Legs swell, what to do if they swell. What to do if your legs are very swollen? Kidney disorders

Swelling of the legs can be short-term, after physical overload of the body, and permanent, as a symptom of pathological conditions. The reasons why legs swell depend on the gender and age of the patient, heredity, and a history of internal chronic diseases.

Against a background of fatigue

Every adult, regardless of gender, has experienced swelling of the foot or ankle at the end of the working day. The main reason for such local edema is intense and prolonged stress on the lower extremities.

The condition is caused by a short-term disturbance of blood circulation, microcirculation, and weak lymph outflow. A characteristic feature is the asymmetry of soft tissue changes, which is not affected by gravity.

Swelling as a result of prolonged stay in a forced position is called orthostatic. They develop due to the following circumstances:

staying in a vertical position for several hours (when performing certain types of work ─ at a machine, behind a counter, at a construction site);

prolonged walking without regular physical training (especially in compressive shoes not intended for sports);

incorrect position of the limbs, which impairs blood circulation and promotes swelling (leg to leg);

a long trip in transport in a static (motionless) position ─ in a bus, car, plane.

Regular physical inactivity leads to systematic swelling of the lower extremities in the evening and pain in the joints. In the morning, a person experiences heaviness in his legs and does not feel rested. For women, discomfort is increased by shoes with heels, high platforms, and narrow toes.

Orthostatic edema can be easily eliminated after reviewing the work and rest regime and adjusting the daily routine. No specific treatment is required.

Symptom of kidney pathology

Swelling of the legs always makes doctors suspect kidney disease, since this is one of the main signs of pathology. There are also severe diseases of the excretory system in which this symptom is absent ─ wrinkled kidneys, mercuric necrosis (acute toxic damage to the organ, accompanied by uremia ─ poisoning of the entire body with metabolic products).

The degree of increase in soft tissue volume depends on the diagnosis. This may be a process invisible at the initial stage or severe swelling with difficulty in the functions of the lower limb. Massive accumulation of fluid is recorded in amyloidosis (a metabolic disorder with protein-polysaccharide deposits in the renal parenchyma and impaired filtration function), lipoid nephrosis (a rare pathology characterized by organ degeneration).

Acute glomerulonephritis (impaired glomerular filtration) causes minor swelling of the extremities. They appear suddenly, a person discovers them upon waking up in the morning. In the chronic form, edema is most often absent and appears only during an exacerbation.

Nephrosis (inflammation of the kidney of various etiologies) is accompanied by increased swelling after physical activity - walking, walking, light running.

Nephrotic edema feels softer to the touch. When pressed, a dimple in the skin forms faster and deeper, and expands slowly.

Other diseases that cause swelling of the limbs due to nephrotic syndrome:

diabetic glomerulosclerosis ─ severe damage to the glomerular, tubular, and circulatory system of the kidney due to impaired carbohydrate metabolism;

lupus erythematosus ─ a systemic pathology of connective tissue, which leads to thickening of the glomerular membrane and accumulation of fibrin;

serum sickness ─ immune response to treatment with serums of animal origin, causes glomerulonephritis;

rheumatoid polyarthritis ─ an autoimmune pathology that contributes to the development of deformation and limited mobility of joints; in parallel, nephropathy, nephritis, and amyloidosis manifest;

lymphogranulomatosis is a malignant lymphoma in which kidney damage occurs infrequently, only in the case of cancer metastasis to the intra-abdominal lymph nodes.

Cardiac edema in older people

Swelling as a result of cardiovascular pathology is diagnosed mainly in older people. The main causes are heart disease in the stage of decompensation. Visible swelling develops with a long-term chronic course of the pathology.

Important! In the early stages of the development of heart failure, swelling on the skin is not visually detected. Fluid retention in the body is limited by the enlargement of internal organs. But, in the absence of external changes, patients gain weight.

The location of cardiac edema is directly affected by gravity. Therefore, they form in the legs ─ the part of the body that is lowest to the ground (feet, ankles, lower legs). The formation of a pathological symptom is facilitated by increased pressure in the venous system of the extremities and blood stagnation. As the severity increases, the swelling spreads to the thighs.

If an elderly person sleeps on their side, then under the influence of gravity, water accumulates on the underlying side of the body and leg. At the beginning of the chronicity of the disease, swelling of the feet appears only in the evening, and by the morning it disappears without a trace.

