Swelling in the ankles, feet and legs is often caused by a build-up of fluid in these areas, called oedema. Oedema is usually caused by: standing or sitting in the same position for too long. eating too much salty food.
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Should I worry if my feet and ankles are swollen?
Swollen ankles and swollen feet are common and usually not cause for concern, particularly if you have been standing or walking a lot. But feet and ankles that stay swollen or are accompanied by other symptoms could signal a serious health problem.
What can I do to stop my feet and ankles from swelling?
Here are 10 to try.
- Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water per day.
- Buy compression socks.
- Soak in a cool Epsom salt bath for about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Elevate your feet, preferably above your heart.
- Get moving!
- Magnesium supplements can be helpful for some people.
- Make some dietary changes.
- Lose weight if you’re overweight.
When should you go to the hospital for swollen feet and legs?
Seek medical care right away if your legs swell for no apparent reason, especially if you have unexplained leg pain, difficulty breathing, chest pain or other warning signs of a blood clot in your lungs or a heart condition.
Swelling in the Legs, Ankles, or Feet
Swelling (edema) in your lower legs is another sign of a heart problem. When your heart doesn’t work as well, blood flow slows and backs up in the veins in your legs.
When should I go to the doctor for swollen feet?
When should you call the doctor? Report your symptoms to your doctor if there’s so much swelling that it leaves an indentation if you press your finger into it, or if it has developed suddenly, lasts for more than a few days, affects just one foot, or is accompanied by pain or discoloration of the skin.
How do you know if swelling is serious?
Internal swelling is often a side effect of a medication or the result of a serious injury. You should seek immediate medical attention if you experience rapid, unexplainable swelling, especially if you also experience unexplained weight gain and pain.
These include:
- itching.
- vomiting.
- flatulence.
- pain in the affected area.
What makes swelling go down fast?
Applying an ice-pack or cold compress to an injury is the fastest way to deal with immediate swelling. It helps reduce swelling by restricting blood flow to the area and slowing down cellular metabolism. Cold therapy systems and ice baths are other methods you can use to apply cold to the area.
Is swelling of the feet serious?
Although swelling of the feet and ankles can be a minor problem, it can also be an indication of more serious illnesses such as heart failure, renal failure, or liver failure. The abnormal buildup of fluid in the body is called edema.
How do I get rid of fluid in my legs and feet?
Support stockings
- Movement. Moving and using the muscles in the part of your body affected by edema, especially your legs, may help pump the excess fluid back toward your heart.
- Elevation.
- Massage.
- Compression.
- Protection.
- Reduce salt intake.
Can dehydration cause swollen feet?
“Usually, individuals who suffer from heaviness and leg swelling make the mistake of not drinking enough water – says Dr. Marco Setti, Head of Vascular Surgery at Humanitas Gavazzeni. Instead, it is necessary to introduce fluids into the body by eating lots of vegetables and fruits as well as drinking natural water.
What doctor should I see for swollen feet and ankles?
—a visit to the podiatrist is your best bet. A podiatrist is a specialist who manages and treats almost all symptoms that involve the ankle and/or the foot. If you are experiencing any of the following problems or symptoms, it’s time to make an appointment to see a podiatrist. Numbness, pain or swelling in one foot.
What are the first signs of a weak heart?
Heart failure
- Shortness of breath with activity or when lying down.
- Fatigue and weakness.
- Swelling in the legs, ankles and feet.
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat.
- Reduced ability to exercise.
- Persistent cough or wheezing with white or pink blood-tinged mucus.
- Swelling of the belly area (abdomen)
Does swollen feet mean heart failure?
If you have congestive heart failure, one or both of your heart’s lower chambers lose their ability to pump blood effectively. As a result, blood can back up in your legs, ankles and feet, causing edema. Congestive heart failure can also cause swelling in your abdomen.
What swollen feet tell you about your heart?
A struggling heart can’t produce the power necessary for proper circulation, leading to a buildup of fluids in the feet. Shortness of breath and fatigue accompanied by swollen feet tends to suggest poor heart health.
What causes swollen legs from the knee down?
Common causes of sudden leg swelling
A blood clot blocking blood flow in a large leg vein — also called a DVT, or deep vein thrombosis. An injury such as a broken leg or a pulled leg muscle. An infection in the skin, joint, or other tissue of the leg. Joint inflammation in a joint of the leg, like the knee.
How do you drain fluid from your legs?
There are four main way to treat it: Compression – wearing special clothing or bandages that gently squeeze the part of your body that’s affected and encourage the fluid to drain away. Massage – a special type of massage called Manual Lymphatic Drainage encourages the fluid to drain away.
How long until foot swelling goes down?
After you suffer an injury, swelling usually worsens over the first two to four days. It can then last for as long as three months as the body attempts to heal itself. If the swelling lasts longer than this, your physical therapist or doctor may need to take a closer look to determine the cause of the delayed healing.
What medicine takes swelling down?
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are drugs that help reduce inflammation, which often helps to relieve pain. In other words, they’re anti-inflammatory drugs.
Here are the more common OTC NSAIDs:
- high-dose aspirin.
- ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Midol)
- naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn)
What medicine helps swelling go down?
Take Over-the-Counter Medicines
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen may help ease swelling and pain. Acetaminophen might also fight pain.
What medicine is good for swelling?
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduce pain, swelling, stiffness and inflammation.
These include:
- Aspirin (Bayer® Aspirin, Ecotrin®, Excedrin®, St. Joseph’s®, and many others)
- Ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, and others)
- Ketoprofen (Orudis®)
- Naproxen (Aleve®)