Why You Should Never Ignore Leg Swelling

Swelling in the ankles and lower legs may be a common condition known as edema. If you exercise heavily or stand for hours on end, you could develop swollen legs. If this is an occasional condition that happens only under these circumstances, there’s no reason to worry. 

However, chronic edema is another matter. You should never ignore leg swelling that’s persistent or that causes other symptoms. Edema has many causes. Some aren’t cause for concern, but others can be serious. 

Vascular medicine specialist Enrique Hernandez, MD, of Advanced Vascular Cardiac & Veins in Miami, Florida, diagnoses and treats the artery and vein conditions that result in swollen legs, including some of the most dangerous circulatory disorders. 

Let’s take a look at why leg swelling needs medical attention, so you know when to seek the help that you need to care for the condition. 

The effects of gravity

Edema can happen virtually anywhere in the body, any place where fluid can collect. Your ankles, feet, and legs are a common place for edema due to the effects of gravity. 

By the time blood moves from the arteries to the veins in your lower legs, the pumping of your heart exerts little force on blood movement. Blood climbs back to the heart and lungs because of one-way valves inside veins. 

Pumping action is also provided by the muscles of your legs as you walk. On days when you sit or stand in a single position for long hours, you lose this pumping assistance, and blood and other fluids can collect in your lower legs. 

Causes of leg swelling

As well as gravity pulling blood downward, other factors contribute to swelling. Some of the most common causes of edema in the lower legs include: 

• Pregnancy: Pressure from the uterus affects blood flow, and hormonal changes make vein tissue less elastic.
• Diet: Foods high in salt can cause your body to retain fluids.
• Medications: Some pain drugs and high blood pressure management medications can contribute to edema.
• Venous insufficiency: Weakness in leg veins and failure of vein valves allow blood to collect in the lower legs.
• Edema can be a symptom of heart, kidney, liver, and lung diseases.

Having more than one risk factor for edema is possible and may increase the severity of your condition. 

Treating ankle and leg swelling

Successfully treating lower leg edema often requires treatment of the underlying conditions causing the swelling. As well as medical suggestions from Dr. Hernandez, you can also help reduce swelling with a few home-based care methods. 

Some things you can do to limit the impact of edema include: 

• Raise your feet and legs above the level of your heart when you’re resting.
• Increase mild to moderate low-impact activity like walking, biking, or swimming to provide additional blood movement in your legs.
• Use compression socks, stockings, or shoes to add support to vulnerable areas. 
• Take medications as directed and ask Dr. Hernandez to review your existing medications for any that might contribute to edema. 
• Reduce the levels of salt and sodium in your diet.

We may provide you with other recommendations specific to your condition. 

Contact Advanced Vascular Cardiac & Veins at the nearest of our two Miami locations today for a consultation. Book your appointment online or by phone.