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.