Swollen legs: 9 causes and what to do to treat

Swelling in the legs is usually caused by the accumulation of fluids, which usually gets worse at the end of the day and as the person ages, due to poor circulation.

However, swollen legs can also result from inflammation due to blows or illnesses, but usually, in these cases the swelling is accompanied by severe pain and difficulty in moving the leg, for example.

Thus, it is important to consult a general practitioner whenever the swelling in the legs does not improve overnight or causes very severe pain, as it may be a sign of a health problem that must be treated properly.

Swollen legs due to fluid build-up

The most common type of swelling in the legs results from the accumulation of fluids, which can be caused by:

1. Standing or sitting for a long time

Standing for a long time during the day or spending several hours sitting, especially with the legs crossed, makes it difficult for the leg veins to work to transport blood back to the heart, so blood accumulates in the legs, increasing swelling throughout the day.

What to do: avoid standing more than 2 hours standing or sitting, taking short breaks to stretch and move your legs. In addition, at the end of the day, you can also massage your legs or elevate them above the level of the heart, to facilitate circulation.

2. Pregnancy

Pregnancy is one of the main causes of swollen legs in women between the ages of 20 and 40, because at this stage in a woman's life, there is an increase in the amount of blood in the body. In addition, the growth of the uterus also hinders the circulation of blood in the legs, promoting its accumulation, especially after the 5th month of pregnancy.

What to do: It is recommended to wear socks and take light walks during the day to promote blood circulation. In addition, whenever the woman is sitting or lying down, she should raise her legs with the help of a pillow or bench, for example. See other tips to relieve swollen legs in pregnancy.

3. Aging

Swelling in the legs is more frequent in elderly people, because with advancing age, the valves present in the leg veins, which help blood to circulate, become weaker, making it difficult for blood to return to the heart and causing its buildup in the legs.

What to do: Avoid sitting or standing too long, taking short breaks during the day to raise your legs. In addition, when the swelling is very large, it may be necessary to consult the general practitioner and investigate other causes of swelling in the legs, such as high blood pressure, and thus take medicines that help eliminate excess fluids, such as furosemide, for example.

4. Use of medicines

Some medicines, such as the birth control pill, medicines used to treat diabetes, some medicines for high blood pressure, medicines to relieve painful situations or medicines used in hormone replacement therapy, for example, can cause fluid retention and, consequently, lead to accumulation of fluids in the legs, increasing swelling.

What to do: one should consult the doctor who prescribed the medication in order to understand if the swelling is being caused by the treatment and to change the type of medication, if justified and if the benefits outweigh the medication change. If the swelling remains, you should see your doctor again.

5. Diseases

Although it is more rare, some diseases can cause fluid to accumulate in the legs. Some examples are heart failure, kidney problems or liver disease.

What to do: you should see your general practitioner if other symptoms arise, such as excessive tiredness, pressure changes, changes in urine or abdominal pain, for example, to make the diagnosis and start the appropriate treatment.

In the following video are some strategies that can help to treat swollen legs naturally. See the steps necessary to do each technique correctly:

Swollen legs from inflammation

Inflammation is the second biggest cause of swollen legs, however, in these cases, the swollen leg is accompanied by very severe pain and difficulty in moving the affected limb. The main causes of inflammation include:

1. Strokes

Strong strikes in the legs, such as falling or being kicked during a football game, for example, can cause the rupture of small blood vessels and inflammation of the leg. In these cases, the swelling is accompanied by severe pain in the area, black spot, redness and heat, for example.

What to do: apply a cold compress to the injured area to reduce swelling and relieve pain and, if the pain does not improve or disappear after 1 week, you should consult an orthopedist.

2. Arthritis

Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints most common in the elderly, which can cause swelling of the legs, especially in places with joints, such as the knee, ankle or hip, and is usually accompanied by symptoms such as pain, deformity and difficulty performing movements. See more symptoms of arthritis.

What to do: an anti-inflammatory ointment can be applied to relieve swelling and pain, but the ideal is to consult a rheumatologist to diagnose the problem and start the appropriate treatment, which can be done with medication, physiotherapy and, in cases more severe, it may be necessary to resort to surgery.

3. Fractures

Another common cause of inflammation in the legs is the appearance, in this region, of small fractures in the bones, especially in patients with osteoporosis or who have suffered severe blows to the legs. These small fractures do not normally cause severe pain like a normal fracture, nor can they be seen with the naked eye.

What to do: you should see an orthopedist if you have suffered a very heavy blow and you have a swelling and severe pain, if you suffer from osteoporosis, if the swelling has not improved a week after a lighter blow or if the pain get worse over time.

4. Cellulite

Cellulite is an infection of the cells in the deeper layers of the skin and usually arises when you have a wound on your leg that becomes infected. The most common symptoms, in addition to swelling, include intense redness, fever above 38ºC and very severe pain. Find out what causes and how to treat infectious cellulite.

What to do: go to the emergency room if the symptoms persist for more than 24 hours to diagnose the problem and start the appropriate treatment, which is usually done with antibiotics.

5. Deep venous thrombosis (DVT)

Lower limb thrombosis can happen at any age, but it is more common in the elderly and people with a family history, and can be triggered by other factors such as having clotting problems, spending a lot of time with a motionless member, using cigarettes, being pregnant or even using contraceptives, especially in women who have clotting problems.

In addition to swelling in a leg, which starts quickly, deep vein thrombosis can also cause severe pain, difficulty moving the leg and redness. See how to identify a deep vein thrombosis.

What to do: it is advisable to seek an emergency room for evaluation, if tests are requested to find out the cause of the thrombosis and be medicated as soon as possible, avoiding complications.