Swollen feet certainly make the person who suffers from it uncomfortable. This condition can be caused by a variety of things, ranging from standing too long to symptoms of certain diseases. By knowing the cause of swollen feet, handling can be done accurately.
Standing or walking for too long can cause edema or fluid buildup in certain parts of the body, including the legs. This can trigger swollen feet. However, this condition can generally heal on its own.
However, if the swollen feet are accompanied by other symptoms, this can be a sign of a health disorder.
Various Causes of Swollen Feet
Here 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 in one leg, bruising easily, and thickening of the skin or fibrosis.
2. Injury
A sprained ankle due to injury or a misstep, can cause the ligament muscles to stretch due to having to hold the injured ankle. This condition can trigger swollen feet.
3. Pregnancy
Swollen feet during pregnancy are a common condition, especially when pregnancy enters the age of 20 weeks or more. However, pregnant women need to be vigilant when 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, see a doctor immediately.
4. Infection
Swelling in the feet and ankles can be a symptom of infection. People who are more at risk of having swollen feet due to infection are diabetics. Therefore, if you suffer from diabetes, it is important to check the condition of your feet at all times for abrasions or wounds.
5. Blood clots
Blood clots that form in the veins of the legs can stop the flow of blood from the legs back to the heart and cause the legs to swell. This condition can be life-threatening if a blood clot breaks and spreads to the heart and lungs.
You need to be alert when swollen feet are accompanied by symptoms of high fever and discoloration of the feet.
6. Kidney disease
Disorders of kidney function can lead to the accumulation of fluid in the body, thus triggering the occurrence of swollen feet. In addition to swollen feet, other symptoms of kidney disease are decreased appetite, fatigue, shortness of breath, and infrequent urination.
7. Venous insufficiency
Swelling in the legs is often an early symptom of venous insufficiency, a condition when blood cannot move up from the blood vessels in the legs to the heart properly.
The condition can cause swollen feet that are accompanied by symptoms of skin changes and infections.
8. Side effects of the drug
Consumption of certain medications can also cause swollen feet due to fluid accumulation. Some types of drugs that have this effect are diabetes medications, NSAIDs, antidepressants, steroids, blood pressure medications, and the use of drugs that contain hormones, including contraception.
In addition to some of the above diseases, 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 there are also things that need to be treated by a doctor. You need to see a doctor if you have severely swollen feet, do not heal, or have difficulty walking.
To treat the complaints of swollen feet that you experience, the doctor will give treatment according to the cause of swollen feet. For example, if a swollen foot is caused by an infection, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics.
Meanwhile, if the swollen feet you experience are due to kidney disease, your doctor may prescribe treatment according to the cause of the kidney disease or advise you to have blood dialysis and even undergo kidney surgery.
In addition to medical treatment from a doctor, you can also relieve complaints of swollen feet in the following ways:
- Use compression socks to prevent blood clots on the feet.
- Soak your feet in a tub of saltwater solution for 15–20 minutes to reduce pain in swollen feet.
- Try to move every hour to stretch your knees and ankles, if swollen feet occur as a result of sitting for too long.
- Lose weight if swollen feet are experienced due to excess weight.
The causes of swollen feet can be various and the treatment is not the same. Therefore, you should check with your doctor when you have swollen feet, so that the doctor can determine what is the cause of the swollen feet you are experiencing and treat it appropriately.