The swelling of the legs subsides. From what the leg is swollen and sore, causes and methods of treatment. Treatment of edema with a simple folk remedy - infusion of parsley and lemon

Swelling of the legs, namely the feet and ankles, is fairly common and usually nothing to worry about, especially if you spend a lot of time on your feet. But if the swelling doesn't go away overnight or is accompanied by other symptoms, it could be due to serious health problems.

Complications during pregnancy

During pregnancy, swelling of the legs can be both a variant of the norm and a sign of a serious pathology.

In general, some swelling of the legs is normal during pregnancy. But a sudden and rapidly growing swelling (and not only on the legs, but also on the hands, face, etc.) can be a sign of preeclampsia. This dangerous condition is characterized by an increase in blood pressure and the appearance of protein in the urine in the second half of pregnancy. If you feel unwell against the background of sudden significant edema, then immediately call an ambulance or in other ways (by taxi, with relatives) go to the emergency room of the maternity hospital.

leg injury

The legs may swell after an injury, such as a sprain in the ankle area. To reduce swelling, try not to step on the injured leg. Apply an ice pack to the injured limb and wrap it with an elastic bandage. Elevate your leg with a chair, pillow, or other support. And see a doctor as soon as possible.

Lymphedema

This condition occurs when there is stagnation of lymphatic fluid in the tissues and develops due to problems with the lymphatic vessels or after removal of the lymph nodes. If left untreated, lymph accumulations can slow down the healing of skin blemishes and even contribute to the infection of wound surfaces and ulcers. Lymphedema often occurs after radiation therapy or removal of lymph nodes in cancer patients.

Venous insufficiency

Swelling of the legs may be an early symptom. This is a condition in which the outflow of venous blood from the lower extremities to the heart is disturbed. Chronic venous insufficiency can lead to changes in the skin and the appearance of ulcers on it. If you find signs of venous insufficiency (especially at the end of the working day, enlarged and tortuous veins), consult a doctor.

There are several completely safe methods that can alleviate the condition even before finding out the true causes of leg swelling.

10 easy ways to get rid of swollen feet

1. Multivitamins and Magnesium Supplements

Edema can develop with. This problem can be solved by simply replenishing its reserves with the help of bioadditives and medicines. It is recommended to take 200 mg of magnesium twice a day. If you are pregnant, be sure to check with your doctor about the recommended dosage. Often, taking magnesium is enough to get rid of leg swelling in pregnant women.

2. Do yoga

Physical exercise improves blood circulation, and yoga is a great way to restore and speed up blood circulation. If you are new to this business, then do not hesitate to ask the instructor for help. He will show you how to do the exercises correctly, and may suggest additional postures that will help to cope with swelling.

3. Use a foot tonic

At first it may seem strange that an ordinary tonic, which is diluted with alcoholic beverages, is quite capable of removing swelling in the legs. Immerse your feet in a container of mineral water at room temperature. You can also use cold liquid if you do not feel discomfort. The quinine and bubbles contained in the soda water will reduce swelling and give a feeling of bliss to your exhausted legs.

4. Take a fragrant bath

A warm bath with a few drops of grapefruit essential oil will soothe the body and soul and help with swelling. If you prefer to take a shower, resort to a leg and foot massage. Dilute a few drops of grapefruit oil with sweet almond or olive oil and rub in circular smooth movements on problem areas.

5. Epsom salt

By adding a good dose of Epsom salts to the bath, you will enhance the effect of water procedures. You can simply immerse your feet in a basin of saline. If your legs are swollen up to the knees, this method is probably the best choice to alleviate your condition.

6. Treat yourself to a massage

Foot massage will help reduce the severity of edema.

A competent masseur is able to work wonders with swelling of the legs. Feel free to mention your problems during the next session so that the doctor can properly work on your lower limbs. A high-quality massage will improve microcirculation, help the veins cope with blood stasis and simply cheer you up.

7. Try Compression Therapy

Use special compression tights and stockings to prevent leg swelling and maintain vein tone. They are not easy to put on, as they are quite tight to the body, but they can really make a difference with regular use.

8. Raise your legs

Standing firmly on your feet is good, but not in your case when it comes to swelling of the lower extremities. At every opportunity, try to give your legs an elevated position. Lying on the couch in the evening, put a few pillows. Ideally, the legs should be above the level of the heart.

9. Swim more

Swimming and bathing is an excellent solution for combating swelling of the lower extremities. Water pressure prevents the expansion of blood vessels and does not allow the legs to swell. In addition, this is a great opportunity for the legs to take a break from the constant gravity of the earth. Walk through the local gyms, you will surely be able to find the best option that suits you in terms of price and quality of services.

10. Drink more

Excess salt in the body exacerbates the problem of swelling. Drink 8-10 glasses of water a day. This will help to remove salt and will not give the body a reason to think that a drought has come and you need to store every drop of water. Another great way to combine business with pleasure is to make a drink from cucumber and lemon. Add a couple of lemon slices and cucumber circles to a glass of plain water, wait a couple of minutes and enjoy!

