Thick ankles and feet due to moisture
On a hot day, many people get swollen feet and ankles. A harmless ailment, but feet that remain swollen can indicate health problems. How do you make sure the swelling disappears again? And when should you go to the doctor?
If the blood vessels in your legs don’t drain blood properly to your heart, you’ll get edema, also known as fluid retention or dropsy. Gravity causes the excess moisture to sink to the bottom. It mainly accumulates in the lower body. You will get swollen feet, ankles and sometimes swollen legs.
tight shoes
You will easily notice whether this is bothering you: your shoes pinch and you see that your ankles are thicker than usual. If you push into your leg with a finger, a hole will remain. Your fingers may also swell. It is not painful and the swelling is gone the next day.
Many people get swollen feet and ankles in the summer. Your body cannot get rid of the heat properly and retains more moisture. Long walks or sitting, for example during a long flight, can make your feet swell. Being overweight increases the risk of swollen feet. In addition, some women suffer from the contraceptive pill or just before menstruation. Many medicines have swollen feet and ankles as a side effect.
Tips in warm weather
What helps against swollen feet and ankles? Drink plenty of water. Exercise is good for blood circulation and stimulates the muscles in the legs, which can reduce moisture. Get up and walk around regularly when you are on a plane trip. Eating salty foods makes you retain water, so try to cut down on salt. It can also help to put your feet a little higher.
If you have swollen feet or legs for a long time, there may be more to it.
Pregnancy Poisoning
Swollen feet are a common, harmless pregnancy ailment. Are you pregnant and do you, in addition to having thick ankles, also have a headache, pain in the upper abdomen, are you nauseous and do you see stars? Then there could be pregnancy poisoning (preeclampsia). This is a combination of high blood pressure and too much protein in the urine. It usually occurs after the 24th week of pregnancy. Always contact your doctor or midwife if you have these symptoms.
Sprained ankle
An injury to your foot or ankle can also lead to swelling. If you stumble and fold your foot inwards, the ankle ligaments can stretch or tear. Due to such a sprain, the ankle becomes thick in a short time. Raise the ankle and cool it with an ice pack. Can you barely walk four steps? Then you may have broken something and you need to see a doctor. Even if the pain and swelling have not decreased after four days, a visit to the doctor is recommended.
Malfunctioning veins
If your veins are not functioning properly, the pressure in them increases causing fluid to ‘leak’ through the vein wall. This leads to moisture in the legs. In the beginning you will have swollen ankles, especially in the evening. If the veins deteriorate further, your ankles and lower legs will remain swollen all day long. Medicines do not help, the treatment consists of bandages that reduce the swelling and raise the legs. In addition, regular exercise is important. If the legs have shrunk again, you can start wearing elastic compression stockings.
Inflammation
Patients with nerve damage due to diabetes or other nerve problems in the feet are more susceptible to foot infections. Moreover, they often do not feel a wound. An inflamed foot can swell. If you have diabetes, it is therefore important to check your feet daily for blisters, sores, discoloration and swelling. Regular visits to a pedicurist labeled ‘Diabetic Foot’ will help prevent foot problems. If you have an inflammation or wound that does not heal, you can go to the doctor.
Thrombosis
A blood clot in a vein in your leg can prevent your blood from flowing properly back to the heart. The leg then often suddenly or within a few days becomes thick, warm, painful, red and shiny. This is called a thrombosis leg. Such a blood clot is very dangerous, because it can come loose and get stuck in your heart or lungs. With an ultrasound, a doctor can determine whether you have a thrombosis leg. You will then be given anticoagulants and your leg will be bandaged.
Heart, liver or kidney disease
Sometimes swollen feet or ankles are the result of heart, liver, or kidney disease. Do you have swollen feet or ankles for a long time and is that not due to one of the above causes? Consult your doctor. He or she can rule out a condition or decide to prescribe, for example, water tablets.
