Causes, symptoms, and remedies for swollen feet
What causes swollen feet?
- Standing for longer periods: Swollen feet caused due to many reasons. It can be due to an increase in weight than it is meant to be. Standing for long periods can cause swollen feet. Your feet swell up when the fluid fills the spaces between the body cells. Swelling up of feet, hands, legs, and ankles are a normal part of pregnancy that is caused by additional retention of blood and flood.
- Medication side effect: Taking certain medication such as antidepressant, estrogen or blood pressure medicines steroids and NSAIDs can cause this condition. It can also be symptoms of organ failure like liver, heart, and kidney. An injury or certain blood clot in the leg or infection in the leg area can also cause swelling feet. Consulting your physician for the professional diagnosis is smart.
Other causes of swollen feet include a neuromuscular disorder, a hormone replacement therapy, and even poor diet that is high in carbohydrates and salt,
- Pregnancy complications: Swelling of feet and ankles is quite common during pregnancy, but extreme swelling can be a sign of pre-eclampsia, a condition in which high blood pressure and high protein rises in the urine after 22 days of pregnancy. Along with swelling if your experience headache or abdominal pain it is better to take immediate medical advice.
- Lymphoedema: This is a condition caused by the formation of lymphatic fluids in the tissues if there is some problem with lymph vessels or after the removal of lymphatic nodes. Lymph is a protein-rich fluid that travels along with vessels and capillaries. Lymph traps and destroys unwanted substances therefore when the lymph nodes are damaged the fluid movement is blocked.
- Venous insufficiency: Swelling of feet is an early symptom of venous insufficiency. It is a condition when the venous wall or valves in the leg veins are damaged making it hard for the blood to flow back to the heart from legs. Hence the blood leaks back through the vessels and the fluid leaks into the legs causing the feet, ankles, and legs swell.
- Blood clot: A blood clot in the veins can stop the blood from moving back to the heart and cause swelling in the feet. One or more major veins of the legs can be blocked in case of deep clots. Most of the time blood clots can be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Swollen feet happen when small blood vessels in the body leak and release fluid into the nearby tissue causing the area to swell. You may notice the swelling getting worse as the day progresses. You will have a higher risk of swollen feet if you are diabetic, pregnant, suffer from a malfunction of organs, or blood vessel conditions such as varicose veins and venous insufficiency.
Swollen feet have to be taken seriously if left untreated, long-term swelling can cause pitting, that is when you press the skin, and it stays indented. Learn what are the cure for swollen feet.
How to relieve from swollen feet:
- Elevating the feet: The best way for swollen feet treatment is by simply elevating your feet. It reduces pressure on the lower back, thighs, and back of the knees to help improve circulation.
- Exercises: Low impact exercises such as walking, yoga or light aerobics can also help with circulation and to reduce swollen feet. This is a good swollen feet treatment.
- Compression socks: Wearing compression socks or calf sleeves available at your local drug store provides gradual compression which aids circulation and reduces swelling. These items get tighter around the areas where the swelling is the worst such as a lower leg or the feet. Also, try to elevate it using leg wedges that are specially designed cushions placed under the legs to elevate your feet as you sleep and to help improve circulation. This is a good swollen feet treatment.
- Massage: Massaging is another method to get rid of swelling discomfort. Massage using air pressure foot and leg massager to help stimulate circulation to alleviate pain. This is a good swollen feet treatment.
- Wearing proper shoes: Of course, proper shoes and socks are also important. Look for stretchy flexible shoes and non binding socks with stretch to help accommodate swollen legs.
- Weight loss: Losing weight flushes out bad cholesterol and retention of water which in hand reduces swelling in feet and leg as well as improves overall health. This is a good swollen feet treatment.
- Epsom salt treatment: Soaking your feet for 15 to 20 minutes in cold water tub with Epsom salt relieves swelling and associated pain. It is important for diabetic neuropathy patients to check the water temperature with your hand before exposing your feet to extreme temperatures. This is a good swollen feet treatment.
- Magnesium supplements: Water retention in the body can be reduced by taking more of magnesium supplements. Adding 200 to 400 mg of magnesium in your diet can do wonders in your body. Consult your physician before taking the supplement as it is not advisable for people with kidney and heart conditions to try it. This is a good swollen feet treatment.
- Lemon juice: Drinking a mix of 2 tablespoons of lemon juice to a cup of warm water will flush out toxins and excess fluids from your body; this can reduce swelling in the feet and other areas where water is stored. At the same time taking lemon juice keeps the body hydrated and is rich in antioxidants. This is a good swollen feet treatment.
