Most often, the lower parts of the legs—the feet and ankles—swell. This localization is caused by a natural reason - gravity.
When swelling occurs, fluid accumulates in the tissues. Excess fluid is easily determined. If you press firmly with your finger on the swollen area, then after you remove your finger, a depression will remain in this place for some time.
Often the cause of swelling of the legs is venous diseases (chronic or acute thrombophlebitis, varicose veins of the saphenous veins, phlebothrombosis. Due to these diseases, the outflow of blood from the feet and ankles is disrupted, and intracapillary pressure increases.
Edema develops on the affected leg. It is often preceded by the onset of pain. With acute thrombophlebitis, the skin in the affected area may turn red.
Fluid accumulation in the tissue as a result of heart failure can also cause swelling in the ankle area. In case of serious lung diseases, for example, severe bronchial asthma, the heart also cannot work effectively, the blood stagnates, venous pressure increases, which leads to swelling, including in the ankles. Often, swelling can be caused by kidney and even liver diseases. In liver diseases, fluid usually first accumulates in the abdomen (ascites), and later swelling appears in the legs.
If swelling is caused by diseases of the internal organs, you should consult a doctor, but you can take some measures yourself.
A salt-free diet and reduced fluid intake can help reduce fluid retention and swelling.
If your legs are swollen, you can lie down with one or two pillows under your shins so your legs are higher than your heart, but don't put pillows just under your knees.
Those who have swollen legs should not wear stockings or stockings with elastic bands.
Don't sit or stand for long periods of time. If you have to stay in one of these positions for a long time, from time to time let your lower leg muscles work by moving your feet and toes. It is also useful to wear special therapeutic elastic stockings or tights, which help reduce swelling.
If swelling occurs, be sure to consult your doctor. The doctor will do a thorough examination, including of the heart and lungs, as well as the legs, and take blood tests to check kidney and liver function and determine protein levels. If necessary, diuretics (diuretics) may be prescribed. They are effective, but also have some side effects. For example, the leaching of potassium from the body, which is necessary for normal heart function. Therefore, when taking diuretics, add potassium-rich foods to your diet (apricots, dried apricots, pumpkin, zucchini, watermelon, apples, raisins, milk).
Leg swelling can also be caused by an ankle injury. The degree of swelling in this case does not indicate the severity of the injury. The leg can become very swollen if it is sprained, if the ligaments are torn, or if there is a fracture.
When the bones of the ankle are fractured, the leg swells less than when the ligaments are sprained. A sprained or torn ligament is usually accompanied by bleeding into the surrounding tissue, causing the skin in that area to turn blue-black.
If there is no fracture, then a cast is not required. But treatment should begin immediately - ensure the joint is immobile, apply ice, etc. For mild ligament damage, this is sufficient. However, if there is no improvement after 1-2 days, you should see a doctor.
To determine the type of injury, the doctor will check the mobility of the leg at the ankle joint and may also recommend an X-ray examination. If there is no fracture or a non-displaced fracture that is not dangerous, you will probably be advised to continue treatment at home. For other fractures, a plaster cast must be applied.
The injured leg should be kept elevated. Immediately apply ice, wrapped in a towel and plastic bag, to the injured area and leave it on for at least 30 minutes. If after the first half hour there is even slight swelling, then apply ice for the next few hours for 30 minutes at 15-minute intervals. If the ankle joint stops hurting when elevated, you can carefully try to step on that leg. If the joint still hurts during loading, then it is better not to do this for the first day. Warm compresses can only be applied after 24 hours. An elastic bandage also helps. Do not stretch it when applying a bandage - it should not be too tight and interfere with blood circulation. There is no need to bandage children yourself, as an incorrectly applied bandage can interfere with blood circulation in the foot. If the skin below the bandage turns blue or pale, it means the bandage is applied very tightly. In this case, loosen the bandage.
After about 10 days, the ankle joint should return to normal. However, please note that complete healing can only be expected after 4-6 weeks. If you need to move at this time, for example, do therapeutic exercises, then the ankle joint must be bandaged. However, the bandage will not protect against re-injury if you return to full weight bearing.
