Legs swell from a long road and sedentary work: how to deal with such a phenomenon? Why legs swell, and what to do in this case.

Update: October 2018

The edematous syndrome of the limbs or the human body is always based on conditions under which there is an easy penetration of fluid into the intercellular space and its removal from the body is difficult.
This is facilitated by:

• arterial (especially capillary) or venous blood flow disorders
• problems with lymphatic drainage
• violation of the excretory function of the kidneys

A variety of local edema is swelling of the legs, which are a manifestation of many diseases, expressed in varying degrees of severity. When the swelling of the legs is not pronounced, that is, the friability of the tissues slightly increases and water accumulates in it, this is called pastosity. In this case, there may be no edema visible to the eye, but the skin becomes pale and soft, doughy.

• To determine pastosity, you can use the McClure-Aldrich test, the essence of which is to measure the rate of resorption of a liquid (saline solution) injected intradermally. After this injection, a tubercle is formed from the saline solution, and with severe swelling (increased hydrophilicity of the tissues), it disappears much faster than in the normal state of the tissues.
• If the tissue edema is pronounced, then when pressing on it, a hole usually forms.

Edema on the background of circulatory disorders and lymphatic edema has some differences.

• Lymphedema (also called lymphedema) is more dense and is not accompanied by pain. It is characterized by the sign of Kaposi-Stemmer, when the skin of the rear of the foot at the base of the second toe cannot be captured in a fold. Lymphedema develops due to the accumulation of fluid with a high protein content in the thickness of the skin.
• Venous insufficiency is in the first place among the causes of leg edema, while due to the increase in the penetration of water from the capillaries into the tissues, the volume of the intercellular fluid with low viscosity increases, which does not drain normally.

Unlike lymphatic edema, with venous congestion, swelling of the legs decreases somewhat with prolonged lying.

When swelling of the legs occurs periodically in healthy person, you can analyze the possible banal causes, which in most cases can be eliminated:

• Abuse of fatty, salty foods and large amounts of liquid at night
• Prolonged sitting on soft and low chairs, the habit of sitting cross-legged
• Incorrectly chosen shoes - without a heel or too high a heel, uncomfortable shoes, squeezing the leg and toes.

Causes of acute swelling of the legs

Acute swelling of the legs should include those that develop within 2-3 days. In this case, damage can be:

• unilateral - vein thrombosis, trauma, leg fracture, removed lymph nodes in the groin, diseases of the knee or hip joint
• bilateral - decompensation of heart or kidney diseases, venous insufficiency

Deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities

The most common thrombotic complications occur against the background. With prolonged bed rest or immobilization of the limb, as well as with chemotherapy or radiation therapy in cancer patients. An acute situation characterized by a partial or complete violation of the patency of the deep veins of the legs, which is accompanied by:

• puffiness
• blueness of the foot or lower leg
• severe pain in the affected limb

Although, there are a number of “silent” thromboses, in which the pain is not pronounced or minimal, but there is only swelling of one leg. The process can be either one or two-sided. On examination, in addition to changing the color and volume of the leg, it is possible to determine the coldness of the limb and muscle soreness.

• For thrombosis of the veins of the leg, the Homans test is characteristic - the calves of the legs hurt when the foot is dorsiflexed.
• With the defeat of the saphenous vein of the thigh - Louvel's test, pain when sneezing and coughing in the projection of the left or right saphenous vein.
• Thrombosis of the iliac-femoral area is characterized by pain in the thigh, abdomen and lower back, as well as total swelling of the thigh.

Edema after injury

Post-traumatic unilateral edema is caused by rupture, separation of the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle, and interfascial space syndrome. In addition to swelling in the projection of the injury, there is severe pain.

Acute venous insufficiency

This is usually a decompensation of chronic venous outflow problems. It may be associated with changes in hemodynamic requirements:

• pregnancy
• flight in an airplane
• prolonged immobility
• increased intra-abdominal pressure with constipation or heavy physical work

Bilateral expansion of the venous trunks, visible under the skin, is accompanied by swelling, increased fatigue of the legs and pain after exercise.

Differential diagnosis of leg edema

When the legs are swollen chronically

• Varicose veins of the lower extremities and chronic insufficiency of superficial or deep veins

it main reason recurring prolonged swelling of the legs. Failure of the venous valves leads to the expansion of capacitive vessels, the formation of varicose veins and the creation of conditions for easier leakage of fluid into the interstitial space. The vascular network under the skin, heaviness in the legs, pain and swelling are supplemented over time by trophic skin disorders in the form of ulcers and weeping, as well as hemosidernia deposits in the form of brown spots on the legs and back of the foot. For diagnosis, they resort to Doppler research.