Which doctor to contact

When edema occurs, it is necessary to consult a general practitioner who will determine their cause. Depending on the identified disease or condition, it is necessary to consult a vascular surgeon and a phlebologist, a cardiologist. During pregnancy, you should consult with an observing gynecologist, and with a sprain or other injury, with a traumatologist. A massage therapist will assist in the treatment.

Swelling of the lower extremities causes a lot of discomfort. This is a common problem that affects all age groups. The accumulation of fluid in the tissues signals problems in the body that impair the functioning of the capillaries. The legs can also swell in a completely healthy person, after intense physical exertion or a large amount of liquid drunk. What to do if the leg is swollen and how dangerous is this condition?

When the legs swell, this is reflected in both the physical and aesthetic condition. If the puffiness is not associated with pathology, it is enough for a healthy person to rest a little, after which the lower limbs will return to normal. But if places of swelling appear regularly, this indicates pathological disorders in the body. There are a lot of reasons for this condition, ranging from mechanical damage to heart disease.

It is important to understand that swelling of the lower extremities is not an independent disease, it is only a consequence of disorders in the body that can be determined only after seeking medical help.

Causes of swollen feet

What to do if the lower limbs began to swell regularly? First of all, it is necessary to exclude causes that are not associated with pathology. Legs can swell due to the intake of certain groups of drugs, such as glucocorticoids and hormonal drugs that contain estrogen and progesterone.

Also, the lower limbs can swell during the period of bearing a child. The fact is that during this period, the concentration of progesterone in the blood increases sharply in expectant mothers, this relaxes the smooth muscles of the vessels, as a result of which fluid is retained in the body. The lower extremities can also swell due to an increase in the uterus, which from the second trimester begins to compress the vessels in the abdominal cavity, which makes blood flow difficult and, as a result, the lower extremities may swell.

Often this problem is observed before and during menstruation. The reason lies, again, in the increased concentration of hormones - estrogen and progesterone, because of which the legs, face, and mammary glands can swell.

There are a number of other reasons why your legs may swell:

addiction to salty foods;
alcohol abuse;
excess weight;
a large amount of liquid drunk;
high air temperature.

Legs can also swell due to intense physical activity, if before that the lifestyle was not too active.

To fix the problem, it is enough to review your diet, give up alcohol and put your weight in order. If the lower limbs continue to swell, then we are talking about pathological disorders in the body. There are many diseases that cause this problem. Let's consider the main ones:

Heart disease is the main reason why lower limbs can swell

The main cause of swollen feet is heart failure. This is a serious disease, which is characterized by swelling of both lower extremities. In this case, the patient does not experience any characteristic pain, the pain syndrome is completely absent. Discomfort can only be delivered by their numbness and sensations of constant cold. In heart failure, the legs may swell, especially after sleeping. With a long stay in a prone position, other parts of the body also begin to swell: face, arms, lower back.

The cause of severe swelling of the lower extremities in heart failure is a violation of blood circulation. As a result, the veins in the legs expand, and blood begins to accumulate in them. There is an outflow of plasma into the tissue. Edema in heart failure is characterized by immobility. The skin above them becomes cold and cyanotic, and when the swelling is squeezed, discomfort is felt.

Swelling of the legs in this case is complemented by a number of accompanying symptoms: pain in the heart, shortness of breath, arrhythmia. The disease weakens the myocardium, resulting in impaired blood circulation.

If you experience any of the above symptoms, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Treatment of heart failure, in addition to medical intervention, includes diet therapy, physiotherapy, optimization of sleep and rest. In severe cases, surgery is required.

Venous insufficiency is one of the main reasons why legs can swell.

Swelling of the lower extremities is a frequent companion of varicose veins, in addition to swelling, pain, heaviness and the presence of a venous network under the skin are also observed. With venous insufficiency, swelling disappears after sleep, this is the main criterion for differential diagnosis.

With varicose veins, the affected veins are not able to fully remove blood and intercellular fluid from the tissues, which leads to stagnation in the lower extremities. The tumor on the leg disappears only in the supine position, when the outflow of blood is the most active.

Treatment of varicose veins is aimed at normalizing the venous outflow. For this purpose, venotonics, local ointments and gels containing anticoagulants are used, as well as tight bandaging of the lower extremities, especially if the patient has been standing or sitting for a long time.

Renal pathologies

With renal pathologies, the face may first swell, then the swelling spreads down. The reason for this is the inability of the kidneys to cope with excess fluid. A characteristic feature of renal pathologies is the formation of "bags under the eyes". The lower extremities, like other parts of the body, can swell due to a deficiency in albumin protein.

Edema in renal pathologies are of two types:

Nephritic. Occurs due to impaired blood circulation in the kidneys. Their characteristic feature is a soft texture. Occur with glomerulonephritis, localized on the face and lower legs.
Nephrotic. The ratio of protein is disturbed, from which the face, lower back, and legs swell. To the touch, nephrotic edema is dense.

In this case, not only the legs may swell, but other characteristic signs may also appear: lower back pain, turbidity, and other changes in urine that are detected during tests.