In healing and folk medicine, considerable experience has been accumulated in the use of natural remedies that help quickly relieve swelling of the legs. Some simply eliminate this unpleasant symptom when the legs swell after heavy physical exertion (this happens especially often with a lot of weight), others are aimed at normalizing water-salt metabolism. There are also recommendations that help improve the functioning of the kidneys, heart, and liver, which directly affect the removal of excess fluid from the body.
If your feet are tired and swollen in the evening, it is very useful to take warm foot baths. For such baths, you can use an infusion of chamomile, sage, horsetail flowers: 100 g of dry herb is poured with a liter of hot water, boiled for 15 minutes over low heat, left for 45 minutes, filtered. The resulting infusion is diluted with 3-4 liters of water.
When your feet are burning from fatigue, a foot bath made from an infusion of black elderberry flowers is a great help.
It is useful to wipe swollen and tired feet with ice. It’s even better to make ice from an infusion of sage leaves, chamomile flowers, cornflower or yarrow herb.
Massage has a beneficial effect on the legs. You should massage your feet daily with a hard towel from your toes up. The foot can be massaged strongly, but the knees and hips - less. You can use two brushes with medium-hard bristles for massage. In this case, rub the legs from the feet to the inguinal folds with synchronized circular movements. Continue the massage until the skin becomes red. Afterwards, lubricate the skin with a special foot cream or vegetable oil.
To make your legs less tired, you can strengthen them with the following gymnastics: balance first on one of them, then on the other. Do this several times. This exercise restores blood circulation in the legs well.
If your tired feet hurt, rub them with a mixture of olive oil and salt (1 teaspoon of salt per glass of oil, stir until the salt is completely dissolved).
For the same purposes, use lemon juice or a mixture of lemon juice half and half with vegetable oil.
Tired feet with rough skin are well soothed and softened by a wheat bran compress. Dilute the bran with warm milk until you get a paste. Apply this paste to your feet and keep it until it dries. Then rinse with water and lubricate your feet with cream.
If you have thrombophlebitis, rubbing and steaming your legs is not recommended.
A good remedy for pain and swelling in thrombophlebitis is mumiyo. Mumiyo is taken orally at 0.25-0.3 g 2 times a day for 25 days, adding it to a mixture of honey and milk (1:20). After a 10-day break, the course can be repeated.
If your legs hurt due to thrombophlebitis (or varicose veins), it is useful to take warm foot baths up to the knees from willow and oak roots (50 g per 10 liters of water). The duration of the procedure is 30 minutes. Water temperature - no more than 38°C.
For swelling of the legs, drink a decoction of flaxseed. It is prepared at the rate of 4 teaspoons of seeds per liter of water. Boil for 10-15 minutes, then leave in a warm place for an hour. To improve the taste, you can add any fresh fruit juice (for example, lemon) to the broth. Drink half a glass every 2 hours 6-8 times a day, preferably hot. The result can be felt after 2 weeks.
For liver pathologies with poor circulation and edema, the following herbal collection is recommended: spring adonis - 20 g, horsetail - 30 g, yarrow - 30 g, celandine - 20 g. The infusion is prepared as follows: 1-2 tbsp. spoons of the mixture are poured into a glass of hot boiled water and heated in a water bath for 15 minutes. Then cool for 45 minutes, strain and squeeze. The volume of the resulting infusion is adjusted to 200 ml with boiled water. Take half a glass 2 times a day 30 minutes before meals.
For edema of cardiac origin, it is useful to take a tincture of birch buds: 20 g of buds are poured into 100 ml of 70% alcohol. Leave for 3 weeks, squeeze, filter and store in a dark container in a cool place away from light. For cardiovascular failure accompanied by edema, the following collection is recommended as a diuretic: silver birch (leaves) - 50 g, cinnamon rose hips (fruits) - 25 g, field steelhead (root) - 25 g. The infusion is prepared as follows: 1- 2 tbsp. spoons of the mixture are poured into a glass of hot boiled water, placed in hot water for 15 minutes (but not heated!), cooled for 45 minutes, and squeezed. The volume of the resulting infusion is adjusted to 200 ml with boiled water. Take 1/3-1/4 cup 3 times a day.