How to distinguish renal edema from cardiac edema

The skin of the legs in case of kidney pathology is always pale, in case of heart failure it is purple or has a bluish tint.

In diseases of the urinary system, swelling of the face, hands, and then the lower extremities first appears. This distinctive feature is detected in glomerulonephritis and is almost absent in nephrosis. In cardiac diseases, the legs swell first.

Swelling from the heart appears in the evening and goes away by the morning; from the kidneys, on the contrary, it occurs immediately after sleep, and disappears during physical activity.

Swollen skin in case of kidney disease is softer and more elastic during pressure; in case of heart disease it is less mobile.

In clinical practice, mixed edema is often diagnosed in elderly and senile patients. The syndrome combines several diseases at once.

Pathology resulting in swelling of the lower extremities:

cardiosclerosis ─ scarring of the myocardium;

decompensated cor pulmonale;

Violation of the functionality of the venous system

There are two main diseases in which the legs swell: acute deep vein thrombosis and chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).

Severe swelling of the limb is the main symptom of acute thrombosis. It develops suddenly when a person feels completely satisfactory. Only one leg is affected.

The swelling rapidly increases, and the limb increases in volume over several hours or days. The entire lower leg is involved in the pathological process, then the thigh. The patient experiences severe bursting pain deep in the muscles.

Important! In acute venous thrombosis, the foot never swells, and the leg as a whole visually retains its anatomical shape. This is due to the fact that it is not fiber that increases, but skeletal muscle.

The dynamics of edema in the acute form are not observed for many months. Only after the formation of a chronic process (venous insufficiency) does the swelling gradually subside.

Swelling in CVI differs depending on the etiology: postthrombophlebic and varicose.

Swelling after thrombosis can persist for a year, and extremely rarely disappears without a trace. Visually, the diseased leg differs significantly in volume from the healthy one.

Swelling of the legs due to varicose veins or trophic disorders occurs only when the therapy is incorrectly selected or the pathological process is neglected. It develops 10-12 years after the appearance of the first varicose veins.

Swelling is usually moderate, the degree of its severity depends on the time of day. An increase in the area of the ankle and lower leg is observed after lunch and goes away during the night's rest.

Varicose edema is accompanied by the following clinical signs:

rapid fatigue of the legs;

heaviness when walking;

soreness in the calf muscles;

After pressing with a finger on the swollen skin, there is no depression left.

Causes

In men, swelling of the legs can develop against the background of diseases of the reproductive system. In women, this is a common symptom that accompanies pregnancy.

In men

One of the reasons for the development of edema of the lower extremities is prostate cancer. More common in men over 65 years of age. At the stage of metastasis, a clinical sign such as swelling of the legs and feet appears. This occurs due to impaired lymph outflow and accumulation of intercellular fluid.

Also, swelling of the legs occurs with ankylosing spondylitis (chronic pathology of the joints of the sacral spine) and gout (accumulation of uric acid salts in the tissues, manifested in the form of acute arthritis with constant relapses). These diseases occur three times more often in men than in women.

Sometimes edema develops after long-term treatment with testosterone-based hormonal drugs, as well as in athletes taking androgenic steroids. If the application patterns are violated and the drinking regime is not followed, the water balance is disturbed and fluid is retained in the body. As a result, swelling appears in the legs.

Among women

According to WHO statistics, 72% of women experience swelling of the lower extremities during pregnancy.

A common cause is phlebopathy.

This is a complex of functional disorders of the venous system, provoked by a decrease in the tone of the vascular walls. It appears from 23-25 weeks of pregnancy and is a consequence of the following factors:

muscular and vascular hypodynamia;

slow venous blood flow;

compression of large veins;

rapid growth of the uterus;

an increase in blood volume (the amount of blood in the entire vascular system of the body).

Both limbs swell at once, changes in volume are symmetrical. Most often, the swelling is localized at the bottom of the lower leg, with no pain. Women feel discomfort and heaviness in their legs. Swelling disappears after a night or day rest, with the legs placed horizontally.

Lymphedema of the lower extremities

Another reason why swelling occurs is a violation of the physiological capacity of the lymphatic vessels of the legs. This condition causes difficulties in diagnosis in the initial stages of the disease. Therefore, patients seek help when the pathological process is advanced.

