The usual shoes became tight in the evening, and the ankles became swollen - this is a sign of swelling, which can be accompanied by pain and a feeling of fatigue in the legs.
Isolated cases of swelling of the legs are quite natural if the weather is hot outside, you walked a lot and for a long time, wore uncomfortable clothes and shoes, or took a long flight.
But when such a symptom begins to appear regularly, this is a reason to think about your health and seek advice from a doctor.
- Why do my legs swell?
- Swelling of the legs - what is the reason?
- Possible diseases
- Prevention of swelling
- How to treat swelling of the legs?
Edema is the accumulation of excess fluid in tissue. Under natural conditions, in the absence of pathologies, the body removes it through the venous system on its own.
If swelling of the extremities bothers you often and is accompanied by alarming symptoms - such as: the appearance of nodules on the veins, dark areas on the skin, spider veins; frequent bruises and hematomas, even with minor bruises and pressure - this may be a signal of problems with blood vessels and the development of diseases such as thrombophlebitis and varicose veins.
“My legs are swollen...”
A similar complaint can often be heard in a doctor’s office: according to statistics, almost 90% of the world’s population faces this problem. Swelling can be pronounced or subtle, people often ask what to do if the lower legs are swollen or what to do if the leg is swollen and painful. Since there can be many causes of swelling, the first thing to do when you have swelling is to see a doctor. He will make an accurate diagnosis, and we will try to comment on the questions that patients have if their leg is swollen.
Diagnostics will help determine the cause of the problem
An external clinical examination is not sufficient to make a 100% diagnosis if the causes of the problem are not obvious. In this case, it is necessary to undergo a number of additional examinations:
- Take a blood test (general and biochemical) and urine.
- Go through an allergy testing procedure.
- Ultrasound examination of the heart, kidneys, blood vessels.
- Take an electrocardiogram of the heart.
- Do angiography.
If the leg is swollen above the knee on the side, an x-ray of bones and joints may be prescribed. The clinician needs to understand exactly what led to the formation of edema. Modern diagnostic methods allow you to get a general “picture” of the problem in the shortest possible time.
Edema usually affects women and rarely occurs in men. Why is this happening?
Indeed, there are several factors that explain why women are more likely to have swollen lower legs. The first is incorrectly selected shoes. Women more often make “sacrifices for the sake of beauty”, wearing uncomfortable but fashionable shoes, or too high heels. All this disrupts the venous outflow, which ultimately leads to edema. The second important factor is regular hormonal fluctuations: many women note that swelling is associated with the phase of the cycle. And of course, edema is accompanied by pregnancy: at this time, blood circulation becomes difficult, hormonal levels change, and often expectant mothers allow themselves to deviate from proper nutrition.
Prevention is easier than cure!
It is easier to prevent any health problem than to treat it later. A good way to prevent swelling of the legs is physical exercise, which helps speed up metabolic processes.
It is important to devote time to sports and exercise for people with a sedentary lifestyle. In addition, you need to try to follow the right diet. Swelling often occurs as a result of eating foods with large amounts of salt and spices, or alcohol abuse.
The most common cause of leg swelling is improper kidney function.
Various kidney pathologies often cause swelling of the legs. Kidney swelling is mild and gets worse if you spend a lot of time on your feet. The reason that the legs swell more in the evening is that fluid is usually not removed from the body at night.
However, the condition of the kidneys is not the only factor influencing swelling. Some diseases of the liver (for example, cirrhosis) or the cardiovascular system are also accompanied by fluid stagnation. For example, with heart failure, the leg may swell from the knee to the foot. In liver diseases, swelling of the ankles is more common.
Main causes of swollen feet
If your leg is swollen above the knee and hurts, this often indicates the consequences of an injury or tumor.
But swelling of the lower extremities develops as a result of impaired lymph outflow or venous circulation. Edema may indicate increased capillary permeability or problems in binding fluid to other blood elements. Increased pressure in the vessels can lead to the transfer of plasma into the space between tissues. If fluid is poorly absorbed in the opposite direction, it gradually accumulates. And, as a result, the right leg (left or both) is swollen below or above the knee. The mechanism of edema formation can be triggered by both local and general causes. These include:
- disturbances in the functioning of the heart muscle;
- various venous diseases, including varicose veins;
- renal pathologies;
- arthrosis, arthritis and other joint diseases;
- injuries (the reasons why the leg above the knee swells may lie in sprained ligaments or, for example, bruises);
- lymphostasis and other disruptions in lymph circulation;
- infectious diseases;
- problems with the thyroid gland;
- all kinds of allergies.
When the leg is swollen from the knee to the foot, the doctor during the initial examination may also ask whether the patient is taking antihypertensive drugs or hormones. Such medications can cause swelling.
Edema syndrome can indicate the presence of quite serious diseases. Only a doctor can accurately determine the reasons why the legs are swollen to the knees after carrying out appropriate diagnostic measures.
My leg is swollen and hurts, what should I do?
As is clear from the answers to the previous questions, you need to contact a specialist. Only a doctor can accurately determine the cause that leads to swelling of the legs. If swelling occurs only sporadically, here are some tips for those who want to maintain healthy feet:
- Wear comfortable shoes. High heels are beautiful, but they are not good for your health. If you want to avoid swelling, then for daily wear, choose shoes with heels no higher than 3-5 cm.
- Do not disregard your doctor's recommendations if you are prescribed to wear compression stockings. It helps to establish normal blood circulation; it is very important to wear compression stockings or socks if you have a long trip or flight.
- If you sit or stand for a long time during the day, change your position, do gymnastics during the day, walk. This will help improve blood circulation.
- Watch your weight. Excess body weight also contributes to the formation of edema.