For edema associated with diseases of the cardiovascular system and kidneys, watermelon is an indispensable diuretic. Watermelon juice not only removes excess fluid from the body, but also provides it with easily digestible sugars. Nutritionists believe that you can consume 2-2.5 kg of watermelon per day.
For kidney diseases, grape juice is useful, as it is an effective diuretic. You need to drink it an hour before meals 3 times a day. Start with half a glass and by the end of the course (after 1-1.5 months) increase the intake to two glasses. It is also useful for diseases of the liver, lungs, gout and hypertension; it is a good general tonic.
For heart disease accompanied by edema, pumpkin is very good. Pumpkin pulp enhances the excretion of chloride salts from the body and increases diuresis without irritating the kidneys.
One of the best diuretics is cucumbers. The juice from them strengthens the heart and blood vessels. You can drink up to 100 ml of pure cucumber juice per day.
Parsley juice helps well with many kidney diseases: urolithiasis, nephritis, etc. It is successfully used for dropsy. This juice is one of the most powerful diuretics, so it is better to drink it not in pure form, but in a mixture with others: carrot, lettuce, spinach or celery.
prepared by Tatyana Popova
When swelling of the foot occurs, the reasons can be different - from an insect bite to various diseases associated with internal organs. Swelling of the feet not only makes it difficult to put on shoes, your legs feel like logs, but also makes you think about your health. If the condition recurs too often, you should be wary, because often swelling of the limbs is a symptom of a serious disease. How not to miss a serious pathology and what to do if your foot is swollen?
Before prescribing treatment, your doctor will try to find out why your feet are swelling. There are many causes of edema:
An experienced doctor will determine why the legs and feet swell by their appearance. The diagnosis depends on the location of the swelling. It can be observed above and below the ankle, the legs swell in the area of the foot, on the toes, and often the swelling rises to the ankle. The skin color ranges from pale to purple. Depending on the cause, the intensity and localization of pain, the feeling of heaviness in the foot, and the frequency differ. It’s easy to check for swelling: if after pressing with a finger a notch remains for some time, this is swelling.
To understand the difference between edema of various etiologies, we offer the following table.
Depending on the diagnosis, treatment of edema occurs at home or in a hospital. Swelling is only a symptom of one of the diseases. If the cause is treatable, the swelling will soon go away. But each diagnosis requires special methods - either conservative therapy or surgical intervention. What is usually prescribed for the most common diseases that cause swelling of the limbs.
In each case, individual therapy is selected; self-medication is unacceptable.
There are a number of methods of folk and traditional medicine that alleviate the discomfort of swelling, as well as special exercises. They are intended for people whose feet tend to swell.
Gymnastics to relieve swelling of the limbs.
Methods offered by alternative medicine.
These methods are included as additional ones in the overall treatment package and help only with uncomplicated course of the disease.
If the legs periodically swell in a healthy person without the listed diagnoses, simple tips will come to the rescue.
The tips are suitable for people who do not suffer from diseases of internal organs. In other cases, only a doctor can prescribe treatment. It depends on the complexity of the diagnosis. To determine the degree of pathology, an examination is prescribed. The course of therapy takes place only under the supervision of a specialist.
If your leg suddenly swells, many people are confused and don’t know what to do in this case. Sometimes even a completely healthy person can have swollen feet under certain circumstances. In women, swelling of the legs often appears during menstruation; many also experience swollen legs during long flights. It is not uncommon for feet to become swollen from being in the sun for too long.
When the leg swells in the foot area, it becomes enlarged and swollen. Such symptoms appear due to the accumulation of fluid in the soft tissues. The described situation is accompanied by unpleasant sensations not only in the legs.
In healthy people, the feet occasionally swell after prolonged exercise or walking, but resting with the legs elevated corrects this. If swelling persists, it can cause stiffness, pain, stretch marks, impair walking, and increase the risk of infection. Sometimes the legs around the ankles become swollen not because of uncomfortable shoes or heavy loads, but due to severe diseases of the internal organs or endocrine disorders.