Lymphedema ─ severe swelling of soft tissues. The distinctive symptom is swelling of the back of the foot, resembling a pillow in appearance. The leading sign in the diagnosis of the disease is Stemmer's sign - the inability to gather the skin of the 2nd toe into a fold on the back side. In other diseases that are accompanied by edema, this sign does not occur.

The soft tissues of half the lower leg also swell. Swelling of the thigh is uncommon. The skin of the affected limb is pale; after indentation, deformation remains in the form of a small depression. In the chronic course of the disease, the epidermis thickens due to the development of fibrosis (proliferation of connective fibers).

Lymphedema can be primary or secondary. These forms differ significantly from each other.

Primary or congenital pathology is diagnosed in women in 80% of cases. The disease begins to progress after 35 years. Provocative factors contribute to this:

pregnancy;

mechanical injury;

minor damage to the upper layers of the skin.

Swelling grows very slowly over years. At the same time, varicose veins occur very rarely as a concomitant disease.

Secondary lymphedema develops after injuries, against the background of erysipelas, malignant neoplasms, and damage to the lymphatic ducts. Swelling occurs almost immediately after the manifestation of these factors and grows rapidly. The skin of the legs may be pale, pink or red. Patients with erysipelas are often found to have varicose veins, which are complicated by an acute infectious disease.

Pathologies of large joints

Swelling of the legs due to arthritis is characterized by the specificity of the clinical picture. The limb swells only at the site of the inflamed joint and does not spread in other directions.

The progression of swelling begins simultaneously with other signs ─ pain that intensifies with flexion, limited range of motion. The initial symptom preceding swelling is joint stiffness in the morning after sleep, which goes away within half an hour when walking.

In the process of treatment and relief of the inflammatory process, the swelling subsides, and with relapses of arthritis it reappears.

With gonarthrosis (deformation of the knee joint with damage to the hyaline cartilage), the swelling covers the supramalleolar region and the lower leg. In the knee area, massive swelling of the subcutaneous tissue develops due to compression of the medial lymphatic pathways.

Drug treatment

Like the causes, treatment for leg swelling depends on its origin. Principles of therapy:

elimination of the factor causing the pathology;

stopping pathogenetic changes in soft tissues;

relief of concomitant clinical manifestations.

Patients with cardiac and renal edema are prescribed diuretics. The choice of medications depends on the form of the disease - acute or chronic.

If swelling has appeared in a short period of time and is rapidly growing, loop diuretics are prescribed. These medications act quickly, the therapeutic effect lasts no more than 6 hours. They are taken orally, in short courses, for diseases of the kidneys and cardiovascular system. Names of drugs: Furosemide, Torasemide, ethacrynic acid, Bumetanide, Lasix.

Patients with chronic edema are prescribed thiazide diuretics. They remove fluid at the cellular level, penetrate the hematogenous barrier, dilate blood vessels, and reduce pressure. Such medications for swelling of the legs are taken in long courses, for several months. Indications: cardiac edema. Drugs: Indapamide, Hydrochlorothiazide, Hypothiazide, Cyclomethiazide.

Angioprotective agents help get rid of edema associated with chronic venous insufficiency. They stabilize the condition of capillaries, eliminate swelling, inflammation and congestion in the veins, and reduce the permeability of blood vessels and tissues.

Preparations:

Aescusan is an alcohol solution for oral administration, a natural remedy based on horse chestnut seeds. Take 20 drops before meals 3 times a day. The course of treatment is 1-3 months.

Detralex ─ film-coated tablets based on chemicals. Drink 1 tablet. 2 times a day or 2 tablets. once.

Troxevasin is a chemical drug in the form of capsules for oral administration. Take 1 capsule 2 times a day, duration of therapy is 3-4 weeks.

Ointments

Venotonics for topical use ─ creams, ointments, gels help to quickly relieve orthostatic edema resulting from fatigue and overload of the legs. They restore the tone of the vascular walls and restore their elasticity. Effectively eliminate swelling, relieve inflammation, prevent increased blood clotting and the formation of blood clots. After a course of treatment, the veins are strengthened, fragility and permeability are stopped, and the release of plasma from the vascular bed into the soft tissues is stopped.