• Chronic heart failure involving the systemic circulation is also accompanied by swelling of the legs.

First, the rear of the feet swells and the legs swell at the ankles. As heart failure progresses, the edema rises higher and captures the lower legs and thighs. At the same time, from additional symptoms shortness of breath, fatigue, enlargement of the liver and a tendency to accumulate fluid not only in the legs, but also in the abdominal cavity are characteristic. For cardiac edema of the legs, the formation of a fossa with pressure is characteristic. The diagnosis is confirmed by ECHO-KG.

• Pulmonary arterial hypertension in its chronic form also leads to swelling in the legs.

It develops as a result of chronic pulmonary pathologies, acute right ventricular heart failure, and even as a result of sleep apnea in individuals with soft palate hypertrophy. The diagnosis is established by ECHO-KG.

• Chronic kidney disease

Kidney disease, accompanied by renal failure or nephrotic syndrome (glomerulonephritis, interstitial nephritis). In general, renal edema can be divided into those that occur due to impaired blood flow in the kidneys (nephritic) and those that are the result of an imbalance of proteins and a difference in oncotic pressure (nephrotic). Nephritic edema on the legs is a rarity that appears after the morning puffiness of the face. Edema is looser and passes easily. The feet are more likely to swell. Nephrotic edema of the legs accompanies swelling of the face and lower back, is more dense and occurs more often.

• Hepatocellular insufficiency

Medicinal swelling of the legs

If we put aside the banal allergic edema, which can develop in response to medication and is accompanied by redness and, there are still a lot of clinical situations when medicines responsible for swelling of the lower extremities.

• Glucocorticosteroids - prednisolone, prednisone, triamcinolone, dexamethasone
• Calcium antagonists - diltiazem, nifedepine, amlodipine, verapamil
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the most probable causes swelling in the legs. However, they can act as a trigger for interstitial nephritis.
• In addition to these drugs, estrogens, testosterone preparations, methyldopa, beta-blockers, hydralazine, clonidine, minoxidil, diuretics, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, thiazolidinediones used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus can lead to swelling of the legs.

Causes of lymphedema

• Actually lymphedema can develop as a congenital disease, when edema appears in the very early age, or by the mechanism of acquired pathology.
• There is also a primary process - tard's lymphedema, congenital and familial lymphedema.
• Secondary syndrome in the program of other diseases - lymphoma, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, as well as scarring or blockage of the lymphatic vessels as a result of surgery, radiation therapy or bacterial infections.
• In the chronic process, in addition to dense swelling of the soft tissues, there is a thickening and coarsening of the skin of the legs, as well as its brown staining due to the deposition of hemosiderin. Confirmation of the diagnosis is carried out according to the results of lymphoscintigraphy.

Lymphedema occurs when lymph fluid accumulates in the tissues due to problems with the lymphatic vessels, as well as after the removal of the lymph nodes. Left untreated, lymphatic congestion prevents skin blemishes from healing and can contribute to the infection of wounds and ulcers. Such edema often appears after the removal of lymph nodes in the inguinal region or after irradiation of cancer patients.

Rare causes of leg swelling

This group of causes includes metabolic disorders that change the plasma oncotic pressure mainly due to acute or chronic losses of various protein fractions.

• Starvation, enteropathy

Enteropathies in chronic enteritis, Crohn's disease, Hirschsprung's disease, beriberi disrupt absorption processes. Against the background of atrophy of the villi of the mucosa and frequent stools, there is insufficient absorption of the protein and its significant transient losses, which leads to dysproteinemic edema. A similar picture is also observed with prolonged fasting, as well as inadequate rehydration therapy against the background.

• Hypothyroidism

Myxedema is the result of an extreme drop in thyroid hormone levels. That is, it is, in which the metabolic processes of proteins are disturbed, mucin and albumins accumulate in the intercellular space, and water flows along a pressure gradient. Myxedema is characterized by dense (“mucous”) edema, in which a fossa does not form when pressed. In addition, patients have dry skin, brittle hair and nails, prolapse of the outer edge of the eyebrows, swelling of the face, lethargy and drowsiness.

• Restrictive pericarditis and

These diseases occur with the development in the myocardium and the cavity of the pericardial sac of excess connective tissue, which disrupts blood flow and leads to congestive heart failure, in the program of which swelling of the feet appears.

• Congenital malformations of the veins and iliac vein syndrome are the most rare causes of swelling in the legs due to venous insufficiency.

Why do legs swell in the evening

During the day, the heart pumps blood from the center to the periphery. In all cases, when venous return is difficult, part of the blood does not have time to return to the cardiac chambers and the plasma leaks into the intercellular space, lingering in the tissues. Therefore, by the evening the legs swell and heaviness appears in them. If in the morning it was possible to put on narrow shoes without difficulty, then after spending the whole day on your feet, you can not fit into dress shoes.