Depending on the severity of the disease, diuretics, NSAIDs, antibiotics, saline solutions, diet therapy, and so on can be used for treatment.

endocrinopathy

Swelling and pain in the lower extremities often appear in diseases of the thyroid gland. Swelling and pain in the legs are localized in the ankles. If you touch the swelling, then there will be no characteristic fossa on it.

With a lack of thyroid hormones, almost all tissues of the body can swell. Places of edema turn yellow, peel off, the skin over them becomes rough. In this case, patients significantly gain weight. May swell the face, resulting in a mask effect. The general condition of the body worsens: nails exfoliate, hair, eyebrows, eyelashes fall out.

With this disease, muscles, ligaments and internal organs can also swell. Treatment consists in replenishing the lack of thyroid hormones.

Injuries

In some cases, tumors form on the lower extremities from sunburn. Most often, this problem occurs in women, due to an excess of ultraviolet radiation. If swelling is observed after a sunburn, additional symptoms will be blisters on the skin, increased body temperature, redness, dizziness and a feeling of heat. In this case, it is necessary to take an anti-allergic agent, lubricate the burnt skin with panthenol or a cream like Boro Plus.

The leg may also swell after an injury, such as a fracture or dislocation. This process occurs due to impaired blood flow in this area. Moreover, it can swell both immediately after the injury, and a few days, or even weeks after it.

The leg can swell when tissues, ligaments or muscles are damaged. Puffiness in this case is observed for a long period and is difficult to treat. Patients experience intense aching pain, as well as a change in the color of the skin at the site of injury.

The lower limbs can also swell after intense physical activity, if before that the person led a not too active lifestyle. In this case, you should refrain from sudden large overloads or have more rest after training. The load should increase gradually, only in this way the legs will stop swelling and hurting.

Allergy

Often the reason that the legs swell and hurt is an allergy to one or another antigen. This medical condition is called allergic arthritis. As a rule, pathology develops against the background of joint damage. In some cases, allergic puffiness can provoke.

If the legs itch and swell, and itchy sensations are complemented by pain, most likely we are talking about allergic arthritis. The manifestation of such symptoms can begin both immediately after contact with the allergen, and after a few days or even a week.

As a rule, the disease proceeds in a rapidly reversible form. In this case, there are pronounced swelling with reddening of the skin, as well as intense pain. This condition is treated simply, it is enough to eliminate contact with the allergen and conduct anti-allergic therapy.

In some cases, a protracted form of allergic arthritis develops. It is long and very difficult. At the same time, the legs can swell to an impressive size, accompanied by unbearable pain. This condition does not go away on its own and needs emergency medical attention. Treatment is with antihistamines, glucocorticoids, and analgesics.

Gout

Gout is a disease in which excess salts are deposited in the joints. The result of the pathological process is unbearable pain, swelling, pressing sensation in the toes. Joint diseases are characteristic of patients who do not limit themselves to heavy meals (all kinds of fish and meat). Usually gout affects the joints of the legs, but in some cases it can also develop on the upper limbs.

A characteristic manifestation of the disease is swelling and pain in the joints, someone may experience symptoms of intoxication. Often the body temperature rises. Usually, inflammation begins with the big toe, then, if left untreated, the nearest joints are involved in the process.

Lymphedema

Swollen legs of a lymphatic nature are not amenable to conventional methods of treatment, so there is no single method for solving the problem. Interruptions in the work of the lymphatic system lead to the accumulation of fluid in the tissues, as a result of which the affected areas may swell.

Often the cause of swelling is primary lymphedema. This disease is caused by congenital underdevelopment of the lymphatic vessels.

The approach to the treatment of lymphedema should be comprehensive. It includes decongestant therapy, manual lymphatic drainage, bandaging, gymnastics and more.

Liver disease is another reason that feet can swell.

Why can legs swell with liver diseases? The fact is that the advanced stages of diseases, for example, cirrhosis or liver cancer, disrupt blood circulation, as a result, the outflow of blood from the lower extremities decreases. Blood begins to stagnate in the tissues, which leads to swelling.

As a rule, with liver diseases, the legs swell greatly, and the usual shoes become cramped. To the touch, the legs are dense and warm, and the trace after touching them remains for a long time.

Puffiness in severe liver diseases is accompanied by pain in the legs, vascular patterns, lethargy, weight loss, enlargement of the liver and spleen, symptoms of encephalopathy, pain in the liver.

Oncology

In the legs, as well as throughout the body, malignant tumors can appear. With cancer, a tumor appears on one leg, which begins to compress blood vessels and block blood flow, as a result of which the lower limb may swell. There are pain sensations that are increasing in nature. Localization of tumors can be varied, ranging from the toes, ending with neoplasms between the leg and groin, which in most cases is a metastatic lesion of the lymph nodes. In the later stages of the process, patients feel symptoms of general malaise, which are expressed by weakness, loss of appetite, fever, nausea, and weight loss.

If you find any neoplasms on the legs that do not go away for a long time and are accompanied by swelling, you should contact the appropriate specialist as soon as possible.

