Considerations Painless swelling may affect both legs and may include the calves or even the thighs. Causes Foot, leg, and ankle swelling is common when the person also: Is overweight Has a blood clot in the leg Is older Has a leg infection Has veins in the legs that cannot properly pump blood back to the heart called venous insufficiency, most often due to varicose veins Injury or surgery involving the leg, ankle, or foot can also cause swelling.
Certain medicines may also cause your legs to swell. Some of these are: Antidepressants, including MAO inhibitors and tricyclics Blood pressure medicines called calcium channel blockers Hormones, such as estrogen in birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy and testosterone Steroids.
Home Care Some tips that may help reduce swelling: Put your legs on pillows to raise them above your heart while lying down. Exercise your legs. This helps pump fluid from your legs back to your heart.
Follow a low-salt diet, which may reduce fluid buildup and swelling. Wear support stockings sold at most drugstores and medical supply stores. When traveling, take breaks often to stand up and move around. Avoid wearing tight clothing or garters around your thighs. Lose weight if you need to. When to Contact a Medical Professional Call or the local emergency number if: You feel short of breath. You have chest pain, especially if it feels like pressure or tightness. Call your provider right away if: You have heart disease or kidney disease and the swelling gets worse.
You have a history of liver disease and now have swelling in your legs or abdomen. Your swollen foot or leg is red or warm to the touch. Swelling in the ankles, feet and legs is often caused by a build-up of fluid in these areas, called oedema. Swelling in your ankles, feet or legs should go away on its own, but there are some things you can try to help. They can arrange a phone call from a nurse or doctor if you need one.
Go to You could have a blood clot in your lungs, which needs immediate treatment in hospital. Lymphedema can result from infections, cancer , and surgical removal of the lymph nodes.
Some hereditary conditions can also cause lymphedema. Damage to the lymphatic system is irreversible, so treatment aims to reduce swelling and prevent other symptoms. Heart failure occurs when the heart can no longer pump blood as effectively as it should.
There are three different types of heart failure: left-sided, right-sided, and congestive heart failure. In right-sided and congestive heart failure, there is a reduction in blood flow out of the heart, causing blood to back up into the veins.
This may lead to a buildup of fluid in tissues, including the legs and ankles. Heart failure also affects the kidneys , reducing their ability to remove salt and water from the body. This further contributes to edema. A doctor may prescribe diuretic medications and suggest monitoring and reducing fluid intake.
Both of these treatments can help reduce swelling in the ankles and legs. Chronic kidney disease refers to permanent kidney damage, which can worsen over time. A person may not experience any symptoms until they are in the late stages of the disease, called kidney failure or end-stage renal disease ESRD. During ESRD, the kidneys struggle to remove waste and extra fluid from the body.
This can lead to a range of symptoms, including swollen ankles. The healthy liver produces a protein called albumin. Albumin prevents fluid from leaking out of the blood vessels and into surrounding tissues. Very low levels of albumin due to liver disease can cause a buildup of fluid in the legs, ankles, and abdomen. A doctor may prescribe medications and offer advice on certain lifestyle factors that could help prevent or slow further liver damage. Examples include:.
If a person has hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, it means that their thyroid gland produces too few hormones. A study suggests that there may be a link between thyroid disorders and rheumatoid arthritis , which can also cause painful swelling in the joints. There are many explanations for why a person may have swollen feet.
Some causes, such as a twisted or sprained ankle, are obvious. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Edema is swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in your body's tissues. Edema in foot and ankle Open pop-up dialog box Close. Edema in foot and ankle Swelling of the foot, ankle and leg can be severe enough to leave an indentation pit when you press on the area.
Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Longo DL, et al.
0コメント