Fluid buildup (edema): It happens when the tissues or blood vessels in your legs hold more fluid than they should. This can happen if you simply spend a long day on your feet or sit for too long. But it may also be a sign that you're overweight or don't get enough exercise, or of more serious medical conditions.
After peeling off your socks at the end of a long day, you may notice “sock lines.” These indentations, and the puffy legs above them, are signs of swelling, or what's known as edema.
Seek medical care right away if your legs swell for no apparent reason, especially if you have unexplained leg pain, difficulty breathing, chest pain or other warning signs of a blood clot in your lungs or a heart condition. Many factors — varying greatly in severity — can cause leg swelling.
When socks leave an indentation, it is typically the result of peripheral edema. Several benign causes are possible, such as standing for long periods. However, edema can sometimes result from an underlying health condition, such as renal or heart failure.
At the end of the day, when you take off your socks, you shouldn't see any depressions or grooves in your skin. If your socks do leave marks on your legs or ankles, that's a sign you've got edema. Now, it's time to see your vein specialist and figure out what's causing the swelling.
Swelling (edema) in your lower legs is another sign of a heart problem. When your heart doesn't work as well, blood flow slows and backs up in the veins in your legs. This causes fluid to build up in your tissues. You may also have swelling in your stomach or notice some weight gain.
Leg swelling can result either from fluid buildup (fluid retention) or from inflammation in injured or diseased tissues or joints. Many of the causes of leg swelling, such as an injury or prolonged standing or sitting, are common, easily identified and no reason for concern.
LEG SWELLING/EDEMA Q & A
Its origins are often the result of both lymphatic dysfunction and vascular disease. Poor circulation from venous malfunction causes lymph fluid to collect, and remain, in the lower legs.
Although prescription medications and creams can treat edema, it is essential to drink enough water. When your body is not hydrated enough, it holds onto the fluid it already has to make up for the lack of incoming water, thus contributing to swelling.
Some of the many common causes of fluid retention include: Gravity – standing up for long periods of time allows fluid to 'pool' in the tissues of the lower leg. Hot weather – the body tends to be less efficient at removing fluid from tissues during the summer months. Burns – including sunburn.
Exercise-The most effective forms of exercise to help combat leg swelling are swimming, walking, and biking.
When to Seek Care for Swelling. You should seek emergency care if you have sudden, unexplained swelling in just one limb or if it occurs along with chest pain, trouble breathing, coughing up blood, fever, or skin that is red and warm to the touch.
Avoid Foot Swelling By Skipping The Salt
To reduce swelling all over your body, podiatrist, Dr. Paul Ross near Rockville, MD recommends that you avoid fast food, potato chips and packaged sweets. Watch out for sneaky sources of sodium like condiments, sauces and canned food.
Edema is caused by nutrient deficiencies and imbalances, with vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B-6, magnesium, and zinc being common vitamins and minerals that have an effect on symptoms.
Warning signs and symptoms of heart failure include shortness of breath, chronic coughing or wheezing, swelling, fatigue, loss of appetite, and others. Heart failure means the heart has failed to pump the way it should in order to circulate oxygen-rich blood throughout the body.
At what stage of heart failure does edema happen? Swollen feet can happen at any stage of heart failure, but worsening edema may mean that heart failure is becoming more severe.
People with heart failure have a tendency to retain fluid. This appears as swollen ankles and legs because of excess fluid building up. You may notice that your shoes don't fit and socks appear tight or leave a prominent indent above the ankle.
Diabetic socks typically are made without seams along the toe to reduce the risk of rubbing and blisters that could lead to ulcers, especially for someone with neuropathy or chronic hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). Diabetic socks also sometimes have white soles to reveal draining of a wound that may not be felt.
Your healthcare provider will test an area of your body for edema by gently pressing their finger on a swollen area of your skin for five to 15 seconds (pitting test). After they release pressure, a dimple (pit) will appear in your skin. The pit indicates that there is fluid built up in your tissues.
Mild cases of edema will usually go away on their own, particularly if you make certain lifestyle adjustments. More severe cases of edema may be treated with diuretics (medications that help your body expel excess fluid in urine).