How to remove swelling on the leg

If the legs are swollen and sore, first of all, it is necessary to exclude non-pathological factors that could lead to this process. It can be tight shoes, intense physical activity, or a large amount of liquid you drink. In this case, it is enough to rest a little and everything will return to normal. However, the legs can swell for no apparent reason. If this happens regularly, you should seek medical attention.

What to do with alarming symptoms, how to treat swollen legs? First of all, it is necessary to establish the cause of the swelling. This can only be done with the help of a specialist. Initially, you can contact a therapist who, if necessary, will refer you to a nephrologist, cardiologist, endocrinologist and other specialists for examination. Before removing leg tumors, doctors will carry out the necessary diagnostic measures, after which the patient will be prescribed appropriate treatment.

Medical treatment

The patient will be prescribed treatment depending on what caused the swelling in the legs. For symptomatic relief of swelling, the following drugs are used:

Heparin ointment. A good and inexpensive remedy for removing swelling of the legs. It has an anti-inflammatory effect, improves blood circulation, and is effective for microthrombosis.
Essaven gel. Strengthens the walls of capillaries, improves blood circulation.
Venitan. It contains an extract of horse chestnut, which has a strengthening effect on the walls of capillaries.
Troxevasin. The ointment relieves swelling of the legs well, strengthens the walls of capillaries, and has an analgesic effect.

Diuretics are also used to relieve swelling, but only as directed by a doctor.

Treatment with folk remedies

Foot swelling is a fairly common problem. In this regard, people are trying to achieve improvements by all possible methods, including traditional medicine. There are many effective recipes that you can cook at home. However, they should be taken with caution, since herbs have no less side effects than drugs. Consider effective herbal infusions that will help relieve puffiness:

Starvation

The lower extremities may also swell after prolonged fasting. Protein-free diets with fasting days, all this causes a protein deficiency, due to which fluid is retained in the body. In order to remove the tumor from the leg, it is enough to normalize the diet. In this case, a nutritionist will help, who will correct the diet and correctly select the ratio of nutrients.

Prevention

In order not to ask once again the question: what to do when your legs swell, you need to monitor your health from the very beginning. Prevention of swelling of the legs consists of the following measures:

the bulk of the liquid should be drunk before 7 pm;
if possible, change shoes during the day, especially when it comes to high heels;
during the day, give your feet a rest, stroke them, massage;
do not consume a lot of salt and carbonated sugary drinks;
during sleep, it is advisable to put a pillow under your feet;
at the end of the day, do foot baths using decongestants.

After the procedures done, the state of a healthy person will quickly return to normal. But do not forget that the lower limbs can swell due to disorders in the body. Therefore, if the performed procedures did not bring the desired result, it is necessary to consult a specialist. To determine the cause, various methods of examination and other diagnostic manipulations are carried out at the discretion of the doctor.

There are a lot of reasons why the lower limbs can swell. These include both harmless factors and diseases requiring complex treatment. In any case, after determining the cause of the pathology and competent treatment, the swelling will quickly subside, which will allow the patient to return to a full life.

Edema is the accumulation of excess fluid in the tissues. Various tissues can swell in the body, but it is the legs that most often suffer. The maximum load falls on their share, since they have to constantly carry weight. And often this is not only their own weight, but also huge bags from the store and bearing a child. And besides, the legs are the lowest part of our body. Consequently, gravity helps the fluid to descend here and greatly interferes with its outflow.

Symptoms of swelling of the legs

Swelling of the legs can be immediately noticed if they see traces of the elastic band of the sock on the ankle. In the future, with the aggravation of the problem, the usual shoes may become cramped. And in the evenings, swelling of the legs may increase as a result of the load that has fallen during the day. If your legs swell regularly, then it's time to look for the causes with your doctor. Swelling of the legs can be a symptom of a wide range of diseases, many of which are quite serious and require treatment.

What diseases are associated with swelling of the legs?

If the puffiness persists for more than a day, you must definitely consult a doctor - for a start, a therapist. When legs swell regularly, the causes of this problem may lie in the following diseases:

Heart failure. Swelling of the legs in the ankles, feet and lower legs, which gets worse in the evening, may just be talking about this problem.
Vascular problems. Swelling of the legs occurs due to varicose veins and increases gradually, as the disease develops. Usually in the evening, the legs begin to hurt and swell. And it happens that one leg is swollen and hurts - which means, probably, inflammation of the vein or phlebitis.
Diseases of the kidneys and liver. In this case, usually the swelling of the legs occurs after the night, that is, it occurs in the morning, and most often affects the feet. Along with the legs, swelling on the face may appear, that is.

And there are other diseases associated with swelling of the legs, but only a doctor can diagnose them and prescribe the necessary treatment. To determine the reason why the legs swell, one simple examination may not be enough. Often, you need to pass a series of tests, undergo an ultrasound examination, MRI, or go to specialized specialists, such as a cardiologist or urologist.

How to relieve swelling of the legs?

Raise your legs to a level above your head. Take a comfortable position - lie on your back and lift your legs, placing a roller under them. Soon the outflow of stagnant venous blood will begin and the swelling of the legs will subside.
Foot and leg massage. Sometimes a simple massage is enough to normalize blood circulation.
Herbal tea or herbal tincture. Puffiness of the legs is well removed by herbal teas brewed on the basis of medicinal plants with a diuretic property.

