Why swelling of the legs, and what to do in this case?

causes edema on the legs Swelling of the legs is a symptom that is manifested by the visible edema of the lower extremities, the increase in their circumference, and also, as a rule, by other symptoms and unpleasant sensations.

There is a huge number of causes of leg swelling. These can be common diseases (for example, cardiac edema of the legs), as well as the pathology of the lower limbs themselves.

Leg edema can be one-sided and bilateral, have varying degrees of severity (swelling of the fingers and feet, or up to the thigh). Based on these signs, as well as additional symptoms, the doctor can give the patient a certain diagnosis. Below we will consider why swelling of the legs, and what to do in this case.

What are edemas?

The causes of foot swelling can be of completely different nature. Thus, the following types of edema are distinguished by the nature of their appearance:

neuropathic- they are associated with diabetes and alcoholism;
cachectic- associated with depletion of the body or with cardiovascular diseases;

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mechanical- result of injuries, tumors or pregnancy;
hydromic- provoked by kidney diseases and caused by the accumulation of excess fluid;
stagnant- provoked by increased vascular permeability and capillary pressure;
allergic(edema Quincke) - the body's reaction to the allergen.

Any of the above reasons can provoke, like swelling of the foot of the right foot, and swelling in other parts of the body. In general, the most common swelling occurs in the extremities, pleural and abdominal cavity.

Causes of edema on the legs

To choose a method for treating edema on the right or left leg, you need to know the cause of their appearance. In men and women, this phenomenon is observed when:

kidney, thyroid and heart diseases, accompanied by acute heart failure;
inflammation or thrombosis of veins;
stasis of lymph in the extremities;
diabetes mellitus;
gestosis;
varicose veins;
cirrhosis of the liver.

Also, swelling of the legs can be caused by rather innocuous reasons:

excessive intake of salt, leading to the accumulation of fluid in the body
prolonged standing;
plentiful drink during the day, especially at bedtime;
long stay on low upholstered furniture;
tight, uncomfortable shoes at too high or too low a heel.

The causes of edema of the legs can be various factors that prevent the excretion of fluid from the body. In most cases, it is difficult to determine immediately why the liquid lingers and stagnates in the lower extremities.

Usually, for this purpose, you have to take tests, go for ultrasound, or resort to other ways to find out the cause of this condition. However, it is obvious that the organism responded to some not very favorable effects in this way.

Varicose disease

The most common cause of edema. The overgrowth of the connective tissue of the veins and the stagnation of blood in them transform the legs not only into an unattractive sight, but also causes a lot of trouble, fatigue and pain.

Along with the above-listed risk factors for the formation of varicose veins, heart diseases, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and atherosclerosis can be noted. Undoubtedly, not having understood the cause of varicose veins, it will be impossible to get rid of edema, and therapy and prevention of diseases should be carried out in a complex.

A good help for alleviating the symptoms will be cold foot baths, wearing special stockings and regular use of ointments from leg edema and varicose veins.

Thrombophlebitis

During thrombophlebitis, severe swelling of the legs may occur, accompanied by pain, other unpleasant sensations (numbness, tingling, "crawling"). There is an increase in body temperature, a general malaise. In the absence of adequate treatment, thrombophlebitis may manifest more severe symptoms than swelling of the legs.

Dysfunction of the kidneys

The cause of edema of the legs may be kidney disease. Both limbs suffer, while the eyelids swell, circles under the eyes are formed. The color of urine changes, and its secretion decreases. Edema can appear on the hands, abdomen. Sometimes renal failure is manifested by complication after a respiratory illness.

If the "cardiac" edema is manifested later in the evening, then the "kidney" on the contrary, more pronounced in the morning, toward evening they decrease.

Edema of the legs with heart failure

Edema of the legs with heart failure is a very common phenomenon, since the pathologies of the cardiovascular system in general are very widespread in modern society.

Heart failure is accompanied by the following characteristic symptoms:

Edema of the legs in the evening. This sign of heart disease is different from the pathology of the kidneys, in which swelling always occurs on the face, and in the morning.
Dyspnea. It is also related to the fact that the heart is not able to adequately drive blood through organs and tissues, so they are constantly experiencing oxygen starvation.
There is high blood pressure, less often - low blood pressure.
Pain in the heart: most often disturb the patient in the left half of the chest, as if squeezed.
People suffer rapid fatigue.

What to do if the legs swell, and you are concerned about other causes of heart failure? It is worth to come to see a cardiologist or therapist. The doctor will examine you and prescribe additional examinations: ECG, ECHO-cardiography, chest X-ray.

Thyroid dysfunction

The cause of edema of the legs is hypothyroidism, insufficient activity of the thyroid gland. Pressing on the swollen place does not leave pits, the tissues retain their elasticity.