Why do women have swollen legs

A large number of women have edematous syndrome associated with the peculiarities of the hormonal cycle.

• At the same time, swelling of the legs can develop as in menstruating ladies in the program of premenstrual syndrome against the background of a drop in the level of progestins.
• and in women in menopause or postmenopause, as idiopathic edema.
• Idiopathic edema is characterized by water retention in the legs, arms and face in an upright position. Puffiness is combined with a depressive syndrome and an increase in body weight.
• Legs swell after childbirth in cases where pregnancy provoked the development of venous insufficiency or caused phlebothrombosis or thrombophlebitis.

Causes of swelling of the legs in men

• The main cause of leg edema in men is chronic venous insufficiency, which most often has a family character.
• In addition, swelling of the legs can occur with prolonged static load or heavy physical work against the background of large fluid losses through sweat.
• According to the same mechanism, the legs swell in the summer in the heat with insufficient drinking load, tight shoes or playing sports.

The second variant of non-pathological edema or pastosity is edema of a forced position, when water flows into those areas that are most susceptible to gravity. This phenomenon is observed in wheelchair users who are forced to sit with their motionless legs lowered all day.

Swelling of the legs is far from a harmless symptom. If it appears, first of all it is worth contacting a surgeon or therapist for a competent diagnosis of its causes. It is extremely wrong to resort to various folk methods, such as cabbage leaves or cold baths until all the circumstances that accompany swelling are clarified. If the legs are very swollen, the cause may be hidden not only in the state of the vascular bed, but also in systemic diseases of vital organs.

Edema on the legs- a phenomenon that almost every person has encountered. It lies in the fact that at the end of the working day, for example, the usual shoes become tight, and heaviness is felt in the legs. There are many reasons for this state of affairs. Among them, there may be a number of diseases, a symptom of which is swelling of the legs, lifestyle, working postures and positions of the legs, and other factors that cause swelling of the legs.

Mostly women and older people suffer from swelling of the legs. Often, complaints of swelling come from overweight people.

Causes of leg swelling

- Wrong shoes. Wearing shoes with too high or too low heels, narrow and tight shoes leads to impaired circulation and leads to fluid accumulation, which as a result manifests itself as swelling in the legs;

- flat feet;

- sitting cross-legged or sitting for a long time on a soft and uncomfortable seat also answers the question - "Why do my legs swell?" This group of factors also affects the violation of normal blood circulation in the legs;

- a lot of pressure on the legs. Such a load can appear in a number of several factors - overweight, work associated with a long standing position, work associated with carrying weights, pregnancy, etc .;

- varicose veins in the legs and thrombophlebitis of the veins of the lower extremities;

- drinking plenty of fluids at night. In this case, swelling of the legs appears mainly in the morning, since the excess fluid has not been removed from the body during the night;

- violations of cardiovascular activity;

- diseases associated with disorders of the intestines.

What to do if the legs swell

When swelling of the legs appears first, the question becomes not why this happened, but what to do to relieve swelling of the legs. There are several ways to solve this problem:

1. Exercises to relieve fatigue and swelling of the legs. Among them most occupy flexion and extensor movements of the toes or feet.
2. Leg massage.
3. Relaxing baths. Herbal decoctions or soothing oils, such as eucalyptus oil, can be added to the water.
4. Pharmacies today sell a fairly large number of ointments and creams that relieve heaviness in the legs and swelling.
5. It is necessary to optimize the amount of fluid consumed. If possible, you should try to consume as little liquid as possible after 19 hours.
6. With symptoms of kidney disease, liver, intestines and other organs leading to swelling of the legs, everything must be done to cure these diseases.
7. In some cases, diuretics help.
8. You need to lose weight, lose weight.

As a prevention of swelling of the legs it is necessary to do rest for the legs, massage during the day. You can purchase special stockings or tights. It is necessary to normalize the water and drinking regime. The amount of water consumed should be about 2 liters per day. You also need to review your diet. It is necessary to reduce the amount of salt, coffee and alcohol consumed.

With such an unpleasant phenomenon as swelling of the legs, many are familiar. Most often, the problem quickly disappears by itself, it is enough just to give the legs a rest for a few hours. It is much worse when edema occurs regularly, accompanied by pain, discoloration of the skin and other alarming symptoms. This may be a sign of one of the diseases that we will talk about.