You can make your own mint tincture. Steam a couple of tablespoons with one liter of boiling water, soak for 2 hours, after which you can drink.

contrast baths. Swelling of the legs of a woman is often removed by alternately dipping her legs into a basin of hot and then cold water.

Or you can make a bath with pharmaceutical herbs (chamomile or mint): 100 g of a dry collection of medicinal herbs is brewed into 3 liters of boiling water, after which the legs soar for 10-15 minutes.

Healthy legs require strong muscles, which during walking make the blood run through the veins. Legs should always be in motion - exercises, climbing stairs, cycling, dancing, water aerobics keep blood vessels in good shape. And thus reduces the risk of edema.

Swelling of the legs by the end of the day is a problem familiar to any adult. More often, women experience it due to their inherent hormonal changes or wearing uncomfortable shoes, as a rule, discomfort occurs in the area of the feet and ankles. Men can also experience a feeling of heaviness in the ankle associated with excessive physical exertion. What are the causes of this symptom, why the legs swell in the evening, and what to do to relieve swelling, we will tell later in our article.

How does edema manifest?

The legs swell down below for various reasons - this may be the physiological state of the body at a given time, or a manifestation of the symptoms of a serious illness. First of all, you need to examine the lower limbs to determine the localization of the edema.

Try pressing your finger on the skin of your legs for a few seconds. If a notch remains at the place of pressure, then fluid accumulates in the body, caused by a violation of the outflow of lymph. This is a pathological condition requiring further monitoring.

Often the legs swell after work, the swelling spreads from the knee to the feet - these unpleasant sensations occur when sitting for a long time.

If swelling is accompanied by pain, it is necessary to carefully examine the skin for trophic lesions. Wounds, cracks or even ulcers can appear due to excessive stretching of the skin.

This condition requires immediate medical attention, since an infection can easily enter the blood through the damaged surface.

Sometimes swelling appears only on one leg, or on both limbs around the circumference in the ankle area, in these cases it is customary to talk about local swelling. Why the ankles swell in the evening - we will consider further.

Causes of puffiness in the evening

Pathological causes of swelling of the legs by the end of the day may be associated with impaired renal function or complications caused by varicose veins. But more often evening swelling of the lower extremities indicates:

Heart problems. In this case, the swelling extends to the feet and ankles, the pathological condition intensifies in the evening. With heart failure, venous blood stagnates in the vessels, which eventually swells the legs. It is this edema that is easiest to determine during self-examination, using the palpation method described above.

Diseases of the liver, kidneys, intestines, due to which there is a deficiency of protein in the blood. With such diseases, the ankles usually swell, and swelling can be observed not only in the evening, but also in the morning.
Pathologies of the vessels of the lower extremities - thrombosis, varicose veins, atherosclerosis. In these cases, the swelling is dense, can affect only one limb, or capture both legs and spread up to the ankles. In addition to swollen legs, the skin also visually changes: there is pronounced cyanosis, peeling, and if the necessary measures are not taken in time, trophic ulcers may appear on the skin over time.
Pathologies of the lymphatic system caused by the removal of lymph nodes, lymphedema, erysipelas. With such diseases, the feet swell, the symptom is pronounced, the legs swell all over the back.
Hypothyroidism. If the cause lies in diseases of the thyroid gland, loose swelling appears on both legs.

In addition to pathological causes, swelling can be associated with magnesium deficiency in the body, taking hormonal drugs (estrogen, corticosteroids, beta-blockers) or antidepressants, which can also cause swelling in the legs in the evening.

Fortunately, the causes of puffiness are not always rooted in some kind of disease. In healthy people, such a symptom can also occur, and this is usually due to external factors.

Hot weather, in which a protective mechanism is activated that saves a person from overheating. The vessels dilate, which makes it difficult for the venous valves to move blood from the legs to the heart and back. By evening, heaviness in the legs is felt most strongly. In addition, in the summer you want to drink more, and the constant use of liquid only exacerbates the symptom.

In overweight people, the legs may swell in the evening due to the heavy load on the lower limbs during the day.

Uncomfortable shoes can cause swollen ankles in the evening. Constant walking in heels or in narrow shoes contributes to impaired blood circulation in the joints. By the end of the day, the normal outflow of lymph stops, so the legs may swell.

Eating foods high in salt leads to fluid retention in the body, which is further manifested by edema.

If the limbs are swollen from the knees to the ankles, this may be due to sedentary work. Wrong posture at the table, the lack of a full break for a walk, leads to impaired lymph flow and blood circulation in the joints. That is why the problem of evening swelling of the legs is familiar to office workers firsthand.

Premenstrual syndrome is another reason. With the advent of a new monthly cycle, the problem usually disappears on its own.

In pregnant women, the edematous syndrome cannot be ignored, it is better to immediately consult a doctor and describe your condition in order to take adequate measures in time.

We examined the main reasons why the legs may swell in the evening. If a symptom haunts you constantly, this is a clear reason to seek medical help, get tested, conduct a full examination in order to establish a diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment.

