However, leg swelling can also be dangerous and indicative of an underlying disease. Some of the serious causes of leg swelling include deep vein thrombosis (blood clots in the veins), chronic venous insufficiency (vein disease), infections, kidney diseases, and various other diseases.
If you have persistent leg swelling around sock line, it’s crucial to visit a reputable physician so that he or she can study the underlying root cause of leg swelling. In this article, we discuss the causes of leg swelling and treatment options in Houston, TX.
What Is Leg Swelling?
As the name suggests, leg swelling is a common medical condition that leads to swelling in legs and feet. It most commonly occurs in the lower legs, from the knees down, or in the ankles and feet. There are a number of different causes of leg swelling ranging from mild to dangerous.
Symptoms of Leg Swelling
The following are some of the most common symptoms of lower leg swelling.
- Extreme pain and discomfort in the legs.
- Numbness of legs.
- Tingling sensation felt throughout the legs.
- Redness and itching of legs.
- Leg ulcers, i.e., non-healing wounds on the skin.
- Development of rashes.
- Shortness of breath and fatigue.
What Causes Leg Swelling?
Leg swelling occurs from a number of medical conditions or physiological changes. The following are some of the most common causes of leg swelling.
Chronic venous insufficiency is a medical condition in which the valves in the veins stop functioning correctly. This restricts blood circulation, causing blood to pool in the legs and ankles. If left untreated, lower leg swelling and potential for spider veins and varicose veins result.
Sciatica and Leg Swelling
The sciatic nerve is the largest single nerve in the human body, extending down each side of the lumbar spine. If you suffer from sciatic nerve inflammation, you experience shooting pains down your lower back and legs. This can eventually lead to lower leg swelling.
Cirrhosis is a chronic liver disease caused by alcohol consumption or infections. This medical condition affects blood circulation and leads to leg swelling around sock line.
During leg injuries and infections, blood flow in the affected area drastically increases. This leads to right leg swelling or left leg swelling, the infected or injured leg.
Deep Vein Thrombosis
Deep vein thrombosis is a medical condition in which blood clots form inside your veins. It often happens as a result of venous insufficiency when blood accumulates in your lower legs. A blood clot formation is often followed by leg swelling. If left untreated, the blood clot may travel to the lungs, resulting in a potentially fatal medical condition called pulmonary embolism.
Pеrісаrdіtіѕ is a medical condition that involves an infected pericardium (a sac-like membrane around the heart). This can lead to lower leg swelling.
Leg swelling occurs frequently during a wоmаn’ѕ menstrual сусlе or pregnancy because the fluctuating levels of еѕtrоgеn and progesterone reduce blood circulation.
Lуmрhеdеmа, also known as lymphatic obstruction, causes blockages in the network of lymph nodes and blood vessels that facilitate blood circulation. This leads to fluid buildup and causes swelling in the legs.
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Leg Swelling Risk Factors
The following are some of the most common risk factors of leg swelling.
Excess body weight affects blood circulation, which leads to edema, i.e. fluid buildup in the feet. Obesity can cause swelling in legs and feet as a result.
Sitting or Standing for Extended Periods
Sitting or standing still for long periods of time restricts blood circulation and gravity causes fluid to accumulate in your feet and ankles.
A number of medications may also lead to lower leg swelling:
- Estrogen, testosterone, or other hormonal medications
- Certain antidepressants
- Asprin, іbuрrоfеn, and other anti-inflammatory medicines
As previously mentioned, leg swelling is common during pregnancy because of the hormonal imbalance caused by fluctuating еѕtrоgеn and progesterone.
How to Reduce Swelling in Legs and Feet?
Do you have swollen legs? The following home remedies and tips can reduce swelling in legs and feet.
- Wear loose dresses or clothes that don’t restrict blood circulation.
- Exercise regularly and lose weight to facilitate blood circulation.
- Wear compression stockings.
- Don’t sit or stand still for long periods of time. Stretch frequently and walk around every 15 to 30 minutes, even if it’s for a few seconds.
- Elevate your legs to encourage blood circulation to the heart.
- Consume less salt to prevent fluid accumulation and edema.
These tips and methods only relieve the pressure and pain of leg swelling temporarily. If an underlying disease causes your leg swelling, then you need to consult a physician for diagnosis and treatment.
Do I Need To See A Physician For Leg Swelling?
As stated above, leg swelling can be an early sign of grave underlying medical conditions like chronic venous insufficiency or deep vein thrombosis. It is therefore crucial to consult a physician for testing.
At Vein Treatment Clinic Houston, our vein doctors run a series of tests — ultrasound, blood tests, etc. — to determine the exact root cause of your leg swelling. Once they’ve determined the cause of leg swelling in ankles and feet, they curate a treatment plan perfect for your needs.
If you have any other questions about leg swelling, please schedule a consultation today.
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We treat all our patients like they’re our only patients. Our vein doctors listen to your problems and examine your medical history to diagnose a treatment plan that’s meant just for you. They actively seek minimally-invasive treatments that conclude within an hour.
Regain your self-confidence and say goodbye to those welts and marks on your skin! Book a consultation at our vein treatment clinic in Houston today!