During hot weather, a person consumes a large amount of fluid, which enters the blood and does not always have time to be eliminated from the body through sweat and urine. If there is a large amount of salt in food, then when it enters the body, it contributes to fluid retention. As a result, the heart can no longer cope with large amounts of blood, and, first of all, it stagnates in the lower extremities.
Most often, the legs swell in the evening for the following reasons:
Incorrectly chosen shoes very often provoke swelling of the feet. You should not wear shoes with very high heels or “land” on very flat soles. It is better to give preference to models with low heels. Shoes should be roomy, not constrictive, and your toes should be in a natural position.
However, such an impressive list does not include all the reasons why legs swell. Often this phenomenon is a consequence, a symptom of a disease.
Venous circulation insufficiency, which develops due to varicose veins or thrombosis, occurs in most women over 40 years of age. Gradually, the muscular walls of the venous vessels weaken more and more and can no longer ensure sufficient contraction of the veins and the return of the entire volume of blood to the heart.
In the evening hours, patients' ankles become very swollen, the pattern of blood vessels on the lower extremities becomes clearly visible, the skin over the swelling turns red, inflamed, becomes hot to the touch, and severe pain occurs when pressure is applied.
Swelling in the legs occurs as a result of the blood flow being disrupted and the hydrostatic pressure in the veins significantly increasing. Prolonged stagnation of blood causes an increase in pressure, first in large veins, and then in the smallest vessels.
In capillaries, hydrostatic pressure is usually higher than in the intercellular spaces, and therefore tends to squeeze fluid out of the vessels into the tissue - swelling occurs.
Swelling in the legs due to varicose veins occurs gradually, at first unnoticeably. Increased swelling in the legs is associated with a person being in an upright position and is observed in the evening. After sleep, swelling in the legs disappears and may reappear only in the afternoon. As other signs of the disease progress, they become more noticeable. Mostly they are not located symmetrically, but only on one limb. Most often, swelling in the legs is combined with trophic disorders.
Swelling in the legs can also occur with acute thrombophlebitis of both deep and superficial veins. But in this case, they are always accompanied by clinical signs of inflammation - redness, heat, pain along the vein. Swelling due to impaired outflow of lymphatic fluid through the lymphatic vessels is much less common.
Another cause of swollen legs is kidney disease. But in this case, swelling appears throughout the body, not only the legs swell, but also the arms and face. Swelling is caused by excess fluid that the kidneys cannot cope with. A neglected diseased liver can also cause leg tumors. If you practice fasting, then there is a lack of protein in the body, the level of the thyroid gland decreases, which leads to swelling of the legs, especially the toes.
With kidney disease, severe swelling of the legs may also occur. It usually spreads along both lower extremities and affects mainly the dorsum of the leg, without itching, pain or local fever. Accompanied by some swelling of the eyelids, the appearance of dark circles under the eyes, a change in the color of urine and a decrease in its quantity.
Legs also become severely swollen after a person has had an acute respiratory infection. This symptom is a consequence of kidney disease, which arose as a complication from an infection.
The legs around the feet may swell due to poor diet or water intake. Very often this problem is encountered by people who eat a lot of salty foods and then drink a lot of liquid to quench their thirst;
During this disease, lymph flow in the skin and subcutaneous tissue is disrupted, which leads to disruption of protein and water metabolism in tissues and stagnation of lymph. This causes severe swelling, most often of the legs, and they become elephant-like.
Problems with the thyroid gland can also manifest as elastic swellings that do not leave pits when pressed, located in the lower parts of the legs. There is also swelling of the tongue and shoulders, lethargy, drowsiness, chilliness, and a tendency to constipation.
Diseases of the thyroid gland - dysfunction of the thyroid gland leads to the accumulation of intercellular fluid in the lower extremities, lower part of the face, and hands. The swelling is very dense - when you press your fingers, a hole remains, they appear at any time and do not disappear after rest;
Most often, swelling signals the presence of some disease, and therefore, when they appear, you should definitely consult a doctor.