How to treat in a hospital and at home
Doctors approach the treatment of the problem differently, since the problem itself is considered one of the symptoms of the disease. An experienced specialist’s arsenal includes various methods, including drug therapy, exercise therapy, massage, and various physical procedures. In severe cases, surgery may be prescribed. Without a preliminary examination, it is difficult to definitively answer the question of what to do if the leg above the knee is swollen.
Often, if the left leg is swollen above the knee or below, or there is swelling of both limbs, doctors prescribe an accompanying diet for patients - they recommend minimizing the consumption of salt, fatty and overly spicy foods. It is important to normalize the flow of fluid in the body.
Therapy methods are selected taking into account the underlying disease strictly on an individual basis. Therefore, to the question of what to do if the leg below the knee swells, there can only be one answer - consult a specialist. Self-medication in this case is dangerous, since it only aggravates the current clinical picture. If your legs are swollen below the knees, only a good doctor can determine the causes and prescribe treatment.
Symptoms
An unpleasant disease manifests itself in the form of a number of symptoms that are easy to recognize. They may disappear over time or persist permanently. The degree of manifestation also often varies. If swelling increases, it means there is a pathology in the body.
Symptoms:
- Local location. They most often occur around the entire circumference of the ankle joint or around the ankles.
- Pasty. If you press your finger on the affected area, marks will remain on it. The same marks remain on the shins from socks and shoes.
- Trophic disorders. Due to the large amount of accumulated fluid, the skin stretches, then trophic ulcers, erosions, dermatitis, etc. can form on it.
- Large (up to the knee) swelling of only one leg. If you press lightly on it, the mark will not disappear for a long time.
Symptoms may vary depending on the cause of the disorder. The diagnosis is made after a thorough examination and comparison of all symptoms.
Why do my legs swell?
Both men and women face the problem of swollen feet. The discomfort usually intensifies in the evening.
Common causes of leg swelling include:
- Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day.
Excess moisture does not have time to be carried by the vessels and enters the intercellular space. - Sitting for a long time on chairs that are too soft and low, uncomfortable posture (crossing your legs).
In both cases, large veins are compressed, and blood flows poorly to the legs. - Intense workouts.
This problem is often encountered by people who run, walk, and do strength exercises. - Uncomfortable clothes and shoes.
Many women are familiar with the feeling of tired legs when wearing high-heeled shoes. Due to the unnatural position of the foot and increased load on the toe, blood supply deteriorates and swelling may occur. A similar problem occurs when the sole of the shoe is completely flat. The habit of wearing tight trousers and jeans can also lead to poor circulation. - Excess weight.
In obese people, swelling may occur due to metabolic disorders and higher load on the legs. - Pregnancy.
Pregnant women may experience swelling as a result of increased stress on the legs and hormonal changes. But this can also signal gestosis (serious vascular disease), so if you experience frequent swelling of the legs in the third trimester or after childbirth, you should urgently consult a doctor. - In case of injuries, burns and frostbite of the lower extremities, the affected area of the skin may become severely swollen, leading to limited mobility.
Causes
The shins and feet bear the maximum load, so these places are the most vulnerable. All fluid in the body is concentrated in the intercellular and vascular spaces. If this balance is disturbed, swelling will increase, then moisture accumulates in the distal parts of the legs.
What determines the balance of fluid distribution:
- hydrodynamics of blood flow;
- blood pressure on the walls of blood vessels;
- levels of oncotic and osmotic activity of the intercellular space and blood plasma.
If the balance between moisture exchange and the load on the intercellular space is disturbed, then edema occurs. You need to be able to remove them correctly. Swelling of the legs may be a reaction of adaptation to external conditions. At the same time, they can be symptoms of serious illnesses.
Swelling of the lower extremities occurs for many reasons. Depending on the disease, the legs look different:
- If the swelling is absolutely the same on both legs, and the skin looks pale and feels like dough to the touch, then the reason lies in excess load. This happens after a long walk. Rest is needed.
- A serious sign of heart failure is constant swelling. Blood stagnates in the veins. Uneven swelling occurs on the legs, which differ in size and density. In the initial stages, the skin is soft. If decompensation has developed due to heart disease, then the legs become dense and swell from the feet to the knees. In the morning, the swelling sometimes subsides a little.
- If outwardly identical swelling is very noticeable in the morning, but subsides in the evening, it means that the person has kidney disease. In addition to the legs, the face swells.
- Dense swelling on one leg occurs due to venous diseases - thrombophlebitis, varicose veins, etc. If both legs are swollen, then one of them will be more affected. The area around the ankle is especially affected. Swelling increases after standing or walking and decreases after resting in a lying position.
- Very persistent and dense swelling on one leg develops due to diseases of the lymphatic system - lymphedema, erysipelas, etc. They do not subside under any influence. They are located mainly on the back of the foot.
- Diseases of the joints and bones manifest themselves in small swelling around the affected area. There is pain and it is impossible to move.
- With purulent inflammation around the sore spot, swelling occurs, limited in size, the entire affected area increases in volume. If the injury or bite was minor, then only the nearest area swells.
- Immediately after a leg fracture, swelling appears around the injured area. After a sprain or rupture of the ligaments, the swelling resembles a hematoma.
- Mild and uniform swelling on both legs develops with hypothyroidism, pregnancy, PMS, myxedema, adrenal gland dysfunction, cachexia.
- In diseases of the nervous system and paralysis, vascular functions are often disrupted. Then small but constant swelling appears on the legs, which increases slightly in the evening. If only one limb is paralyzed, then edema develops only on it.
To make a correct diagnosis and find out the cause of edema, the doctor must find out other symptoms and take into account the general condition of the patient.