Pharmacological agents for application to the skin of the feet:

Lyoton is a transparent viscous gel, rubbed in with gentle movements 1-3 times a day.

Troxevasin is a light brown or yellow gel, gently rubbed into the skin of the legs 2 times a day until the drug is completely absorbed.

Venoruton is a transparent homogeneous gel, rubbed in with light movements in the morning and evening.

Venitan is a light brown cream containing dark particles. Apply to the swelling area 2-3 times a day.

Venorm is a brown cream with the scent of herbs, rubbed in with gentle massage movements up to 4 times a day.

Antistax ─ gel with the aroma of grapes, quickly absorbed. Use morning and evening.

Heparin ointment is a white, homogeneous substance with a yellow tint. Apply to the skin with caution, with light massage movements 2-3 times a day.

Lymphatic drainage massage

The physiological outflow of lymph promptly removes fluid from the tissues. When it is disturbed, water accumulates in the intercellular space and swelling forms. This is why lymphatic drainage massage is indicated for patients with leg swelling caused by chronic diseases due to harsh working conditions and prolonged standing.

The procedure is contraindicated in acute venous thrombosis, glomerulonephritis, malignant neoplasms, and pregnancy.

Using compression stockings

In order to prevent and prevent recurrence of leg swelling, patients are recommended to wear compression underwear ─ knee socks, stockings, tights.

The therapeutic effect of the products is based on a certain pressure on the venous wall and uniform maintenance of muscle mass. The compressive load increases down the limb. This stabilizes venous outflow and prevents blood stagnation in the legs. The underwear prevents the formation of blood clots, relieves fatigue, heaviness in the legs, swelling, and pain.

Compression hosiery helps to more effectively treat and eliminate swelling associated with varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency. Therapeutic underwear is indicated for pregnant women and people with an inactive lifestyle.

Traditional medicine recipes

In the absence of acute inflammatory processes and tumors of internal organs in the body, swelling of the legs can be eliminated at home using folk remedies. How and with what to relieve swelling depends on the diagnosis and age of the patient.

Folk recipes are used to prepare decoctions and infusions, foot baths, compresses and lotions.

Recipe No. 1. Take 2 tbsp. l. flax seeds, pour 0.5 liters of boiling water and leave in a steam bath for 15 minutes. Then leave for 1 hour. Strain, take 100 ml orally 4 times a day. You can add lemon and honey to improve the taste. Therapeutic course is 2-3 weeks.

Recipe No. 2. Mix 100 ml of freshly squeezed carrot and cucumber juice, add the juice of a medium lemon. Mix thoroughly, drink 3 times during the day, diluting with water in a ratio of 1:1. The course of treatment is 10-14 days.

Recipe No. 3. Grind the horsetail herb. Pour 1 tbsp. l. raw materials 0.5 liters of boiling water, leave for 2 hours. Strain, take 2 tbsp. l. every 4 hours. The course of treatment is 3-4 weeks.

For foot baths and compresses, decoctions of herbs with decongestant, analgesic and relaxing effects are used ─ chamomile, currant and birch leaves, nettle, dandelion, hawthorn, calendula.

Swelling of the legs can occur in anyone. Often this condition is preceded by excessive stress. This may include standing for a long time or walking for a long time. Swelling is caused by wearing tight clothes and uncomfortable shoes that compress the blood vessels. But sometimes such a problem is a symptom of various ailments. And in some cases - quite serious. Therefore, we will consider, if your legs are very swollen, what to do with such manifestations.

Main reasons

Why do my legs swell a lot? Unfortunately, there is no clear answer. Doctors identify many different causes that lead to swelling of the lower extremities. Among them, harmless sources occupy a special place. As a rule, they are associated with wrong habits and a negative lifestyle. In this case, it is not difficult to understand, if a person’s legs are very swollen, what to do. Just fix your lifestyle.

The main causes of swelling of the legs are:

Poor nutrition. According to statistics, this is the main source of an unpleasant condition. An unbalanced diet leads to fluid retention in the body.
Consuming a lot of salt. It retains fluid in the body. The heart does not have time to cope with such a load. As a result, blood stagnation occurs. As a rule, it is in the lower extremities.
Prolonged or excessive loads. Swelling can be caused by being in an uncomfortable position or walking for a long time. Any stress on the legs, especially for an unfamiliar person, can cause an unpleasant effect.
Overweight. It is much more difficult for the heart of such people to push blood through fatty tissue.
Age-related changes. Severe swelling of the legs is often observed in older people. With age, blood vessels lose their elasticity. In addition, such individuals may be diagnosed with pathologies that can also cause swelling.

