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Causes of leg swelling: why legs swell? Prevention measures against leg swelling
Swelling, or swelling, in the ankles and feet can indicate serious health problems. If any type of edema occurs, regardless of possible causes, it is necessary to consult a doctor in order to prevent possible complications.
The causes of leg swelling can be different. The main symptom is the accumulation of excess fluid in the legs due to the fact that the law of gravity acts on our body, like everything else in this world. As an effective prevention of leg swelling, raise your legs to an elevation at every opportunity.
The main causes of leg swelling
Heart failure can be one of the causes of leg swelling. Heart attacks, high blood pressure, or cardiomyopathy are due to an ineffective heart, trauma, or structural damage. Symptoms include tiredness and shortness of breath. Another cause of leg swelling can be kidney failure due to uncontrolled diabetes, dehydration, high blood pressure, obstructions blocking the flow of urine, or autoimmune diseases. Swelling of the lower extremities occurs when the kidneys are unable to cope with filtering waste generated in the body. This leads to a retention of fluids in the body.
Another cause of leg edema can be vascular diseases such as peripheral arterial disease. It can lead to swelling of the ankle and swelling of the foot, especially with prolonged standing or sitting. Symptoms include intermittent pain when walking and a feeling of “heaviness” in the limbs.
Preventive measures
A person suffering from swelling in the legs should keep them in an elevated position from time to time. You can lie down and put your feet on a pillow or ottoman to help blood circulation. Performing small movements with the ankle will also help reduce swelling. Another good way to reduce swelling, regardless of the cause of the swelling, is to wear elastic stockings. They will help the circulation of fluid in the limbs, and will simply strengthen the legs. By the way, these stockings are designed for both men and women. Their principle of action is that they squeeze the legs, forcing the blood to move back to the heart. Wearing these stockings (prescribed only by a doctor) on an ongoing basis will help reduce swelling and prevent new swelling from occurring. Another way of prevention is the inclusion in the diet of food that contains little or no salt. Salt increases the amount of fluid that the body retains, eventually “stuck” in the tissues. Inspect your diet, it may contain foods that you should get rid of.