Source: depositphotos.com

Heart failure

Edema caused by heart failure has the following features:

• edema is formed on the shins of both legs;
• they do not cause pain, but become painful when pressed;
• skin on swollen areas of a bluish hue, cold to the touch;
• swelling is immobile;
• fluid accumulates in the evening or in the morning (after sleep).

Patients with heart failure often complain that their legs are numb and cold. With prolonged lying, the face, arms and lower back may swell. In addition to edema, the pathology is manifested by arrhythmia, periodic chest pains and shortness of breath that occurs at the slightest exertion.

Heart failure is very dangerous. Ignoring its symptoms and refusing treatment can lead to the most unfortunate consequences. Having noticed swelling of the legs, accompanied by the listed signs, it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor.

Source: depositphotos.com

Rheumatism and rheumatic heart disease

Rheumatism is an ailment of a non-infectious nature, manifested by inflammation of the joints, as well as various parts of the heart (myocarditis, endocarditis and pericarditis). The disease is usually accompanied by symmetrical swelling of the legs, painless when pressed. The fluid accumulates gradually, swelling increases in the evening, and disappears completely or partially during the night.

With rheumatic heart disease, fever, shortness of breath (even at rest), discomfort in the region of the heart (appears when lying on the left side), and heart rhythm disturbances are also observed.

The development of rheumatism and rheumatic heart disease most often occurs against the background of streptococcal infection, which primarily affects Airways. Such diseases require serious treatment, so the patient should be under medical supervision. It is important to note that the first signs of these diseases are often blurred, they are easy to confuse with ordinary fatigue or the consequences of experienced stress. It is very dangerous to ignore these symptoms, because if left untreated, the disease can become chronic.

Source: depositphotos.com

Venous insufficiency

Pathologies associated with venous insufficiency are diverse. Thrombosis and thrombophlebitis of the vessels of the legs are manifested by constant swelling and pain. The skin over the edema becomes red and hot, the edema is dense to the touch, not slipping through the fingers. Patients report fever lower limbs(feet burn). Diseases of this kind are very dangerous and require urgent treatment. Delay is fraught with very serious (and even fatal) complications.

Varicose veins are a very common problem, affecting about a third of women over 30 and more than half of women. retirement age. The first signs are a feeling of heaviness and pain in the legs, as well as the gradual development of edema in the calves and ankles, which increases in the evening and disappears after a night's rest. If the disease is not treated, the veins in the legs become noticeable. They resemble twisted, clumsy cords with raised knots. In severe cases, the skin on the ankles becomes brown, hemorrhages and trophic ulcers appear.

Venous insufficiency of the lower extremities - dangerous state. It is treated for a long time by taking medications and wearing compression underwear, and in some cases by surgery.

Source: depositphotos.com

Kidney pathologies

Kidney failure leads to fluid retention in the body. Leg swelling associated with these disorders is usually located on the top of the feet. They are symmetrical, soft to the touch. Unlike edema caused by cardiovascular pathologies, renal edema often appears in the morning. In patients suffering from renal insufficiency, there is often a rapid swelling of the lower parts of the legs, provoked by excessive fluid intake.

Diagnostic signs indicating the presence of problems with the kidneys are also swelling under the eyes, changes in the daily amount, color and smell of urine, pulling pain in the lumbar region.

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Thyroid dysfunction

Swelling of both legs in the ankle area may indicate insufficient production of thyroid hormones. Edema looks like pads, when pressed with fingers, deep pits remain on them. If the pathology progresses, myxedema may develop - a condition manifested by the accumulation of fluid in all tissues of the body. The skin of such patients seems puffy and lifeless, its surface becomes rough, flaky, acquires a yellowish tint.

Source: depositphotos.com

Allergy

Allergic swelling of the legs may develop in response to certain medications, insect bites, or eating certain types products. The lesion looks like a dense, uniform swelling, which does not leave marks when pressed. The surface of the skin turns red, covered with a small reddish rash and severely itchy. The patient complains of pain in the affected limb, which occurs at the slightest strain or prolonged stay in one position.

To solve the problem, it is urgent to stop contact with the allergen and take an antihistamine.

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Injuries

When a leg is broken, swelling of the tissues located next to the damaged area of ​​​​the bone forms for a short time. The skin over the damaged area acquires a bluish tint, there is increasing pain. The limb can be fixed in an unnatural position.

With a bruise, swelling also develops, which makes it difficult to move the leg normally. A hematoma appears after a few days, and the pain, initially sharp, gradually subsides.

If there is a suspicion of a leg injury, you can not wait. In order to avoid serious problems, it is necessary to urgently go to the emergency room or hospital and undergo an x-ray to find out the nature of the damage.

