- 1. Poor circulation in the legs and feet
- 2. Twisting and other injuries
- 3. Preeclampsia in pregnancy
- 4. Heart failure
- 5. Thrombosis
- 6. Liver or kidney problems
- 7. Infection
- 8. Venous insufficiency
- 9. Side effect of some medicine
- 10. Lymphedema
- What doctor to look for
Swelling of the feet and ankles is a very common symptom that is generally not a sign of serious problems and is, in most cases, related to normal changes in circulation, especially in people who are standing or walking for a long time, for example.
When the swelling in the feet remains swollen for more than 1 day or is accompanied by other symptoms such as pain, severe redness or difficulty walking, it may indicate a problem or injury, such as a sprain, infection or even thrombosis.
In pregnancy, this problem is very common and is usually related to changes in the woman's circulatory system, being, rarely, a sign that something is wrong with the pregnancy.
1. Poor circulation in the legs and feet
This is the most common cause of swelling in the legs, feet and ankles and usually appears at the end of the day in adults, the elderly or pregnant women. This poor circulation, while not causing pain, can cause mild discomfort, similar to having heavier or more fluid feet.
Poor circulation in the legs is a natural process that arises due to the aging of the veins, which makes them less able to push the blood back to the heart and, therefore, the excess blood accumulates in the feet and legs.
What to do: to relieve the swelling, lie down and raise your legs above the level of the heart. Another option is to give a light massage from the feet to the hips, to help the blood return to the heart. People who work standing or walk for a long time can use elastic compression stockings, bought in pharmacies, to prevent the problem from arising, for example. See how to use horse chestnut to improve blood circulation.
2. Twisting and other injuries
Any type of injury or blow to the ankle can cause swelling that is accompanied by pain and difficulty in moving the foot, and purple on the side of the foot. One of the most common injuries is a sprain, which happens when your foot is badly placed on the floor or if you are hit in the foot.
In these situations, the ligaments of the ankle and foot are excessively elongated and, therefore, small fissures may appear that end up initiating the inflammatory process that leads to the appearance of swelling, often accompanied by severe pain, purple spots and difficulty walking or moving. the feet. This situation can often be mistaken for a fracture, but it is more likely to be just a sprain.
What to do: the most important thing in these cases is to put ice on the spot right after the injury, bandage the ankle and give the foot a rest, avoiding playing intense sports or walking a long time, at least for 2 weeks. Understand how to treat a heel injury. Another strategy is to place your foot in a basin of hot water and then change it, placing it in ice water, because this temperature difference will quickly deflate your foot and ankle. Watch in the video the steps you must follow to make this 'thermal shock' without error:
In the most severe cases, it may be necessary to perform surgery to place a plate and / or screws to stabilize the joint, requiring physical therapy for a few months. About 1 year after surgery it may be necessary to perform a new surgery to remove the pins / screws.
3. Preeclampsia in pregnancy
Although swelling of the ankles is a very common symptom in pregnancy and is not related to serious problems, there are cases in which this swelling is accompanied by other symptoms such as abdominal pain, decreased urine, headache or nausea, for example. In these cases, the swelling can be a sign of pre-eclampsia, which happens when blood pressure is very high, needing to be treated.
What to do: If there is a suspicion of pre-eclampsia, it is very important to consult the obstetrician to assess blood pressure. However, to avoid this problem the pregnant woman should follow a low salt diet and increase the water intake to 2 or 3 liters per day. Find out more about what preeclampsia is.
4. Heart failure
Heart failure is more common in the elderly and happens due to the aging of the heart muscle, which starts to have less force to push the blood and, therefore, it accumulates in the legs, ankles and feet, by the action of gravity.
Generally, swelling of the feet and ankles in the elderly is accompanied by excessive tiredness, a feeling of shortness of breath and a feeling of pressure in the chest. Know other signs of heart failure.
What to do: heart failure needs to be treated with drugs prescribed by the doctor, so it is advisable to consult a cardiologist to start the appropriate treatment.
5. Thrombosis
Thrombosis occurs when a clot is able to clog one of the leg veins and, therefore, the blood cannot adequately return to the heart, accumulating in the legs, feet and ankles.
In these cases, in addition to the swelling of the feet and ankles, it is possible that other symptoms such as pain, tingling sensation, intense redness and even low fever may appear.
What to do: Whenever there is a suspicion of thrombosis, you should quickly go to the emergency room to start treatment with anticoagulants, preventing this clot from being transported to other places such as the brain or heart, which may lead to a heart attack or Stroke. See here all the symptoms and how to treat thrombosis.
6. Liver or kidney problems
In addition to heart problems, changes in the functioning of the kidneys or liver can also cause swelling in the body, especially in the legs, feet and ankles.
In the case of the liver this happens due to the decrease in albumin, which is a protein that helps to keep the blood inside the vessels. In the case of the kidneys, the swelling arises because the fluids are not eliminated properly by the urine.
What to do : If the swelling is frequent and other symptoms appear, such as decreased urine, swelling of the belly or skin and yellow eyes, it is recommended to consult the general practitioner for blood or urine tests, and to identify if there is a problem with the kidneys or liver, for example. See the symptoms of liver problems.
7. Infection
The infection associated with swelling of the foot or ankle, usually only happens when there is a wound in the area of the foot or leg that is not being treated properly and, therefore, ends up getting infected. This situation is more common in people with uncontrolled diabetes who have cuts in their feet, but do not feel it due to the destruction of the nerves in their feet by the disease.
What to do: Any wound infected in the diabetic must be treated by a nurse or doctor, it is recommended to go to the emergency room. Until then, the place must be kept clean and covered, to prevent the growth of more bacteria. Learn how to identify and treat changes in the diabetic foot.
8. Venous insufficiency
Swelling in the feet and ankle can also represent a venous insufficiency, which is when the blood from the lower limbs finds it difficult to return to the heart. Within the veins there are several small valves that help to direct the blood to the heart, overcoming the force of gravity, but when these valves are weakened there is a small return of the blood back and accumulates in the legs and feet.
What to do: Venous insufficiency must be treated to avoid serious complications, such as skin wounds and infection. The cardiologist or vascular doctor may recommend taking medications to strengthen blood vessels, and diuretics to eliminate excess fluids from the body.
9. Side effect of some medicine
Certain medications can have side effects of swelling in the legs and feet, such as contraceptives, heart medications, steroids, corticosteroids, diabetes medications and antidepressants.
What to do: If you are taking any medication that is causing swelling, you should talk to the doctor about the swelling, because depending on its severity it is possible to switch to another medication that does not have this unpleasant effect.
10. Lymphedema
Lymphedema is when there is an accumulation of fluid between the tissues, outside the blood vessels, which can happen due to the removal of lymph nodes or changes in the lymph vessels. This accumulation of fluids can be chronic and difficult to be solved, especially after the removal of lymph nodes from the groin region, due to cancer treatment, for example. See how to recognize the symptoms and how is the treatment of lymphedema.
What to do: The doctor must be consulted for the diagnosis to be made. Treatment can be done with physiotherapy sessions, wearing compression stockings and postural habits.
What doctor to look for
When cardiac alterations are suspected, it is more appropriate to go to the cardiologist, but usually a consultation with a general practitioner is sufficient to arrive at the diagnosis and start the appropriate treatment. Physical and blood tests can be performed to assess suspected high cholesterol and triglycerides, in case of a history of sprain, depending on the severity of the symptoms, it may be necessary to perform an x-ray, MRI or ultrasound examination to check bones and ligaments. In the elderly, the geriatrician may be more suitable for having a broader view of all aspects that may be present at the same time.