What to do and how to treat leg swelling

If your ankles are often swollen by the end of the day, you should make an appointment with a therapist. After the examination, the treatment will be continued by a narrow specialist.

To prevent swelling or quickly relieve heaviness in the lower extremities, try to take a 5-minute break every hour. Walk indoors, or better yet, go outside. Use the stairs instead of the elevator. If possible, walk barefoot, rest with your legs raised up, this will help to quickly improve blood circulation, improve lymph flow. Before going to bed, tired limbs can be rubbed with arnica oil.

The most effective way to remove discomfort will be light gymnastics:
walk on toes;
rotate your feet in different directions - you will immediately feel relief;
knead and massage your toes and feet with your hands.

Pregnant women can wear compression underwear - stockings or pantyhose. Wearing such knitwear has no contraindications and helps to alleviate the condition.

If the cause of swollen legs is an unhealthy diet, the doctor will recommend a diet. Exclude salty, smoked, fried, flour. You will also have to forget about sweets, semi-finished products and dairy products. In a word, to combat edema, a fasting diet is highly recommended.

Nutrition should be built in such a way that seasonal fruits and vegetables are included in the diet. Products with diuretic properties will help remove excess fluid from the body - watermelon, peaches, apricots, asparagus, herbs, beets, pumpkin, citrus fruits.

Medicines with anti-inflammatory properties include:
Troxevasin-gel;
Lyoton-gel;
heparin ointment.

These remedies will tone your legs, but be sure to consult your doctor before using them.

Swelling of the legs can be observed in any person. Often this condition is preceded by excessive stress. It can be a long stay in a standing position, a long walk. Wearing tight clothes, uncomfortable shoes that compress blood vessels leads to swelling. But sometimes such a problem is a symptom of various ailments. And in some cases - quite serious. Therefore, we will consider if the legs are very swollen, what to do with such manifestations.

Main reasons

Why are my legs swollen so much? Unfortunately, there is no definite answer. Doctors identify many different causes that lead to swelling of the lower extremities. Among them, a special place is occupied by harmless sources. As a rule, they are associated with wrong habits, a negative lifestyle. In this case, it is easy to understand if a person's legs are very swollen, what to do. Just fix your lifestyle.

The main causes of leg swelling are:

Wrong nutrition. According to statistics, this is the main source of an unpleasant state. An unbalanced diet leads to fluid retention in the body.
The use of large amounts of salt. It retains fluid in the body. The heart does not have time to cope with such a load. As a result, blood stasis occurs. As a rule, it is in the lower extremities.
Prolonged or excessive loads. Edema can be provoked by being in an uncomfortable position, long walking. Any load on the legs, especially for an unusual person, can cause an unpleasant effect.
Overweight. It is much more difficult for the heart of such people to push blood through fatty tissues.
Age changes. Often there is severe swelling of the legs in the elderly. As we age, blood vessels lose their elasticity. In addition, pathologies that can also cause swelling can be diagnosed in such individuals.

Systemic causes

Sometimes completely different sources provoke severe swelling of the legs. The reasons may be hidden in the pathologies that develop in the body. Only a specialist can determine what caused this symptomatology. Therefore, people who observe systematic swelling are advised to definitely go to the doctor. Only a doctor can recommend if the legs become very swollen, what to do in such a situation.

Among the diseases that can provoke this situation, the following are distinguished:

Varicose veins. Swelling of the extremities is the initial stage of the pathology. Often this condition is observed in the evening. In this case, the patient experiences a feeling of heaviness, pain, numbness, fatigue.
Heart failure. With such a pathology, swelling is observed in the evening, because during the day the heart “gets tired” of pumping blood. In the morning, this symptomatology practically does not occur. Puffiness may be accompanied by a bluish tint of the legs. Shortness of breath is observed, pressure rises. As a rule, patients experience pain in the heart. In addition, they are prone to fatigue. Sometimes the legs and feet are very swollen. In some cases, only the fingers are affected. It depends entirely on the heart. Or rather, on how the body does not cope with its function.
Thrombophlebitis. This is a disease in which blood clots form in the lumen of the veins. Swelling of the legs is accompanied by unpleasant symptoms: tingling, numbness, "crawling crawling". With an illness, an increase in temperature can be observed. Failure to act can lead to pulmonary embolism. In other words, a blood clot can break off and block the vein. The result will be death.
Renal pathologies. As a rule, puffiness is observed on both legs. In this case, mainly the back side suffers. The patient does not experience itching, pain. Dark circles under the eyes, puffiness of the eyelids may indicate problems with the kidneys. Changes in the color of urine, there is a decrease in its quantity. In addition, swelling is observed not only in the evening, when the legs are tired. Unpleasant symptoms appear in the morning.
Thyroid ailments. Such pathologies can also cause swelling of the legs. As a rule, such a symptom is accompanied by lethargy, chilliness, drowsiness, and a tendency to constipation. There may be swelling of the shoulders, tongue.
Diseases of the liver. Cirrhosis often provokes unpleasant symptoms. In this case, the patient may experience: jaundice, exhaustion, accumulation of fluid in the body cavities, skin itching.