Source: depositphotos.com

Liver disease

With severe liver damage (cirrhosis, malignant neoplasms) develops a condition called portal hypertension. It is associated with the cessation of albumin production, the deficiency of which leads to metabolic disorders and blood stagnation in big circle circulation. As a result, dense swelling of the legs in the ankle area is formed. Other signs of portal hypertension are a change in skin tone (yellowing), reddening of the palms of the hands, accumulation of fluid in the anterior abdominal wall (ascites), and difficulty breathing. Men develop gynecomastia (breast enlargement).

Many people are forced to sit for a long time, as their work requires spending all day at the computer monitor, at the sewing machine and other equipment. Everyone knows that physical inactivity is harmful to health - a person has problems with the spine, excess weight appears, as well as swelling of the legs. So, at the end of the working day, you can find that the legs have literally increased in size and they feel pain and heaviness. Looking for another job can hardly be called a suitable way to solve the problem, because there are many methods and means to help maintain the health and beauty of the legs, even with a sedentary job.

Basic Rules

First of all, it should be noted that no remedy will help prevent swelling of the legs at the end of the working day if a person has the following habits:

1. He sits with his legs crossed: in this position, the veins of the lower extremities are squeezed, which causes a violation of blood circulation in the legs and, as a result, edema. In addition, such a habit can provoke the onset of varicose veins - a disease of the veins in which they lose their elasticity.
2. A person eats a lot throughout the day, which is why he consumes more calories than he needs: overeating, especially under the condition of physical inactivity, leads to a set excess weight, which increases the load on the legs. When gaining extra pounds, the legs swell more and more often, so to prevent swelling, it is important to monitor the calorie content of the diet.
3. A person who has a sedentary job is fond of such drinks as strong tea, sweet water with gas and coffee. The thing is that all these drinks provoke a tendency to edema. Therefore, during the working day, preference should be given clean water without gas (it should be drunk in small sips, but often).
4. A person wears uncomfortable shoes: narrow shoes with high heels cause circulatory disorders in the legs, due to which the feet and ankles swell by the end of the working day. Therefore, for work it is recommended to choose comfortable shoes of a suitable size.

It is worth considering that the tendency to swelling of the legs, in particular, during sedentary work, appears in such cases:

• hormonal fluctuations due to PMS or pregnancy;
• hot weather;
• excess weight;
• some diseases of the cardiovascular system, kidneys, thyroid gland, provoking edema.

What to do?

So that by the end of the working day there are no swelling on the legs, you need to be distracted from work at least once every half hour and do a light workout for the legs. To do this, it is advisable to take off your shoes if possible. Can do circular rotations feet, rolling from heel to toe and flexion-extension of the fingers. If possible, you can go out for a few minutes to walk in the fresh air.

If by the evening the legs have become swollen, then the following tricks will help to solve the problem:

1) Upon returning home, you should take off your shoes, socks (tights), and then lie down for 15 minutes with your legs raised to the level of your heart. This technique allows you to normalize blood circulation in the limbs, because of which the swelling will quickly pass.

2) Gymnastics will help get rid of swelling in the legs. It is recommended to do the exercises every evening after returning from work.

• you need to sit on a chair and put a few on the floor small items and then try to grab them with your fingers and lift them off the floor;
• 2 minutes you can walk on tiptoe;
• you need to do 10 exercises "birch" and "bike".

3) Massage: quickly remove swelling on the legs after sedentary work will help massage the feet, calves and legs. Before kneading your legs, warm them up well. Then, from the tips of the fingers to the knees, you need to walk your fingers along the leg with delicate pressure. Important: do not touch the patella and popliteal cavity! There is another massage option: you need to moisten a towel in cool salted water and rub your feet thoroughly with it. Then the legs should be lubricated with a nourishing cream.

4) If the legs often swell, then during sleep you need to put a roller or pillow under them.

5) After work, a contrast shower will help relieve swelling and fatigue of the legs. This procedure is also considered a good prevention of varicose veins.

6) A cool foot bath is considered a simple and at the same time effective procedure against puffiness. For every liter of water take 2 tablespoons sea ​​salt. When the salt dissolves, the legs are lowered into the basin for 20 minutes.

Perfectly relieve swelling on the legs after a long sitting, various compresses and lotions. It is known that a compress of cabbage leaves effectively helps to remove swelling on the legs. To perform the procedure, 2 leaves of cabbage should be boiled, and then ironed under a cloth. After that, the sheets must be placed in a bowl with olive oil and get them in an hour. Before applying the sheets, they should be lightly sprinkled with lemon juice. Compresses are fixed on the legs with a bandage and left overnight.

An old proven remedy for edema is a potato compress. To make it, several tubers of raw potatoes should be grated and a mass of potatoes should be applied to problem areas, fixing it with gauze. The compress is kept for 1 hour. With edema, it is also useful to gently wipe your feet with an ice cube every evening.