Modern pharmacies offer a large number of remedies for swelling of the legs. But in most cases, they are intended to relieve swelling caused by heat, excess fluid and salt intake, overwork, and the initial stages of varicose veins and heart failure.
The following drugs are used to relieve swelling of the legs:
Simple exercises will help reduce leg swelling:
Relaxing foot baths with a decoction of horsetail and chamomile will help. In addition to foot baths, massage is also useful. After an evening shower, dry your legs and begin to stretch them first from the feet; self-massage begins from the big toe along the shin, then from the knee to the thigh. It is useful to press on the following points: on the nail plate, on the base of the finger.
In the absence of serious illnesses, leg swelling can be prevented by following a few simple rules:
Treatment of the initial diseases that cause edema is carried out only by a medical specialist. Timely seeking medical help will help to promptly identify diseases of the heart, liver, kidneys and other organs. And timely effective treatment will help get rid of the symptom and prevent more serious complications.
Swelling is the result of fluid retention in the body. But this fluid can be retained in different parts of the body. For example, a fairly common phenomenon is swelling of the feet. The reasons will be listed in this article.
Of course, if the swelling is obvious and severe, then it will be very noticeable. The limbs will become swollen, increase in size, and it will be difficult to move the fingers. But if there are no such manifestations, this does not mean that everything is in order. Here are some signs of swollen feet:
As already mentioned, swelling is excess fluid. But where could he come from? The fact is that normally water should be removed from tissues. But if something is disrupted in the functioning of some system of the body, then elimination becomes difficult and an excess occurs. So why do your feet swell?
Yes, oddly enough, but people who are overweight suffer from swelling. Since a large load falls on the feet (after all, they perform a supporting function), it is in this area that fluid accumulates. This happens due to the fact that the body cannot cope with such a mass: blood circulation is impaired, the heart works worse. What should I do? Watch your weight .
If shoes compress the foot, blood circulation in this part of the leg is disrupted, which leads to swelling. Avoid uncomfortable models and give preference to those that do not squeeze or rub. And during the day, periodically remove your shoes if you can. This will make things easier for your feet.
This disease provokes a number of changes. So, the condition of the blood vessels worsens, the blood thickens. This leads to swelling of the feet, which in some cases is accompanied by splitting of the nails, dry skin, cracks and even trophic ulcers. The foot may periodically become numb. To avoid all this, monitor the course of the disease and take all medications prescribed by your doctor on time .
Varicose veins are only a seemingly harmless and safe disease. In fact, swelling, heaviness in the legs, nodules and mesh, fatigue and pain are just symptoms and the surface of the iceberg. It is impossible not to mention the consequences. So, if a blood clot occurs, there is a danger to life. After all, if this blood clot breaks off and reaches the lungs or heart, then it will be difficult to save the person.
How to treat varicose veins? Firstly, you need to wear special underwear (compression), which will support the walls of the veins and relieve stress from them. Secondly, you can strengthen the venous walls with the help of phlebotonic drugs. If there is inflammation, then anti-inflammatory drugs are required. If your blood thickens, your doctor may prescribe anticoagulants.
With thrombosis, blood clots form that stagnate in the vessels. Because of this, fluid cannot be removed from the tissues, swelling occurs, which is accompanied by other symptoms: changes in skin color, tingling sensation in the legs, coldness, numbness, and others.
What to do if thrombosis occurs? First, take care of your veins. It is important to strengthen their walls. Secondly, you need to improve the properties of the blood. To do this, you can take anticoagulant drugs.
Thrombophlebitis is a disease in which the walls of the veins simultaneously become inflamed and blood clots form. The symptoms of this disease are similar to those of varicose veins and thrombosis. But at the site of inflamed veins, severe redness may form. In this case, the vessels become swollen and tense, and pain is felt when pressing on them. Treatment involves relieving inflammation from the venous walls and strengthening them with the help of anti-inflammatory drugs and phlebotonics. Also, in some cases, it is necessary to take anticoagulants that reduce blood clotting.
