Swollen Legs: Symptoms and Causes

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swollen-legs-symptoms-and-causes

Water retention can cause swollen legs. How it comes to this and what you can do about it, you will find out here.

Swollen legs: formation

  • Water in the tissue ensures that the organs and bones are supplied with nutrients. The water also ensures that pollutants are transported out of the tissue for excretion.
  • Edema (water in the legs) is usually water-related fluid retentionthat can occur in both feet and legs. They usually arise when something is out of the norm with the blood, veins or lymphatics.
  • Edema of the legs occurs when fine veins, the so-called capillaries, are leaking due to increased internal pressure and release water into the tissue.

Swollen legs: symptoms

  • Water retention or swelling of the legs can have different causes. Diseases are not always behind it. If there is swelling or thickening on just one side, they usually affect the feet, ankles or lower legs. The reason is often a venous insufficiency.
  • Bilateral edema is more likely to indicate diseases of internal organs. Also with a lipoedema (fat accumulation) it comes to water accumulations, so that legs and feet can swell.
  • If the puffiness really is edema , you can tell if there’s  a dent on the spot if you press it with a light motion against it.

Swollen Legs: Possible Causes

  • lipoedema
  • Too little movement
  • liver disease
  • Edema due to protein deficiency
  • diabetes
  • Hormonal fluctuations (menstruation / pregnancy / menopause)
  • drugs
  • Heart or kidney weakness
  • Problems with blood in the veins

Swollen Legs: Measures and Prevention

  • If the swelling is acute in the evening, but falls back overnight, there may be problems in the drainage system of the veins. Here it is important to raise your legs . Varicose veins may occur, but are not necessarily expected.
  • Varicose veins , however, are among the most important venous disorders. The cause is often due to a congenital weakness, in which the valves of the vessels do not close properly. Too little exercise and obesity can increase varicose veins as a venous disease.
  • Since swollen legs can have many different causes, going to the doctor is highly recommended. Especially if the swelling does not subside overnight and hurt.
  • A balanced diet with little alcohol and lots of exercise is the basis for healthy legs. Both for prevention, as well as a measure to reduce, for example, lipoedema. Make sure you do not sit too much and get up on a regular basis , such as working in an office.
  • If the doctor has recommended compression stockings , you should also wear them consistently. Relieving, it is almost always, raise your legs . Movement and lying in alternation contribute to the fact that the legs are dammed.
  • Make sure you drink regularly and properly . So you keep the blood liquid even with prolonged sitting. Prefer water and unsweetened tea.