Causes of Swollen Legs and Ankles

You or someone you know may have experienced swollen legs and ankles. The swelling, known as edema, is caused by fluid retention in the tissue spaces between the body cells. One of the following reasons can be the reason behind swelling in the legs and ankles.

Heart Failure: The degree of edema in legs and ankles depends on the ability of the heart to pump blood, when the person is standing or sitting. Standing or sitting for a long period causes the gravitational force to act on the body and the heart has to pump more blood to compensate for the blood flowing to the legs. If heart fails to pump out more blood, edema is observed in legs and ankles.

Cirrhosis: Cirrhosis of liver is a complication of many liver diseases. In cirrhosis, the kidney to retains salts and water. This leads to their accumulation in the tissues beneath the skin of the legs and ankles, thus causing swelling of legs and ankles.

Kidney Disease: People suffering from kidney problems may experience edema. If kidney fails to function properly, salts are retained in the body which in turn, retains water. Excess water retention causes swelling.

Lymphedema: Lymphedema means swelling in legs in which any one of the leg is swollen. Both the legs are swollen in rare cases. A blockage in the lymphatic system causes retention of lymphatic fluid in the legs. The swelling in legs and ankles due to lymphedema can be mild to extreme.

Lung Diseases: Severe chronic lung diseases like bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may cause swelling in the legs. There is a restricted flow of blood in the vessels of the lungs, which causes swelling in many parts of the body including legs and ankles.

Sunburn: Sunburn is caused due to overexposure to sun. Strong sunlight causes redness and inflammation in the outer layers of the skin. Sunburns on your legs can be a cause of swelling of the legs and ankles.

Hormonal Changes: During menstruation, swelling is observed in the pelvic cavity and legs due to changes in certain hormones. However, not all women experience this symptom.

Pregnancy: Many a times, there is a swelling in the legs and ankles during pregnancy. The fluid is retained in the tissues due to change in the blood chemistry. In addition to this, the growing uterus pressurizes the pelvic veins, which may lead to swelling. Swollen legs and ankles are normally observed in the third trimester of pregnancy.

Obesity: Swelling is observed in obese people because their excess weight pressurizes the veins of legs. The blood circulation does not take place properly, resulting in swollen legs and ankles.

Varicose Veins: While standing or sitting, valves in the veins are responsible for regulating the blood flow in legs and ankles against the force of gravity of Earth. Prolonged standing or sitting may lead to swelling in legs and ankles due to varicose (knotty or swollen) veins.

Medications: Some medications result in water retention in the human body. Oral contraceptives containing estrogen and progesterone, blood pressure medication, some anti-depressants and oral corticosteroids and testosterones are some of the medications that may cause swelling in the legs and ankles.

Injury to legs, insect bites, increasing age, malnutrition and standing or walking for a long time in extreme weathers, are some of the other causes of swollen legs and ankles. A long airplane flight may also lead to puffy legs and ankles. Some home therapies that can help to reduce the swelling are as follows:

• You must lie down and keep your legs elevated above your heart, for some time, in order to reduce the difficulty in the pumping activity of your heart.
• You must exercise daily to reduce weight and improve the pumping activity of the heart.
• Dietary changes may help in reducing the edema. Vitamin B6 that will help reduce water retention in the body, is found in brown rice and red meat. Vitamin B5, calcium and vitamin D help in the excretion of excess fluids.
• Low-salt diets can help to reduce the levels of salt in the body which, in turn, reduces water retention. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables can also help to some extent.

It is always advisable to consult your doctor when you observe swelling in your legs or ankles, especially if the symptom persists for a long period or is painful. If severe swelling in legs and ankles is ignored for a long time, it may lead to complications.