If the swelling is localized in one foot, then this is probably the result of an injury. Symptoms of damage include swelling, hemorrhage, and pain on palpation. You probably didn't even notice that you hurt your leg or sprained a ligament. But the consequences of such injuries can be very unpleasant, so the help of a doctor is required. For treatment, local ointments that eliminate hemorrhage (Troxevasin) are usually used, as well as painkillers (Indomethacin) for painful symptoms.
Joints and tendons allow us to bend our feet. But, for example, when such parts become inflamed, swelling may well occur. So, fasciitis is an inflammation of the fascia that supports the arch of the foot. And if this area becomes inflamed, swelling will occur and redness may begin. It will be very difficult to step on your foot and move it. The ankle joint may also become inflamed or damaged, and this will also be accompanied by swelling.
In addition, the cause of this manifestation may also be degenerative joint diseases, such as arthrosis or arthritis. In this case, the joint is deformed, exudate is released - liquid with pus and blood impurities. This will lead to swelling and soreness in the morning or after intense exercise.
Another reason why your feet swell is poor diet. For example, excess salt leads to fluid retention in the body. So if you drank a lot of water at night after something salty, then edema cannot be avoided.
With a sedentary lifestyle, blood stagnates in the limbs, they can swell due to impaired blood flow.
Now you know why your feet swell. To avoid this, watch your health!
The basis of edematous syndrome of the limbs or human body is always the conditions under which fluid easily penetrates into the intercellular space and its removal from the body is difficult.
A type of local edema is swelling of the legs, which is a manifestation of many diseases expressed in varying degrees of severity. When the swelling of the legs is not pronounced, that is, the looseness of the tissue increases slightly and water accumulates in it, this is called pastiness. In this case, there may be no visible swelling, but the skin becomes pale and soft, doughy.
Edema due to circulatory disorders and lymphatic edema have some differences.
Unlike lymphatic edema, with venous stagnation the swelling of the legs decreases somewhat with prolonged lying.
When swelling of the legs occurs periodically in a healthy person, you can analyze possible trivial causes, which in most cases can be eliminated:
In order to understand why the ankles of the feet swell greatly or why the legs generally look like pedestals, it is worth considering acute and chronic edema (see the article What to do if your legs swell).
Acute swelling of the legs includes those that develop within 2-3 days. In this case, damage can be:
Most often, thrombotic complications occur against the background of varicose veins of the legs. With prolonged bed rest or limb immobilization, as well as during chemotherapy or radiation therapy in cancer patients. An acute situation characterized by partial or complete disruption of the patency of the deep veins of the legs, which is accompanied by:
Although, there are a number of “silent” thromboses, in which the pain is not pronounced or minimal, and there is only swelling of one leg. The process can be either one-sided or two-way. Upon examination, in addition to changes in the color and volume of the leg, you can determine coldness of the limb and muscle soreness.
Post-traumatic unilateral edema is caused by rupture of Baker's cyst, avulsion of the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle, and interfascial space syndrome. In addition to swelling, severe pain occurs in the projection of the injury.
This is usually a decompensation of chronic problems of venous outflow. It may be associated with changes in hemodynamic requirements:
Bilateral expansion of the venous trunks visible under the skin is accompanied by swelling, increased fatigue of the legs and pain after exercise.
Many people have difficulty dealing with severe leg swelling. The first question that comes to mind is why did this happen? This approach is reasonable, the reason lies in diseases of the body. Having learned the source of the failure, it is possible to provide timely treatment. In most cases, you should take the phenomenon seriously and seek medical help.
The cause of water retention in the body may be more serious than the external manifestation. Symptoms serve as a hint that it is time to start analyzing the disorder and treating it. The first prerequisites relate to minor changes.
For example, if you are used to walking a lot, and at the end of your usual working day, your feet begin to noticeably increase in size. Based on the nature of the deformation of the legs, the first conclusions about the presence of malaise are made. It's time to reconsider the hotel details of everyday life.
To draw the right conclusions, you will need to take a close look at the shape of the engorged limbs:
It will be necessary to establish the causes of edema. Especially when swelling makes it difficult to walk. Or the deformation occurs unevenly. For example, a significant increase in the left leg in relation to the right. Or there is a difference in the swelling of the feet.
