Swollen feet can happen when you are standing too long or sitting, being a side effect of medicine or being due to pregnancy, not being considered severe. However, swollen feet can also be caused by liver failure, kidney problem, lymphedema, lipedema, filariasis, venous insufficiency, thrombosis and varicose veins.
In general, the swelling in the feet improves throughout the day. However, if it is accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, headache, tingling, chills and swelling in other parts of the body, it is important that the doctor is consulted, as it may be a sign of more severe situations.
To relieve swelling on the feet, it is interesting to put your legs up or leave your feet slightly raised when sitting or lying down to favor the blood circulation. In some cases, the doctor may also recommend the use of compression and/ or medicine socks according to swollen feet cause.
Also read: 5 Homemade remedies for swollen feet
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Main causes
The main causes of swollen feet are:
1. Standing a long time or sitting
When you stay for a long time or standing there may be changes in blood circulation, which cannot effectively return to the heart, being accumulated in the lower limbs and causing swelling in the feet, and feeling heavy legs and tingling.
What to do: It is recommended to avoid staying long sitting or standing and regularly exercising to stimulate circulation and relieve swelling. Also, you can put your legs up to favor the return of the blood toward the heart.
2. Side effect of medicines
Some medications, such as corticosteroids, contraceptives, steroids, antidepressants, and heart medicines, may have the side effect of liquid retention, making their feet more swollen.
What to do: Overall, swelling progressively improves after suspension of drug use. Thus, it is important that the doctor is consulted to make an assessment of the gravity of swelling and thus verify if it is possible to exchange or suspend the medicine.
3. Pregnancy
It is common for feet and ankles to become more swollen in pregnancy due to increased amount of circulating blood and increased uterus size, which may interfere with blood circulation and cause swelling. The swelling of the feet in pregnancy is more common from the 5th month of pregnancy.
What to do: In this case, the doctor may indicate that the woman wears compression socks, to help circulate the blood and relieve swelling, and it is also indicated that the woman has her legs a little high when sitting or lying down. Check out what to do to decrease the swelling of the feet in pregnancy.
4. Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia is a situation that can happen in pregnancy when there is an increase in blood pressure after week 20 of gestation, which may happen due to the change in the development of the placenta blood vessels, interfering with blood flow and causing swelling in the feet and ankle.
In addition to swelling in the feet, preeclampsia causes other symptoms to appear according to severity, such as headache, decreased amount of urine, weight gain and changes in vision, as well as increased blood pressure. See other symptoms of preeclampsia.
What to do: It is important for women to consult the obstetrician to evaluate blood pressure and the severity of preeclampsia. The doctor may recommend change in eating habits, such as decreased amount of salt consumed during the day and increased water intake, rest and medication use.
In the most severe cases, the woman may be required to be admitted to the hospital to be monitored and complications such as Hellp syndrome, bleeding, placenta detachment and eclampsia.
5. LINFEDEMA
Lymphedema is the accumulation of fluid outside the blood vessels, causing swelling in various parts of the body, including the feet. This situation can happen after surgery, infectious and inflammatory diseases.
What to do: In this case, it is important for the doctor to be consulted for lymphedema to be evaluated and the best treatment, which may involve the use of medicines, use of elastic bandage, physiotherapy and exercise. See more details of treatment for lymphedema.
6. Venous insufficiency
Venous insufficiency is when there is a change in the functioning of the heart valves, so that blood circulation does not happen correctly, causing swelling in the feet and legs, sensation of heavy legs, tingling and cramps.
What to do: It is important that the cardiologist is consulted to confirm venous insufficiency and thus be able to start the most appropriate treatment, which may involve the use of medicines and compression socks. Learn more about treatment for venous insufficiency.
7. Filariosis
Filariasis, popularly known as elephantiasis, is an infectious disease caused by a parasite transmitted by a mosquito, which can cause liquid accumulation in the body, especially in the lower limbs, resulting in swelling feet and ankles.
In addition to swelling, it is common to note other symptoms such as fever, headache, increased groin lymph nodes, chills and increased volume of the testicles in some cases. Learn to recognize the symptoms of filariasis.
What to do: Treatment of filariasis should be done according to the guidance of the infectologist or general practitioner, being usually done using antiparasitic drugs, such as dietylcarbamazine or Ivermectin along with albendazole. In some cases, surgery may also be required.
8. Thrombosis
Thrombosis is characterized by the formation of clots within the blood vessels that interfere directly into the blood flow, causing swelling of the legs and feet, pain in the calf and thigh, difficulty walking, tingling and excessive tiredness. Check out other symptoms of thrombosis.
What to do: Treatment for thrombosis should be guided by the general practitioner or angiologist and aims to avoid the formation of new clots, preventing clots formed from release or growing, and the use of specific medications is recommended. See how treatment for thrombosis is done.
9. Varicose veins
Varicose veins are the dilated veins that may appear on the legs due to the inability of the veins to promote the return of blood from the lower limbs toward the heart, causing swelling in the legs and feet, tired leg sensation, tingling, dark spots on the leg and itching on site. See other symptoms of varicose veins.
What to do: The treatment of varicose veins is done according to the recommendation of the angiologist or vascular surgeon, which may indicate the use of medicines for varicose veins and/ or procedures to remove varicose veins, relieve symptoms and improve blood flow. In addition, the use of compression socks, physical activity and lymphatic drainage can be indicated.
10. Changes in the kidneys
Some situations that interfere with the functioning of the kidneys, such as autoimmune diseases, chronic kidney disease, kidney failure or infection, for example, may have as a consequence of feet, frequent will to urinate, but to less, back pain and itching on the skin.
What to do: It is important for the nephrologist or urologist to be consulted to identify the change in the kidneys and thus be indicated the most suitable treatment to combat the cause and relieve symptoms, such as drinking more water, making changes in food, using specific medications and, in more severe cases, doing dialysis.
11. lindeem
Lipedema is excessive accumulation of fat in the lower limbs, which can cause swelling of legs and feet, difficulty walking, sensation of heavy legs, pain in the region and joint. Learn more about Lipedema.
What to do: Treatment for lipedema should be done under the guidance of the general practitioner and aims to relieve symptoms and improve person mobility, and it may be recommended to perform lymphatic drainage, physiotherapy, use of compression socks and physical activity practice.
12. Hepatic failure
Hepatic failure is a situation in which the liver is no longer able to perform its main functions, which may result in the appearance of symptoms such as swelling in the legs and feet, abdomen pain, nausea, vomiting, sensation of general discomfort, dark urine and light feces.
What to do: Treatment for liver failure depends on the cause of liver and gravity change, and may be recommended by the hepatologist or general practitioner the use of medicines, changes in diet or liver transplantation in more severe cases. Learn how treatment is done for liver failure.
Source: www.tuasaude.com