Local sources of swelling

Some violations can cause severe swelling of the legs. The reasons are hidden in a variety of pathologies:

injuries, fractures, bruises;
allergic reactions;
rheumatoid arthritis;
cellulite;
bites of snakes, insects.

Edema during pregnancy

Almost all women who are preparing to become mothers face a similar problem. The question arises: if the legs swell during pregnancy, what should I do? Initially, you should determine the reason why this symptomatology is observed. After all, most often puffiness is caused by physiological changes and is temporary.

Severe swelling of the legs during pregnancy can be caused by the following reasons:

Enlargement of the uterus. The growing organ compresses the veins located in the pelvis. This leads to impaired blood flow. The result is swelling of the legs. As a rule, in a horizontal position, the uterus ceases to put pressure on the organs and blood vessels. The swelling subsides fairly quickly.
Changing nutrition. Very often, pregnant women abuse salty foods. After all, they are simply drawn to salt. To eliminate such symptoms, you should limit the use of table salt.
Preeclampsia 2nd half of pregnancy. That's a rather unfortunate reason. A woman may experience increased pressure, headache. With this pathology, not only the legs swell, but also the hands and face. In this situation, the expectant mother requires adequate treatment in a hospital.

Despite the fact that most often the culprit of this symptomatology is a physiological cause, it is necessary to consult a doctor if a woman notices that her legs swell during pregnancy. What to do in such a situation, only the doctor will tell.

It is strictly forbidden to resort to diuretics without the appointment of a specialist. A pregnant woman must understand that such drugs affect not only her, but also the body of the crumbs. Some of the diuretics are able to wash out the minerals necessary for the full development of the baby.

Symptoms of puffiness

Unfortunately, some people are not always able to identify such a condition. Unpleasant manifestations are completely ignored. A person notices a negative state only when the puffiness is clearly visible visually. But, as a rule, in this case, the ailments that develop in the body are already progressing. There are several simple recommendations to identify pathology.

So, if your legs have become very swollen, then use the tips:

Unpleasant symptoms can be determined by the increased volume of the feet, lower legs.
Puffiness is indicated by the stripes left after the removed sock or shoes.
When pressed with a finger on the skin, a trace remains on the surface. It will quickly disappear, but such a phenomenon indicates puffiness.

Do not forget that you should not joke with such symptoms. Therefore, consider the following question: "If the legs begin to swell, what should I do?"

Treatment Methods

Patients whose legs are very swollen and sore are advised to definitely start with a visit to the doctor. After all, sometimes unpleasant symptoms are provoked by ailments. It should be remembered that it is extremely dangerous to deal with pathologies on your own. Therapy will be selected depending on which disease provoked severe swelling of the legs.

Varicose veins. In the initial stages, it is quite easy to cope with unpleasant sensations. The doctor will prescribe a special ointment that will eliminate puffiness. If necessary, wearing special stockings or wrapping the limbs with elastic bandages will be recommended. It is necessary to periodically do cold baths for the legs, do gymnastics. During sleep, it is recommended to put the limbs on a raised platform. This will ensure free blood flow.
Heart failure. With such a pathology, treatment is prescribed only by a cardiologist. Therapeutic measures include: the appointment of diuretics, drugs that support the functioning of the heart. The doctor will prescribe medications that can fight the underlying disease (hypertension, atherosclerosis, ischemia). The patient is advised to do gymnastics, improve nutrition. As a rule, with this pathology, the legs in the ankle are very swollen. What to do? Patients are often prescribed to wear elastic stockings.
Thrombophlebitis. The therapy is prescribed by a phlebologist. In case of pathology provoked by infectious diseases, antibiotic therapy is prescribed. In some cases, surgery may be recommended.
Renal pathologies. The patient needs treatment. Therapy is prescribed by a nephrologist.
Diseases of the liver. The patient must be observed by a hepatologist. If the symptoms are provoked by viral hepatitis, then an infectious disease specialist should be consulted.

How to relieve fatigue?

An unpleasant state is most often provoked by harmless causes. Sometimes, as a result of excessive loads, fatigue, the legs swell greatly. What to do in such a situation?

Special baths. However, it should be remembered that with dilated veins, such a procedure is contraindicated. So, if the legs in the ankle are very swollen, what should I do? It is recommended to resort to contrast baths. Soak your feet for 5 minutes in hot water. Then lower for 10 seconds in the cold. It is recommended to add salt and herbs to the water.
Massage. This event is very useful for tired legs. Use an ointment or cream. Lightly rub the medicine into the feet, ankles, calves.
Raise your limbs up. Make yourself comfortable on the sofa. At the same time, put a roller under your feet. Feet should hang freely. You can put your limbs on a chair or stool in a sitting position. It is enough to spend 15-20 minutes in this position.
Therapeutic stockings, tights. Such funds can be easily purchased at the pharmacy. They allow you to save your legs from fatigue. In addition, tights and stockings are an excellent prophylactic against varicose veins.
Cold compresses. They are able to quickly get rid of puffiness. You can use this method with tired legs. It is quite effective for puffiness provoked by inflammatory processes.

