Often your legs may swell when you stand or walk for long periods. Leg swelling due to excessive standing or walking is generally harmless to your health and usually disappears within a few hours or days. However, some issues may cause Port Saint Lucie leg swelling to fail to get better without treatment by a specialist. Chronic or sudden swelling of your legs may indicate a severe health issue.
Signs of swollen legs may include tight or painful skin, stretched or puffy skin, and legs and feet that feel heavy, itchy, or numb. Swollen legs may also have skin indents, most visible after you remove your trouser or socks.
Subsequently, below are the common diseases and conditions that may cause your legs to swell and their potential relief options.
- Pregnancy
Pregnancy increases the possibility that your fingers, feet, and legs will become inflamed as your body holds more fluids than usual. During the day, the excess fluids in your body tend to collect in the lowest parts of your body, particularly if you stand for a long time or the weather is hot.
Also, the swelling in your legs may be due to your growing womb exerting high pressure on your lower extremities, which affects blood flow. Thus, there is more fluid accumulation in your legs, ankles, and feet.
Avoid leg swelling related to pregnancy by always resting with your legs elevated, not standing for an extended period, staying hydrated, and taking routine walks.
- Vein problems
Vascular conditions that may cause leg swelling include chronic venous insufficiency, deep vein thrombosis, and varicose veins. For instance, chronic venous insufficiency is characterized by leg veins stopping or limiting the blood flow to your heart.
Naturally, the valves in your veins work to allow blood to flow back to your heart. But, if the valves function improperly, blood flows backward, leading to its collection in the veins of your legs.
Varicose veins are characterized by damaged or faulty veins in your legs becoming twisted and enlarged due to the blocking of blood flow. According to a study published in the American Heart Association journal, about 1 in 4 adult Americans have varicose veins.
Any condition, such as pregnancy, constipation, or growth of tumors that strain your abdomen, can cause varicose veins.
Your health provider can provide relief against vein issues that cause leg swelling by recommending healthy lifestyle changes, including quitting smoking, eating healthily, and controlling your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.
Certain medications, surgery, and non-surgical procedures, such as vein ablation, may also be suitable for eliminating leg swelling.
- Heart failure
Heart failure is a growing problem in the country. According to the Heart Failure Society of America, it affects almost 1 million Americans annually.
Heart failure causes one or both of the lower chambers of your heart to stop pumping blood. As a result, blood accumulates in your legs, ankles, and feet. Also, heart failure may cause your abdominal region to swell.
Foot, ankle, and leg swelling may also occur due to liver disease, kidney disease, injury, or infection.
Contact TLC Medical Group Inc today to schedule an appointment with a leg swelling specialist.