Various ointments and help to get rid of swelling on the legs after sedentary work. These include:

• horse chestnut extract;
• urea;
• menthol;
• vitamins, trace elements and oils;
• tea tree extract;
• panthenol;
• fragrances.

A cream or ointment will relieve the feeling of heaviness in the legs, as well as swelling. The most popular means include:

1. Dlioton 1000.
2. Thrombocid.
3. Heparin ointment.
4. Cream "Sofya".
5. Cream "Chestnut and propolis".
6. Troxevasin-gel.
7. Troxerutin.
8. Menovazin.
9. Cream-balm "Juniper".

All people who have a sedentary job are advised to take measures to prevent swelling of the legs. First of all, you should eat right: limit the use of salt and foods that increase thirst. It is useful to introduce foods with a slight diuretic effect into the diet (cucumbers, zucchini, pumpkin, tomatoes, peaches, apricots, melons and others). In his free time, walking, swimming in the pool and fitness are recommended.

As for taking diuretics, such drugs can only be taken if they are prescribed by a doctor. If, in addition to swelling of the legs, symptoms such as a feeling of fullness and burning in the limbs, the formation of a venous pattern on the leg appear, then they can be regarded as manifesting varicose veins. In this case, to make an accurate diagnosis, you should contact a phlebologist and follow his recommendations in the future.

Swelling of the legs is a fairly common phenomenon. This is an increase in tissue volume due to the accumulation of fluid in the intercellular space. Edema can be localized in any part of the body, but most often it is formed on the legs - the lower leg and ankle. This is due to maximum load on the legs and the lowest position of the feet relative to the rest of the body. Swelling of the legs always indicates a malfunction in the body. Often this can be a sign of temporary discomfort - malnutrition, pregnancy, etc. But if swelling occurs regularly and does not depend on exposure external environment you should definitely consult with your doctor. Perhaps swelling is a symptom of a more serious disease.

How swelling of the legs manifests itself

As a rule, swelling of the legs is noticeable purely visually. First, these will be traces of gum socks on the lower leg. Then the patient may feel a feeling of constriction and discomfort in the usual shoes. If a woman wears sandals, she will definitely notice traces of the straps, which, as it were, fell into the loose and soft fabric. Puffiness increases in the evening, after a heavy physical work or, conversely, after a long stay in a motionless form. Swelling in the legs recent times has become an office disease, as people are forced to sit at the computer in one position throughout the working day. Puffiness also increases after exposure to the sun. If you notice swelling of the limbs, you need to follow the symptom for several days. With physiological changes, swelling will disappear in a few days. If your condition does not change, you need to find out the cause of the resulting edema as soon as possible.

Why do legs swell

Swelling of the legs can be different, ranging from moderate tissue changes to serious pathologies, when the skin stretched from swelling begins to literally burst. Foot swelling can be caused by minor lifestyle changes or a serious diagnosis. Let's talk about the causes of swelling of the legs in more detail, let's start with physiological causes that are not related to disruption of the organs and systems of the body.

1. Salt. If you ate a few pickles the night before, ate a salted herring, then it is quite difficult to avoid swelling. As you know, salt attracts water to in large numbers. Salty food leads to swelling of the legs and arms, puffiness, bags under the eyes. As a rule, edema in this case manifests itself in the morning.
2. Alcohol. Alcoholic beverages, like salt, attract and retain fluid in the body. That is why the day after the "party" the person's face and limbs look swollen.
3. Heat. Remember that in summer period time the swelling of the legs increases. This is due to the expansion of blood vessels when the body tries to normalize heat metabolism and not overheat.
4. Sitting and standing work. The constant presence of the legs in the same position reduces the intensity of blood circulation. As a result, the blood circulates through the body very slowly and for a long time, and the lower limbs completely stagnate. This leads to swelling of the leg. As noted, the legs swell in office workers who are forced to constantly work in a sitting position. Especially often the legs swell in those who like to sit cross-legged. However, in “standing” professions, the legs also swell, because the load on the foot in this case is constant and continuous. Legs swell at hairdressers, sellers, cooks, etc.
5. Pregnancy. Edema often accompanies pregnancy. There are several reasons for this. First, it is hormonal changes in the body. During pregnancy it is produced great amount progesterone, which reduces the muscular muscles of the uterus and reduces vascular tone. The second reason for swelling of the legs during pregnancy is squeezing. large arteries and veins of a growing fetus. That is why edema most often occurs to more late deadline pregnancy. Another reason for swelling during the bearing of a baby is late gestosis of pregnant women. The development of the diagnosis is fraught with proeclampsia - a pathological change in the functioning of blood vessels. This condition is very dangerous, both for a woman and for her child.
6. PMS. Many women notice that before the start of their menstrual cycle, their weight increases slightly. This is due to the production of hormones that begin to retain fluid in the body. Before menstruation there is swelling of the legs.
7. Shoes. Another reason for swollen feet is wearing the wrong and uncomfortable shoes. High heels, too narrow a vault, tight straps can lead to compression and squeezing of important arteries and veins. This leads to stagnant processes and swelling of the legs.