The reason is hidden in the premises:
Competent treatment is carried out after establishing the exact cause of fluid accumulation in the tissues of the legs.
Metabolic changes are often reflected in the external silhouette of the body. The cause of the condition is hidden in prosaic deficiencies in nutrition and lifestyle. Symptoms of a malfunction are expressed as follows:
The causes of metabolic failure may require serious measures. It is better to start treatment in a timely manner. If you do nothing, the violation will not be resolved on its own. You will need to undergo a series of tests that will reveal the true essence of the impending disaster. Competent medical care will help overcome difficulties by preventing other pathological processes.
Normal heart function has an important influence on the exchange of body fluids. Symptoms of failure in this sector are illustrated by swollen shins. The feet are called the second blood pump.
In case of dysfunction of the heart valves, fluid can be retained. Especially when the left half of the heart begins to work weaker. The blood is not enriched with oxygen, the muscles become engorged and sore. Such a turn of events requires a clear understanding of the cause.
Left ventricular failure provokes the accumulation of excess fluid. The disease is extremely dangerous; proper treatment is indicated. Doctors recommend doing timely tests to determine the source of the disorder. Trivial edema can open your eyes to serious illnesses.
Symptoms may indicate kidney problems. Organs are considered the main pumps of fluids in the body. The reasons for the accumulation of excess moisture in muscle tissue show severe impairments in the functioning of organs.
Edema shows a characteristic appearance:
The reason for the violations lies in the condition of the organs. When the kidneys hurt, they are not able to fully perform their natural task. Treatment will work better if the cause of the problem is identified.
Urine tests provide a comprehensive answer, and treatment is prescribed based on the results. In some cases, it is enough to remove part of the load, in others you will have to do serious therapy.
The Internet is full of scary predictions for overweight people. The causes of excess weight may be hidden in complex diseases. Diabetes mellitus remains such a disease. Treatment is associated with many restrictions, including the prohibition of prolonged walking.
Diabetic disorder shows symptoms such as swelling of the legs, fluid does not circulate evenly due to malfunctions of various systems. Edema is often associated with:
The cause of excess body weight may simply be a malfunction in the diet or appear due to an ill-conceived diet. The solution to such a violation is simple:
If the veins on engorged legs are protruding and painful, this is a sure sign of a malfunction of the venous-vascular complex. The symptoms illustrate a complex lesion that causes serious impairment of life.
It’s easy to track the condition; the first visual observation will show pronounced deviations:
The cause of the abnormal processes lies in the malfunction of the heart, or is a reaction to serious disorders of the condition. Treatment is possible after a comprehensive examination. Prescribed medications are supplemented with folk remedies. Sometimes surgery is required when local anesthesia is used.
Symptoms associated with fluid retention often reflect underlying causes of thyroid dysfunction. Excessively enlarged feet in relation to other proportions of the leg become the first alarming sign. The feet are the end point of the body through which a significant amount of our body’s moisture passes.
Blood saturated with hormones is the main cause of fluid retention in the tissues of the legs. Dysfunction of the glands leads to disruptions in the permeability of the vascular walls. It especially affects the legs, which can withstand significant stress when walking.
The left foot may differ from the right; such deformation shows certain changes in the functioning of the vascular system. Means to combat the disease are prescribed only after identifying the underlying causes. Individual treatment effectively eliminates the consequences.
To help the body, it is necessary to eliminate the causes. Some changes do not require a visit to the doctor. These include the rules of a well-designed life cycle:
The health of your feet reflects the health of your entire body. Each part is responsible for its own functions. Changes in the parameters of a harmonious structure may reflect the onset of serious disorders.
Often in the evening the legs become swollen, heaviness occurs, pain appears in the ankle area - such signs can signal fatigue, or serious problems with the kidneys or heart.
Legs may swell due to kidney and heart problems
Slight swelling in the lower legs appears in the evening even in absolutely healthy people; if you throw your feet up on the wall and let them rest for 15–20 minutes, all unpleasant symptoms disappear. But sometimes the cause of discomfort can be errors in diet, lifestyle, and other factors.
