Swollen feet certainly make people who experience it uncomfortable. This condition can be caused by various things, from standing too long to symptoms of certain diseases. By knowing the cause of swollen feet, treatment can be done appropriately.
Standing or walking for too long can cause edema or fluid buildup in certain parts of the body, including the feet. This can lead to swollen feet. However, this condition generally gets better on its own.
However, if swollen feet are accompanied by other symptoms, this could be a sign of a health problem.
Various Causes of Swollen Feet
The following are some conditions or diseases that can cause swollen feet:
1. Lymphedema
Lymphedema occurs due to damage to the lymph nodes. This condition is often experienced by cancer patients who are undergoing treatment. This can cause the body to retain lymphatic fluid and cause swollen feet.
Typical symptoms that accompany lymphedema include swelling of one leg, easy bruising, and thickening of the skin or fibrosis.
2. Injury
Ankle sprains due to injury or missteps can cause the ligaments to stretch because they have to support the injured ankle. This condition can trigger swollen feet.
3. Pregnancy
Swollen feet during pregnancy is a common condition, especially when you are 20 weeks pregnant or more. However, pregnant women need to be vigilant if swollen feet are accompanied by a sudden increase in blood pressure.
This condition can be a symptom that pregnant women are experiencing pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia. If you experience this, immediately consult a doctor.
4. Infection
Swelling in the feet and ankles can be a symptom of infection. People who are more at risk of experiencing swollen feet due to infection are diabetics. Therefore, if you have diabetes, it is important to check the condition of your feet from time to time for blisters or sores.
5. Blood clot
Blood clots that form in the leg veins can stop the flow of blood from the legs back to the heart and cause leg swelling. This condition can be life threatening if a blood clot breaks off and spreads to the heart and lungs.
You need to be alert if the feet are swollen with symptoms of high fever and discoloration of the feet.
6. Kidney disease
Disorders of kidney function can cause fluid buildup in the body, thus triggering swollen feet. In addition to swollen feet, other symptoms of kidney disease include decreased appetite, fatigue, shortness of breath, and infrequent urination.
7. Venous insufficiency
Swelling in the legs is often an early symptom of venous insufficiency, which is a condition when blood cannot move up from the veins in the legs to the heart properly.
This condition can cause swollen feet accompanied by symptoms of skin changes and infection.
8. Drug side effects
Consumption of certain drugs can also cause swollen feet due to fluid buildup. Some types of drugs that have this effect are diabetes drugs, NSAIDs, antidepressant drugs, steroid drugs, blood pressure drugs, and use of drugs containing hormones, including contraceptives.
In addition to some of the diseases above, swollen feet can also be caused by liver disease and heart disease.
How to Overcome Swollen Feet
Mild swollen feet can heal on their own, but some need to be treated by a doctor. You need to see a doctor if you experience severe swelling of the feet, do not heal, or have difficulty walking.
To treat the swollen feet that you are experiencing, the doctor will provide treatment according to the cause of the swollen feet. For example, if your swollen feet are caused by an infection, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics.
Meanwhile, if your swollen feet are caused by kidney disease, your doctor can provide treatment according to the cause of your kidney disease or advise you to do dialysis and even undergo kidney surgery.
In addition to medical treatment from a doctor, you can also relieve swollen feet in the following ways:
- Use compression socks to prevent blood clots in the legs.
- Soak your feet in a tub of salt water solution for 15-20 minutes to reduce pain in swollen feet.
- Try moving around every hour to stretch your knees and ankles, if swollen feet are the result of sitting too long.
- Lose weight if your feet are swollen due to being overweight.
The causes of swollen feet can vary and the treatment is not the same. Therefore, you should consult a doctor when you experience swollen feet, so that the doctor can determine what is causing your swollen feet and treat it appropriately.