As a rule, physiological edema is symmetrical and soft. Both legs and feet swell equally. If you press on the soft swollen tissues and remove your finger, then a trace will remain at the place of pressure. As a rule, after some time after rest, such swelling of the legs disappears. If they do not go away, then they are most likely associated with pathological changes in the body and indicate a medical diagnosis.

1. Heart. If the heart does not work fully, it is not able to pump a huge amount of blood in the body in a quality and timely manner. This leads to stagnant processes in the veins and arteries in the legs. Cardiac edema is symmetrical, especially in the morning.
2. Kidneys. The direct function of the kidneys is to remove excess fluid from the body. If the kidneys do not cope with this function, various renal pathologies occur, accompanied by swelling of the limbs and the whole body. Characteristic difference renal edema from cardiological - with kidney disease, not only the legs swell, but also the face, the skin becomes pale.
3. Varicose veins, thrombophlebitis. In diseases of the veins, the swelling of the legs is asymmetrical, as a rule, the swelling is more pronounced on one leg. At the same time, the tissues are quite elastic and firm, the edema increases after a standing position and weakens after raising the legs above the level of the body. Along with swelling, the patient feels pain in the legs, burning, heaviness, the skin may turn red.
4. Diseases of the lymphatic system. Various diseases of the lymphatic system (including erysipelas) are accompanied by dense and persistent edema, which is difficult to get rid of. For such a violation, swelling of the back of the foot is characteristic - that is, a kind of pillow forms on top.
5. Damage to the joints, bones, ligaments. Various injuries, sprains, bruises and fractures of bones, joints and ligaments necessarily lead to edema. As a rule, in this case, the edema is located only on the affected leg, accompanied by pain when walking.

These are the main diagnoses, a symptom of which may be swelling of the legs. But is it always worth going to the doctor with similar symptoms?

When to See a Doctor

If you notice a slight swelling in your legs after drinking beer with salted nuts in the evening, the reason for this swelling is obvious. In this case, swelling after some time will pass himself, you don't even have to worry about it. If the swelling does not go away for more than a week or only increases each time, you should definitely go to the doctor. As a rule, at first it will be a therapist who can refer you to narrower specialists - a cardiologist, phlebologist, traumatologist, nephrologist, etc. depending on the cause of the swelling.

You should immediately consult a doctor if the swelling is accompanied by redness and stretching of the skin, the appearance of ulcers or dark areas on the epidermis. Of particular concern is the presence of pastosity. This means you need to press on the soft tissues and see if there are any marks left. If yes, then the visit to the doctor should not be postponed. If the swelling has formed on one leg or has risen above the knee, this also indicates the need for urgent professional help.

Medical treatment of swelling of the legs

As noted, swelling is only a symptom. Getting rid of puffiness depends on the underlying disease and is aimed at its treatment. Here are a few drug groups of drugs that can be useful for swelling of the legs.

1. Diuretic drugs. They will help to remove excess fluid from the body, which is “stuck” in the intercellular space. Such therapy is effective in cardiac and renal edema. Among the most effective are Furosemide, Trifas, Lasix, Uregit, etc.
2. Potassium. The drug is prescribed for cardiac disorders. Potassium is needed to restore deficiency after washing out with diuretics. Among such funds, Asparkam and Panangin can be distinguished. In general, potassium preparations are very useful for the work of the heart muscle. However, they are contraindicated in kidney failure.
3. Cardioprotectors. They do not act directly on puffiness, but they perfectly improve the functioning of the heart so that it pumps blood better in the veins and arteries. The group of cardioprotective drugs is very large, a specific drug is selected depending on the individual characteristics of the patient.
4. Phlebotonics are needed for diseases of the veins. They strengthen the walls of blood vessels, improve blood circulation. Among these funds are Troxevasin, Detralex, Normoven, etc.
5. Drugs that thin the blood. They are also necessary for the complex treatment of veins and cardiac pathologies. If the blood is viscous, it is more difficult to pump through the arteries and veins. But a more liquid consistency moves through the arteries much easier. Among these drugs, Aspecard, Cardiomagnyl, Lospirin, etc. can be distinguished.
6. Local ointments and gels. Local action is effective at varicose veins veins and even with simple overexertion. Such funds increase blood circulation, the severity of edema subsides in just a matter of minutes. Among such remedies are Troxevasin, Heparin ointment, Lyoton, Venarus, etc. For erysipelas, local antibiotic therapy is used - Levomekol is applied to the skin.

