What Makes Your Legs And Feet Swell – Known in the medical world as edema, swelling of the feet, ankles and legs can be extremely uncomfortable and scary. When left untreated, swollen ankles can become painful, make walking difficult, and cause stiffness and tightness of the skin. And while the causes of swollen ankles can range from unsettling to life-threatening, we asked the experts to break down why your ankles are swelling up like balloons.
While the reasons vary depending on what causes your ankles to swell, symptoms of edema occur when there is more fluid and it accumulates in the spaces between tissues and organs. This fluid buildup can leak into tissue, causing swelling. It is also extremely common in the ankles, feet and legs as gravity pulls the fluid down.
What Makes Your Legs And Feet Swell
Sitting for too long can cause some serious health effects. If you have a job that requires you to stand or sit for long periods of time, you may have swollen ankles. “When you move around, the muscles involved in that movement actually help you move around,” explains Steven Weinfeld, MD, chief of foot and ankle surgery at Mount Sinai Health System in New York City. pumps fluid and blood to and from your arm.” However, without extra help from moving your muscles, blood and fluid can accumulate in your feet and ankles.
Swollen Legs In Elderly
Dr. Weinfeld says overweight and obese people may experience swelling around their ankles for two reasons. First, the pressure from extra weight on the joints can lead to fluid retention around those joints. Additionally, storing excess hormones in excess fat cells can contribute to hormonal changes and cause fluid retention, he says.
Whether you stepped on a coffee table or sprained your ankle while running, trauma may be the most common cause of swollen ankles that doctors see. When you have ankle pain, your body sends more blood to that area, Dr. Weinfeld explains. “Not only does this bring in healing cells, but it also contributes to swelling caused by stiffness and immobilizes the injured joint,” he says.
Dr. Adams adds that a calf injury can also be a cause of ankle swelling because fluid will accumulate in the foot of the calf, causing inflammation and more fluid secretion. Additionally, damage or trauma to blood vessels can cause swelling, she notes. In case of injury, swelling may also be accompanied by redness or bruising.
Because of their complex interactions with the body, many medications (including over-the-counter medications) can contribute to swollen ankles. “Certain medications can cause fluid retention,” Dr. Weinfeld explains. “Certain blood pressure medications, anti-inflammatory steroids, and even NSAIDs like Advil can all have that effect.” Hormones like estrogen and some antidepressants can also cause your ankles to swell.
Home Remedies To Treat Edema In Legs And Feet
Venous insufficiency, a condition in which your veins don’t work properly, can affect the flow of blood back to your heart and cause blood to pool in your feet and ankles, says Dr. Weinfeld. “Veins have one-way valves that can essentially dilate over time and allow fluid to leak out,” he explains.
This happens when these valves become damaged or weak – such as due to aging or prolonged sitting. Much more common in people over 50, venous insufficiency develops slowly over time and is more common in women than men.
Our lymphatic system transports a fluid called lymph (containing white blood cells and waste products) throughout the body. However, in lymphedema, a damaged or congested lymphatic system causes fluid to accumulate in the extremities, says the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Although some types of cancer (and cancer treatments) can cause lymphedema, infections can also cause swelling. Dr. Adams notes that cancer or tumors can make it difficult to pump fluid properly, causing lymphatic congestion. Signs of lymphedema also include a feeling of heaviness or tightness in the arms or legs, inability to move normally, recurring infections, hard or thick skin, and difficulty sleeping.
Arthritis, which includes several specific diseases, refers to joints that are swollen, painful, stiff, and difficult to move. Extremely common in older adults, it can affect joints across the body, including the ankles. “When I do repeat X-rays and see someone with severe ankle arthritis, that could certainly explain any swelling in that area,” says Dr. Weinfeld.
What Will Be The Reason For Being Swollen In Only One Leg, Mainly The Left Leg?
One of the most alarming causes of swelling around the ankle (which often spreads up the leg) is a blood clot, says Daniel Paull, MD, founder and CEO of Easy Orthopedics.
