Puffy,
Tender Tootsies
If one or both of your feet are
swollen, it can be hard to move around. And it can hurt, too. It’s not always
clear why it happens, but some health conditions can make it more likely.
Edema
This is when your body holds on to
too much water. It can make your feet puffy as well as your hands and face. You
might notice it after a long airplane flight or if you stand for hours at a
time, and some women have it around their monthly period. It usually goes away
on its own, but sometimes it can be a sign of a health problem like low protein
levels, heart failure, or kidney or liver disease.
Injury
If you trip or take a wrong step, a
swollen foot can be a sign of a broken bone or a sprain -- when the tough,
flexible tissue that connects the bones around your ankle tears. Your foot and
ankle will likely swell as blood rushes to the area to help heal it. See your
doctor if it hurts a lot, you can’t put weight on it, or it doesn’t look right.
Pregnancy
Feet can swell as a natural part of
pregnancy because a woman’s body holds on to more water when she’s expecting.
It can be worse at the end of the day or after standing for a long time. It’s
not usually a sign of a problem for mother or baby, but it can be
uncomfortable.
Preeclampsia
While many moms-to-be have swollen
feet, if the swelling comes along with a headache, nausea, trouble breathing,
or belly pain, it could be a sign of this condition. It starts around 20 weeks
into a pregnancy and is linked to high blood pressure. It can damage your liver
or kidneys and can be serious if it’s not treated. Be sure to tell your doctor
if you’ve had any of these symptoms.
Lymphedema
This is when one or more of your
lymph nodes -- small glands that are part of your immune system -- are damaged
or removed, as often happens during cancer treatment. As a result, your body
gets rid of less fluid, and that can lead to swelling in your arms, legs, and
feet. One treatment for this is called pneumatic compression. You wear a sleeve
over the affected areas, and air is pumped into it every so often to put
pressure there and help move fluid away. Exercises, massage, and compression
sleeves or socks may help, too.
Chronic
Venous Insufficiency
To get back to your heart from your
legs and feet, your blood travels in veins with “one-way valves” to keep it
from flowing back down. These valves can get damaged as you get older or if you
stand or sit for long periods of time. If your blood doesn’t return to your
heart the way it should, it can collect in your legs and feet and cause
swelling.
Heart
Failure
This is when your heart doesn’t pump
blood like it should. If your blood isn’t flowing well in the right direction,
it can back up in your legs and feet and cause swelling. With heart failure, it
can be uncomfortable to lie down flat, your heart may beat faster or in an
unusual rhythm, and you might have a hard time catching your breath. Get
medical help right away if you notice these signs.
Kidney
Disease
Your kidneys filter waste from your
blood. If they aren’t working right -- because of a condition like diabetes or
high blood pressure -- too much salt (sodium) can be left in your blood. That
makes your body hold on to more water than it should. Gravity pulls the water
down, and your feet and ankles can swell.
Liver
Disease
If you have hepatitis (inflammation
in your liver) or you drink heavily, your liver has to fix itself over and
over. That can cause scar tissue to replace healthy tissue, and your liver can
stop working like it should. If that happens, too much fluid can pool in your
belly, legs, and feet, making them swell.
What
You Can Do: RICE
This stands for “rest,” “ice,”
“compression,” and “elevation.” It’s most useful for sprains and broken bones,
but it can help if your feet are swollen for other reasons, too. If you rest
and put your feet up (elevate them), fluid will flow away from your feet. Ice
makes blood vessels narrower -- limiting blood flow -- and helps with pain.
Special extra-tight socks called compression socks, or wraps around your feet,
can help push fluid away from your feet.
What
You Can Do: Move Around
If you walk around every hour or so,
it makes it harder for fluid to pool in any one place and keeps your blood
moving through your body. Anything that moves your knees and flexes your ankles
can help.
What
You Can Do: Medicine
Some drugs used to treat high blood
pressure, diabetes, and inflammation can make your body hold on to too much
water, and that can make your feet swell. Other medications called diuretics can
ease swelling -- they help your body get rid of fluid by making you pee more
often. Always talk to your doctor before changing or stopping your meds.
What
You Can Do: Add Magnesium
You may be able to help your body
get rid of fluid more easily if you add 200 to 400 milligrams of magnesium to
your daily diet. Foods high in this mineral include oatmeal, bananas, almonds,
broccoli, and beets, Talk to your doctor before taking a supplement -- it can
cause problems if you have a kidney or heart condition, or if you take medicine
for other conditions.
When
to Call Your Doctor
Get medical help right away if your
feet are swollen and you’re short of breath or have chest pain. These could be
signs of fluid or a blood clot in your lungs. See your doctor if:
- Your swollen foot keeps a dimple after you press it.
- Your skin in the swollen area looks stretched or breaks.
- You have pain and swelling that doesn’t go away.
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