Causes of Foot Swelling and Remedies
-
Upload
ashleyjudd301 -
Category
Documents
-
view
223 -
download
3
Transcript of Causes of Foot Swelling and Remedies
Causes of Foot Swelling and Remedies
Foot swelling, otherwise known as peripheral edema is the accumulation of fluid in the lower peripheral
parts of the body (including the ankles and legs). This condition is most common during aging, however
a number of other factors that cause foot swelling are often ignored and can pose a serious health issue
if left untreated. It is essential to know the common and unknown causes of foot swelling and suitable
remedies that are useful to treat the problem holistically.
1. Common Causes
Foot swelling is common in the following conditions:
Aging
Body overweight
Infection in the leg, ankle or foot
Standing on feet for prolonged time
Improper blood supply
Surgery or injury in the ankle, feet or leg
Long hours of traveling in the car, bus or flight
Pregnancy or menstruation
2. Critical Conditions
People suffering from complex ailments are prone to foot swelling. Following are some conditions
associated with foot swelling and adequate care is necessary to prevent the problem to become a
serious health issue.
Kidney Failure
Kidney failure is a major cause of persistent swelling in the feet and ankles. This is experienced in severe
conditions of diabetes, high blood pressure, dehydration, autoimmune disorder and block in the urine
flow. The kidneys become weak during such conditions and are unable to filter waste products thus
causing fluid accumulation that results in swelling in the lower body.
Heart Disease
Patients having a history of congestive heart failure often experience swelling in the feet. Heart
enlargement, heart attack and high blood pressure, that cause ineffective pumping of blood in the heart
also cause foot swelling. Patients suffering from these conditions have symptoms such as shortness of
breathe, fatigue and increased abdominal girth.
Vascular Disease
Peripheral artery disease is often caused due to high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking and
diabetes. These problems result in poor blood circulation and lead to acute venous deficiency that
causes pain and heaviness in the feet while walking. Sometimes the feet appear dusky due to improper
blood flow and blot clot.
Vein Inflammation
Vein inflammation, also known as thrombophlebitis is the swelling of the wall of the veins in the legs.
This condition is common in pregnant women and those suffering from frequent blood clotting. The
symptoms include swelling, pain, warmth and redness in the leg, ankle or feet
Medication
Medicines that help treat high blood pressure sometimes cause swelling in the feet, legs and thighs.
Antidepressants, steroids, anti-inflammatory drugs, estrogen and testosterone also cause leg, ankle and
feet swelling.
Unhealthy Lifestyle
Certain habits such as excessive consumption of salt or lack of exercise cause poor blood circulation.
Diabetes and obesity are two major reasons that result is swollen feet. Wearing ill-fitting shoes leads to
ulcers and other severe foot problems.
3. Remedies
Foot swelling is controllable and simple practices at home can considerably help to relieve and prevent
this condition to occur again. Here are some basic remedies for people suffering from foot swelling:
Lie down on a flat surface and raise your legs above the heart level. This exercise helps to improve blood
circulation and consequently reduces swelling.
Practice different leg exercises that help pump blood to the heart.
Eat healthy food that contains less salt and helps prevent obesity.
Take short strolls during long hours of traveling. Stand up and stretch your body regularly while traveling
in flight, bus or car.
Wear comfortable shoes especially in situations that require long hours of standing or walking.
Avoid wearing tight clothing especially bottoms or garters that impair blood circulation.
Exercise regularly to maintain body weight.
4. When to see a foot doctor
Foot swelling is common in many people and may lead to complications due to inadequate care.
Individuals suffering from this condition must contact a specialist immediately in the following
situations:
Shortness of breath
Pain, pressure or tightness in the chest
Increased swelling of the feet for patients suffering from heart disease or kidney failure
Inflammation of the leg
Fever
Increased swelling during pregnancy
The foot doctor may recommend certain tests such as CBC, chest X-ray, ECG and urinalysis to diagnose
the cause of feet swelling. The treatment suggested by the podiatrist often includes a combination of
drugs and exercises that helps to heal the swelling completely.