Diuretics

It is fluid retention in the body that causes severe swelling of the legs. Treatment includes diuretics. However, such drugs can only be prescribed by a doctor, since they all have contraindications and can cause a wide variety of side effects in a person.

However, there are still folk remedies that allow you to achieve the desired result. They have fewer contraindications, and often do not cause negative reactions. However, before using such recipes, be sure to consult a specialist.

The following agents have a diuretic effect:

Parsley infusion. It is necessary to thoroughly wash the whole plant (with the root). Pass it through a meat grinder. To make the medicine, you need 1 glass of green composition. Transfer the resulting mass to a thermos. Pour boiling water - 0.5 liters. During the night, this remedy should be infused in a thermos. Strain the composition in the morning. To this remedy, add the juice of 1 lemon. This amount of medicine is designed for 1 day. It should be drunk in 3 doses. The use of infusion is completely independent of the adoption of food. The scheme of treatment with this remedy is as follows. For 2 days, you need to take an infusion of parsley. Then a short break is made - for 3 days. And again the 2-day course is repeated.
Flax seeds. They also help remove excess fluid from the body. You will need 1 tsp. Flaxseed. Such a component is poured into 1 liter of boiling water. The mixture must be boiled on a small fire for about 15 minutes. Then close the pan tightly and leave the broth warm for about 1 hour. It is recommended to use this product hot. Every 2 hours, you should drink 0.5 cups of medicine. During the day you get 6-8 receptions. This therapy should continue for about 2-3 weeks. Its duration depends entirely on the patient's well-being.
Medicinal collection. It is necessary to mix the following components in equal proportions: flowers of calendula, linden; fruits of hawthorn, wild rose, viburnum; leaves of birch, blueberry, plantain. Finely grind all the ingredients and mix them. You will need 2 tbsp of this composition. l. Fill them with boiling water - 0.5 liters. Such a remedy should be infused in a thermos all night. Take the medicine should be 3-4 times a day for ⅓ - ¼ cup. The duration of therapy can be 2-3 months.
Watermelon rinds. It is necessary to grind the dry component. Fill it with water in the ratio: 1:10. Such a composition should be boiled for about 5 minutes. Strain the cooled broth. It should be taken 0.5 cup 3-4 times a day.

Also useful:

decoction of birch buds;
cranberry juice;
decoction of bearberry leaves;
lingonberry juice;
infusion of field horsetail.

If unpleasant discomfort is provoked by malnutrition, you should definitely reconsider it. As a rule, such measures are enough to get rid of discomfort.

Avoid salt. It is advisable to reduce such seasoning to a minimum, if it is impossible to completely abandon it. In some cases, doctors prescribe a salt-free diet to the patient.
Drink lots of fluids.
Refuse to take coffee, alcoholic beverages.
Diversify your diet with vegetables. Steamed food is very useful.

If the patient is prescribed diuretics, then you should eat foods that protect the body from washing out potassium. Dried apricots, beans, baked potatoes, cabbage have such properties.

It is useful to introduce into the diet products that have a diuretic effect: celery, pumpkin, garlic, parsley. It is recommended to diversify the diet with the following foods: onions, watermelons, black currants, grapes. We should not forget about fermented milk products - yogurt, cottage cheese, kefir.

Gymnastics for swelling

These activities are very helpful. They will relieve the patient of discomfort if the ankles of the legs swell strongly as a result of wearing tight shoes or fatigue.

Can be performed in a standing or sitting position. It is necessary to alternately press the toe to the floor surface, then the heel.
A few minutes (1-2) walk around the room on your toes.
Try to pick up a pencil or a small ball from the surface of the floor. Exercise should be performed with bare feet. Hands should not help.
Squeeze your toes. Then spread them out. Do this exercise several times.
Rotate your feet. Describe them circles in one direction, then in the other.

Be sure to consult a doctor if there is a very strong swelling of the legs. In most cases, the doctor will recommend the use of an ointment. However, it should not be forgotten that this remedy is a medicine. Therefore, resorting to self-therapy is highly undesirable.

The doctor can prescribe the following remedies to effectively get rid of swelling of the lower extremities:

Heparin ointment. It stimulates blood circulation in the damaged area. Such an ointment is able to dissolve microscopic blood clots. In addition, it has anti-inflammatory properties.
Essaven Gel. The medicine has a beneficial effect on the damaged area. The gel strengthens the walls of veins and capillaries. The drug significantly improves blood circulation and is able to eliminate microthrombi.
"Venitan". The drug is based on the extract of horse chestnut. Ointment perfectly strengthens the walls of blood vessels.
"Troxevasin". The drug has a cooling effect and analgesic effect on the body. This ointment also helps to strengthen the veins and capillaries.

Now you know the answer to the question: "If the legs are very swollen, what should I do?" However, remember that it is important to correctly identify the cause causing the problem. Unpleasant symptoms are the consequences of an illness developing in the body. Therefore, in order to get rid of puffiness, it is necessary to eliminate its cause.