“If you have swelling on one side that causes your leg to be lifted, you need to get it checked out,” says Dr. Paull. In some cases, a blood clot can travel to the lungs and cause a potentially life-threatening pulmonary embolism (also called a clogged pulmonary artery). If you notice other signs of a blood clot — such as pain, trouble breathing, feeling dizzy, red or discolored skin and warmth in the area — as well as swelling, go to the emergency room as soon as possible. Good.
In congestive heart failure – caused by coronary artery disease or high blood pressure – at least one of the heart’s chambers can no longer pump blood normally. “If the heart can’t pump enough fluid, that fluid can back up,” Dr. Paull explains.
Heart failure is one of the first things a doctor will consider if a patient has swelling in both ankles, Dr. Adams adds. If the heart can’t pump blood effectively, he said, fluid will leak, backflow and accumulate in the ankles.
Why Do You Have Only One Swollen Foot ?
This often occurs in the feet and ankles, leading to swelling. More severe cases can move up the legs. Other signs of heart failure include shortness of breath, fast or irregular heartbeat, persistent cough, difficulty concentrating, and chest pain if caused by a heart attack.
Of the many changes the body goes through during pregnancy, swelling of the feet and ankles is perhaps the most common. According to the American Pregnancy Association, this is mainly due to the excess blood and fluid a woman produces during pregnancy, which softens the body and helps it expand as the baby grows. Hormonal changes and added pressure on the veins can also contribute to swollen ankles during pregnancy.
Bacteria that enter your bloodstream can linger in one of your joints. One of the obvious signs of infection? Swelling, as well as pain, warmth, and redness.
Babies and older adults are especially susceptible to septic arthritis, in which a bacterial or fungal infection causes joint inflammation, accompanied by redness, pain, and fever. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, skin conditions, such as cellulitis — a fast-spreading bacterial infection that causes red, blistered skin — can also make the ankle area look swollen. , as it often appears on the lower legs in adults. Dermatology.
What Does One Swollen Foot Mean
Kidney and liver dysfunction, which affects the amount of fluid in the body, can also contribute to water retention that causes swollen ankles. Dr. Adams says that bloating is a very common symptom of kidney disease because the kidneys help balance the ratio of fluid in the body.
According to the Mayo Clinic, in cases of damaged or diseased kidneys, the kidneys leave behind too much fluid and sodium or not enough protein in the blood, which can lead to buildup throughout the body — especially in the kidneys. lower limbs. “At the time of kidney failure, swelling and pain can affect the entire leg below the knee,” notes Dr. John. Weinfeld.
Liver disease is also linked to low levels of protein in the blood, which can cause fluid to “leak” and cause swelling in the lower body, he said. Dr. Adams added that liver disease can scar the liver and impede blood flow, causing swelling.
If you’ve never had ankle swelling before and suddenly notice it, it’s best to contact your doctor, suggests Dr. Adams. This can ensure that the illness is not particularly serious, especially if the swelling is only in one leg.
Swollen Fingers And Toes After Running
The best thing you can do to help reduce ankle swelling is to elevate your legs and watch for other symptoms, says Dr. Adams. For example, you can place your feet on a couch and elevate at least two pillows to help drain excess fluid from your feet. He adds that avoiding salty foods, wearing clothes that are too tight, or standing or sitting for long periods of time can also help. She notes that exercise can also be a great tool to encourage proper fluid movement, and avoid wearing compression stockings if you haven’t discussed their use with your doctor.
Lauren is a freelance writer and editor, an American Council on Exercise certified personal trainer, and Women’s Health and Fitness Editor. You’ll find her hiking, lifting weights, walking the dog, or browsing the farmers market.
And loves to share her favorite fitness and nutrition obsessions. She previously managed content at The Vitamin Shoppe and her work also appeared there
, and more. You can usually find her taking an online exercise class or messing around at the gym.
Edema: Types, Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, & More
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