You may find that at the end of a long day your feet and legs are starting to resemble the legs of an elephant.
“Why?”, You may ask.
There are a number of reasons why you could be getting swollen legs and feet.
Some of these include:
Poor circulation
- As we age, circulation can become compromised especially to the extremities such as our feet and ankles.
Health Conditions
- Congestive heart failure, kidney disease or liver disease can lead to poor circulation
- Blood flow problems e.g. Varicose veins, peripheral vascular disease, thrombophlebitis, Deep vein thrombosis
Pregnancy
- It’s completely normal for your feet to swell during pregnancy
Foot injury
- Possible broken bone or torn ligament/tendons
- Especially if only one side is affected
- Swelling is a sign of inflammation/infection
Diet
- Heavy with salt intake
Immobility
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Overweight/obese
How can you combat this swelling?
Get moving
- Walk and move around whenever you can
- Walking activates the calf muscle pump which helps increase the blood flow
Compression socks
- These compression socks work by increasing the blood flow in your legs and is a great solution to rid those swollen feet and legs.
Change in diet
- Reducing salt intake as it makes you retain water
- Check sodium levels in foods you consume
Elevate your legs
- Try and elevate your legs above heart level when sitting
- Try putting a pillow under your calves in bed
If you feel like you don’t fit into any of the categories and are sick and tired of your swollen feet and legs, come visit one of the friendly podiatrists at Podiatry HQ and we will work with you to find the cause and treat it!