This condition is characterized by drowsiness, chilliness, frequent constipation. Often swelling of the tongue and in the shoulders.

Medicated foot swelling

Moderate swelling of the legs may occur with the use of certain medications. To the medicines having this effect, include estrogens, androgens, DOXA, drugs from licorice root, reserpine. After the abolition of the corresponding drugs, edema is passed.

People whose work is associated with long standing in the standing position (sellers, lifters), may experience orthostatic swelling. Appear such edema on the feet and legs, mostly in the evening. They are expressed moderately and pass independently after rest.

Extreme fatigue

Healthy people face swelling of the lower limbs after hard working days or stressful situations. Often swelling occurs due to wearing uncomfortable shoes, especially on high heels.

To get rid of such phenomena is simple enough: it will take a one hour rest on the bed in a position with raised feet, as well as a foot relaxing bath and creams for tired feet on a plant basis.

Why does the woman's legs swell?

Medical practice shows that the question "Strongly swelling legs: what to do?" Is more often worried about women. In addition to the above pathologies that cause edema on the left or right leg, the reasons for women are supplemented by premenstrual changes, pregnancy.

Premenstrual edema. It starts several days before the onset of menstruation. In addition to moderate edema of the legs, the face, women notice a slight increase in body weight.
Pregnancy. Swollen legs during pregnancy due to increased volume of blood plasma; reduction of peripheral resistance of blood vessels; growth of the uterus, accompanied by local hypertension in the veins of the lower extremities.

Causes of leg swelling in men

The main cause of leg edema in men is a chronic venous insufficiency, which is most often of a family nature.
In addition, the swelling of the legs can occur with prolonged static loading or heavy physical work against a background of large losses of fluid with sweat.
The same mechanism swells the legs in summer in the heat with insufficient drinking load, tight shoes or playing sports.

What to do when the legs swell?

A thorough diagnosis, a consultation of the therapist and a duplex scan are needed that will show the state of your blood vessels - thromboses, ischemia sites and cholesterol accumulation. The main question is what happens to the blood flow and lymph flow? After that, it becomes clear whether additional research is needed, and in what direction to dig.

If both the cardiologist, the neuropathologist, and the therapist are bred, and the swelling continues - these are unequivocally renal features, they are most difficult to localize and find an explanation. The general principle is that the problems with the heart on the legs are manifested after severe physical exertion, towards evening, by morning, they fall off, the kidneys are "visible" in the early morning, and varicose veins and blood flow problems appear throughout the day, in dynamics.

Home Treatment

In the case of physiological edema, the recommendations for how to relieve edema on the legs are as follows:

reduce salt intake (up to 1.5 mg per day);
Do not abuse products that cause thirst;
try not to limit physical activity (it is better to choose exercises in water, for example, aqua aerobics);
if swelling occurs, lie down for a quarter of an hour with raised legs, do foot massage;
use compression knitwear (tights).

After consultation with a doctor, it is possible to use folk diuretics for leg edema:

broths of birch buds;
broth from a bear's eyelet (or bearberry leaves);
a huckster from the horsetail of the field;
cranberry juice;
decoction of parsley;
juice of cranberries.

It is better to refuse diuretics. But if treatment without them is impossible, then you should take them with caution, especially if there are problems with the kidneys or heart. During pregnancy, diuretics are contraindicated. Even if they are of vegetable origin.

Diuretics

Various loop (furosemide, lasix, triphas), thiazide (indapamide, hypothiazide) and potassium-sparing (veroshpiron, spironolactone) diuretics are used. The frequency of administration, the dosage form and the duration of treatment depend on the degree of heart failure.

Expressed edema is treated with injectable loop diuretics with a gradual transition to the tabletted intake of identical or agents from another group. For prolonged anti-edematous therapy, thiazide diuretics are more suitable in combination with veroshpiron. Preparations of potassium (panangin, asparks). Be sure to include in the treatment of loop diuretics.

Healing Exercises

To prevent swelling of the feet will help regular performance of a set of simple exercises:

put the left foot on the right and lift the toe of the right foot as high as possible, then left;
stand on your toes for a few seconds;
move the weight of the body from the inside of the foot to the outside and vice versa, from the heels to the toe;
make a few easy jumps on the socks;
in a sitting position on a chair, raise your legs and make circular motions with your feet;
Toes bend and sharply unbend.

Food

If you are faced with the problem of edema, it means that your body is prone to accumulation of fluid. Remember that in that case you should be excluded from the diet:

salted products;
fried and salted;
mustard and vinegar;
flour;
foods high in sugar;
red meat;
milk and dairy products.

The right way to cleanse the body of toxins - go to the so-called "unloading" diet. It will help you to remove harmful substances that make your organs harder and disrupt the body's balance of work.