Why the lower extremities swell:
Severe swelling of the legs is a sign of a snake or insect bite; the affected area should not be combed or rubbed to avoid the spread of poison throughout the body. First aid is a cold compress, immediately consult a doctor.
The accumulation of fluid in the leg is the result of long-term use of glucocorticoids, oral contraceptives, and antihypertensive drugs. In men, the cause of the development of pathology may be drugs for the treatment of impotence and diseases of the reproductive system, obesity.
Swelling of the ankles during pregnancy occurs in almost all women, the main reason is hormonal changes in the body, the uterus increases in size and begins to compress the pelvic veins. But if the limbs swell significantly in the later stages, this may be a manifestation of gestosis. A dangerous pathology is accompanied by a number of characteristic symptoms - hypertension, severe headaches, convulsions, nausea and vomiting.
To independently identify swelling, you need to press on the area of the foot, wait a few seconds - if a dimple appears that does not immediately disappear, we can talk about the presence of a problem. The various stages of the pathology can be seen in the photo.
Swelling of feet due to tight shoes
Swollen ankles are common during pregnancy.
Swelling due to accumulated fluid in the leg
If swelling appears regularly, does not disappear after rest, is accompanied by a general deterioration in well-being, the skin is redder and itchy, this may indicate problems in the functioning of the lymphatic system, kidneys, heart, venous insufficiency; problems often arise in old age.
What diseases cause swelling of the limbs:
Additional signs are shortness of breath, increased blood pressure, discomfort in the chest area, increased fatigue.
Often the legs become swollen due to thrombophlebitis
Injuries, bruises, fractures, and sprains are characterized by swelling, which rapidly increases, and are accompanied by severe and acute pain and hematomas. Legs become swollen due to hepatitis B, liver failure, polycystic liver disease, and vertebral displacement.
In case of thrombosis, thrombophlebitis, injuries, diseases of the knee or hip joint, osteomyelitis, after removal of lymph nodes in the groin area, the swelling is unilateral, affecting the left or right leg. With venous insufficiency, heart and kidney pathologies, problems arise in both legs at the same time.
In children, swelling of the legs most often occurs due to flat feet, obesity, and glomerulonephritis.
If swelling appears regularly, accompanied by pain, redness or bluishness of the skin, itching, or a general deterioration in health, you should first visit a therapist. After an examination, medical history, and initial diagnosis, a consultation with a cardiologist, nephrologist, endocrinologist, phlebologist, or infectious disease specialist may be required.
Since there are quite a few causes of swelling of the lower extremities, it is necessary to undergo a comprehensive examination - this will help to begin the correct treatment in a timely manner.
Basic diagnostic methods:
ECHO-cardiography helps to find out the condition of the heart
The tactics for treating swelling of the extremities depends on the cause of the development of the pathology; therapy is aimed at eliminating unpleasant symptoms and the underlying disease. If your legs swell infrequently, you can use traditional medicine recipes to alleviate the condition.
A drug treatment regimen is drawn up by a specialist after receiving test results; if the underlying disease is eliminated, then the swelling of the limbs will gradually disappear.
Dexamethasone is a hormonal drug
Additionally, you must wear compression garments, regularly perform a set of therapeutic exercises, drink properly, and review your daily routine.
The best and most effective method of treating chronic lymphedema is pressotherapy.
With the help of alternative medicine, you can get rid of edema - they have a diuretic, anti-inflammatory effect, but in case of serious diseases they must be taken in combination with medications.
Compresses with cabbage leaves and honey reduce swelling
If you constantly ignore severe swelling of the limbs, the problem will begin to worsen, which will cause serious complications.
Frequent swelling of the legs can cause a heart attack
Proper nutrition and an active lifestyle are the main methods for preventing the occurrence of leg swelling.
How to avoid swelling of the lower extremities:
Do periodic foot baths
Swelling in the legs is not only an unpleasant sensation in the limbs, but also a sign of various diseases of the internal organs. If discomfort occurs rarely, folk remedies, proper nutrition, and an active lifestyle will help cope with it. But if your feet and legs become swollen often, you need to visit a doctor to determine the cause of the symptoms.