Why do your feet swell and what to do about it?

Many people experience a condition called swelling of the legs. At the same time, excess fluid accumulates in the lower extremities, as a result of which the legs increase in size. This condition can occur in people of different ages and genders.

Symptoms of leg swelling

You may not notice outwardly that a person’s legs are swelling. The very first thing you should pay attention to is the presence of prints on the ankles from the elastic bands of the socks. A person may feel discomfort when walking in seemingly familiar shoes. If the disease continues to develop, then the unpleasant feelings will only intensify.

Depending on the cause of the disease, symptoms may vary. With the physiological nature of the disease, a person’s legs swell more as evening approaches. The same condition can be noticed after eating food or after being in the sun for a long time. If there is another disease that caused the swelling, the symptoms may be expressed differently:

• If a person develops varicose veins, the swelling usually manifests itself as different enlargement of the right and left legs. Additionally, there is pain in the legs and a feeling of heaviness.
• In the presence of thrombophlebitis, the swelling spreads exclusively along the affected leg. In addition, the patient feels pain and burning while walking. The skin takes on a red tint.
• If the cause of the development of edema lies in kidney disease, then the skin becomes pale.
• Swelling in diseases of the thyroid gland is usually elastic, and rubber bands do not leave marks on the legs.

Causes of leg swelling

There are many reasons for your feet to swell. Among them, some are quite harmless, while others indicate the presence of serious health problems. Physiological factors affecting the condition of the legs include standing for a long time, drinking too much liquid in the evening, sitting for a long time on a low chair, wearing uncomfortable shoes, especially tall and thin ones. heels.

Other ailments that lead to edema include metabolic disorders, heavy weight, flat feet. There are other diseases and conditions that lead to swelling.

Swelling with varicose veins is very common. In this case, the legs swell due to impaired blood flow and the appearance of stagnation. Usually, in this case, the swelling becomes more pronounced closer to the night, especially if you are constantly on your feet during the day. By morning, the legs return to their normal state.

When cardiac dysfunction swelling also appears. This is especially true for heart failure. In this case, the person experiences shortness of breath and difficulty breathing at night.

With kidney disease, swelling spreads to both legs. This disease is also imprinted on the face - shadows appear under the eyes, eyelids swell. In this case, swelling is more pronounced in the morning, and at the end of the day the swelling decreases.

If metabolic processes are disrupted, the swelling will be elastic; pressing on the swollen area will not leave a depression. Additionally, the person will feel drowsy, constantly feel cold, and may have digestive problems.

How to relieve swelling of the legs

To combat swelling, you can use medications or recipes from traditional healers. It is important to first find out the cause of leg swelling and consult a doctor about treatment. Typically, local medications are used - a variety of ointments, creams and gels that are applied to the affected limbs. These include heparin ointment, Essaven gel, Venitan, Lyoton or Troxevasin. All these products contain substances that help strengthen the vascular walls. Before using them, it’s good to do a contrast bath or just a douche. After applying the drug, you should lie down and rest.

A bath with dried herb effectively eliminates swelling. It must be poured with a large amount of boiling water and left for several hours. After this, the infusion must be filtered and slightly warmed. You need to keep your feet in this bath for 20 minutes.

Before going to bed, you can apply cabbage or burdock leaves to your feet and secure them with a gauze bandage. This compress should be kept all night. Regular use will allow you to forget about swelling for a long time.