a result of the accumulation of fluid on one of the legs. Swelling occurs on one side of the ankle. The accumulation of fluid in this area can be caused by:
Swelling near the ankle occurs when the joints, bones or ligaments are injured. With a closed type of bone fracture in the ankle area, a sharp pain syndrome and swelling are felt, which in this case is caused by the accumulation of blood flowing from damaged blood vessels.
The ankle may also become swollen due to blocked blood vessels. Thrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms in a vessel. This indicates a circulatory disorder. The vessel may be completely blocked or narrowed. The person experiences pain and swelling appears. Along with the formation of blood clots, an inflammatory process in the veins, called thrombophlebitis, can develop.
An infection in an open wound on the leg, especially in the ankle area, can cause swelling of the latter. Infectious pathogens give rise to the development of the inflammatory process. Swelling may appear in the presence of certain skin diseases or with the development of abscesses and cellulitis.
The development of an inflammatory process caused by a disease, for example, arthrosis or arthritis, can lead to the appearance of ankle swelling. The accumulation of fluid is not due to inflammation, but to a change in load or its improper distribution on the joint tissues.
Often, swelling in the ankle area can occur as a result of an amphibian or insect bite. When they bite, they release a toxic substance that gets under the skin and leads to the development of an inflammatory process. In most cases, swelling can be caused by an allergic reaction to the bite.
Varicose veins often appear in women. There are many reasons and factors that contribute to the appearance of this disease. As a result of venous insufficiency, swelling appears in the ankle area. The development of swelling indicates a disruption in the functioning of the valve apparatus and the fact that blood is moving inappropriately to the heart. Blood stagnates in the veins, and the surrounding fluid begins to soak into other tissue and intertissue layers, resulting in the formation of edema.
Bilateral swelling in the ankle area occurs on both legs. This phenomenon may be due to the following reasons:
If a person remains in one static position for a long time, for example, sitting or standing, then swelling may be observed in the ankle area due to a temporary disturbance in the outflow of lymph. Therefore, when your lifestyle involves sedentary work or standing, for example, at a machine or some equipment, you periodically need to change your static position and give your legs the opportunity to rest.
Shoes should be beautiful and comfortable. This primarily applies to everyday shoes. Women love to wear high-heeled shoes; often the last itself can be uncomfortable and cause discomfort over time. Leaving the foot in an unnatural (wrong) position for a long time can cause swelling. Swelling can also occur after playing sports. If you wear uncomfortable sports shoes, the outflow of blood and lymph is disrupted, as a result of which swelling will also appear in the ankle area.
If a person is overweight or suffers from varying degrees of obesity, the appearance of swelling in the ankle area is quite natural. There is excessive pressure on the joints, and fluid and blood circulation is impaired.
During pregnancy, swelling in the ankle area may appear in the third trimester, closer to the process of delivery. This is due to the fact that the reproductive organ compresses the genital vein, therefore blood circulation and outflow of fluid are disrupted.
The water balance is disturbed as a result of a malfunction of the kidneys. The permeability of the walls of blood vessels increases, and therefore unremoved fluid accumulates between the tissues. High blood pressure can lead to swelling in the ankle area. Most often, this manifestation occurs in the afternoon.
When identifying diseases associated with impaired lymph outflow, a concomitant symptom is the formation of edema. Lymph accumulates in and between the tissues, resulting in swelling in the ankle and lower leg area.
Often, long-term use of pharmacological drugs belonging to the hormonal, antihypertensive group, or antidepressants can lead to the accumulation of fluid in the tissue layers, resulting in swelling in the ankle area.
If you begin to notice that your legs, especially in the ankle area, are swelling, then you need to contact your doctor. If this is associated with a sprain, joint damage, dislocation or fracture, you should immediately go to a traumatologist. If the swelling is associated with mechanical damage to the leg, then you should contact a therapist who will conduct a full-scale examination and be able to identify the cause of this phenomenon.
Depending on the cause of swelling, the treating specialist will prescribe an individual treatment course. It is not recommended to start taking diuretic pharmacological or folk remedies on your own without prior consultation with a specialist. This can only cause an exacerbation and worsen the disease.
If the legs in the ankle area constantly swell, but this is not associated with the development of a serious disease, but is caused by wearing uncomfortable shoes, pregnancy or increased body weight, doctors recommend taking the following measures yourself:
The appearance of swelling of the legs can be due to various reasons. It is imperative to undergo a full examination. If swelling appears as a result of the development of serious pathologies, the doctor will prescribe a course of treatment with pharmacological agents. Remember, in women, swelling most often occurs due to wearing uncomfortable shoes.