This is just an approximate designation of groups of drugs that can help you get rid of edema. Remember that only a doctor can diagnose and prescribe medications.

1. If you work in a standing or sitting position, you need to change your posture every hour. If you are sitting at the computer, take breaks, walk around the room, go up and down the stairs, take walks in the afternoon. This will help you disperse stagnant blood. If, on the contrary, you are on your feet during the day, you must definitely look for time to rest, sit at least 5 minutes every hour. Only in this way can you reduce the load on precious legs.
2. If swelling occurs in the legs, regularly raise the legs above the level of the body, at least for 10-15 minutes. That is, you need to lie on the bed, and put a pillow under your feet. So you increase the outflow of blood from the lower extremities.
3. Be sure to do gymnastics, especially when sitting and standing. It can be performed even while sitting on a chair - twist your toes in one direction and the other, make movements up, down, right and left, squeeze and unclench your toes.
4. Very effective massage. During pregnancy and in other cases of edema, massage should be done twice a day. This will help normalize blood circulation in the lower extremities, disperse the blood. You can massage with local gels and ointments to enhance the effect of the procedure.
5. Be sure to wear compression stockings, tights and stockings. They gently squeeze the legs below the knee and do not allow blood and fluid to stagnate in the soft tissues of the designated areas.
6. To make the vessels more elastic, you can do contrast baths. Place two cups in front of you - cold and hot water. Soak your feet in the bath one by one.
7. Eliminate salty, smoked and pickled foods from the diet, give up alcohol and nicotine, try not to drink at night. But in the heat, try to drink more to sweat and stabilize heat transfer. In general, if edema is not associated with temperature indicators, the amount of fluid consumed should be reduced so as not to provoke even more puffiness.
8. Choose shoes carefully - they should be comfortable and comfortable, the heel should not be higher than 4 cm, straps and straps should not compress the foot. It is best to choose shoes in the evening, as the foot is the largest at this time of day.

Folk recipes for swelling of the legs

Here are some effective and popular recipes that will help you get rid of swollen feet.

1. Mint decoction. Prepare a decoction at the rate of one tablespoon of the dried plant per liter of boiling water. Drink a liter of decoction during the day, the next morning the swelling will become much less pronounced.
2. Lemon, cucumber and carrot. To get rid of edema, we will prepare a diuretic cocktail. Squeeze juice from cucumber, lemon and carrots - about half a glass each. Mix the ingredients and dilute the juice in half with water. Drink the composition in small portions throughout the day.
3. Corn silk. A decoction of them is very useful, especially for kidney pathologies. Zhmenu corn stigmas should be poured with a liter of boiling water and insisted in a thermos for at least a day. Drink half a glass 2-3 times a day half an hour before meals.
4. Birch leaves. Birch leaves also perfectly relieve excess fluid in the body. A handful of dried or fresh leaves you need to pour boiling water and insist in a warm place for about three hours. Drink 200 ml in the morning and evening.
5. Parsley. This herb is great for treating swollen feet. Parsley should be actively eaten, decoctions should be prepared on its basis, local compresses should be made.
6. Hawthorn. This decoction will help you get rid of swelling if they occur due to heart problems. Dry fruits and leaves of hawthorn should be poured with boiling water and infused for 5-6 hours. The output should be a strong decoction, which must be taken in half a glass three times a day.
7. Raw potatoes. Compresses based on it are effective against swelling of the legs. Grate the potatoes, place the pulp on swollen tissues, cover with a film and leave for 20-30 minutes. Then remove the compress, wipe your feet with a dry towel, but do not wash! After a while, the swelling will subside.
8. Pumpkin. Eat pumpkin as much as possible to get rid of kidney and heart diseases. Pure pumpkin juice is very useful.

Perhaps not all recipes will suit you, each organism is individual and sensitive to certain medicinal components. Try folk remedies, change and alternate them among themselves to find what will help you.

Swelling of the legs is a serious pathology that should not be neglected. Timely identified causes of edema can save you from heart attack and stroke, kidney failure, and blood clots. One of the most serious complications of edema is a violation of the integrity of the skin, the appearance of ulcers and open wounds, up to gangrene and amputation of the leg. If you suffer from swelling that is not related to diet and lifestyle, be sure to see a doctor. Timely detected disease is the key to a quick and effective recovery!

Video: what to do if the legs swell