Systemic reasons

Sometimes completely different sources provoke severe swelling of the legs. The reasons may be hidden in pathologies developing in the body. Only a specialist can determine what causes these symptoms. Therefore, people who experience systematic swelling are advised to go to the doctor. Only a doctor can recommend, if your legs become very swollen, what to do in such a situation.

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

Varicose veins. Swelling of the extremities is the initial stage of the pathology. Often this condition occurs in the evening. In this case, the patient experiences a feeling of heaviness, pain, numbness, and fatigue.
Heart failure. With this pathology, swelling is observed in the evening, because during the day the heart “gets tired” of pumping blood. In the morning, these symptoms practically do not occur. Swelling may be accompanied by a bluish discoloration of the legs. There is shortness of breath and blood pressure rises. As a rule, patients experience heart pain. In addition, they are prone to fatigue. Sometimes the legs and feet swell greatly. In some cases, only the fingers are affected. It depends entirely on the heart. More precisely, it depends on how much the organ fails to 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 sensations.” If you are ill, you may experience an increase in temperature. Inaction can lead to pulmonary embolism. In other words, the blood clot can break off and block the vein. The result will be death.
Kidney pathologies. As a rule, swelling is observed on both legs. In this case, it is mainly the back side that suffers. The patient does not experience itching or pain. Dark circles under the eyes and puffy eyelids may indicate kidney problems. The color of urine changes, and a decrease in its quantity is observed. In addition, swelling is observed not only in the evening, when the legs are tired. Unpleasant symptoms appear in the morning.
Thyroid diseases. 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. Swelling of the shoulders and tongue may be observed.
Liver diseases. Unpleasant symptoms are often caused by cirrhosis. In this case, the patient may experience: jaundice, exhaustion, accumulation of fluid in body cavities, itching.

Local sources of swelling

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

injuries, fractures, bruises;
allergic reactions;
rheumatoid arthritis;
cellulite;
snake bites, insect bites.

Edema during pregnancy

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

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

Uterine enlargement. The growing organ compresses the veins located in the pelvis. This leads to impaired blood flow. As a result, swelling of the legs is observed. As a rule, when positioned horizontally, the uterus stops putting pressure on organs and blood vessels. The swelling goes away quite quickly.
Changes in diet. Very often, pregnant women abuse salty foods. After all, they are simply drawn to salty foods. To eliminate such symptoms, you should limit your consumption of table salt.
Gestosis 2nd half of pregnancy. This is a rather unpleasant reason. A woman may experience increased blood pressure and headache. With this pathology, not only the legs, but also the arms and face swell. In this situation, the expectant mother requires adequate treatment in a hospital.

Despite the fact that most often the culprit for this symptomatology is a physiological reason, it is necessary to consult a doctor if a woman notices that her legs are very swollen during pregnancy. Only the doctor can tell you what to do in such a situation.

It is strictly forbidden to resort to diuretics without the prescription of a specialist. A pregnant woman should understand that such medications affect not only her, but also the baby’s body. Some diuretics can wash away minerals necessary for the full development of the baby.

Symptoms of swelling

Unfortunately, some people cannot always identify this condition. Unpleasant manifestations are completely ignored. A person notices a negative condition only when the swelling is clearly visible visually. But, as a rule, in this case, the ailments developing in the body are already progressing. There are several simple recommendations to help identify pathology.

So, if your legs begin to swell very much, then use these tips:

Unpleasant symptoms can be identified by the increased volume of the feet and legs.
Puffiness is indicated by stripes left after removing a sock or shoe.
When you press your finger on the skin, a mark remains on the surface. It will quickly disappear, but this phenomenon indicates swelling.

Do not forget that you should not joke with such symptoms. Therefore, consider the following question: “If your legs begin to swell very much, what should you do?”

Treatment methods

Patients who have severe swelling and pain in their legs are advised to start with a visit to the doctor. After all, sometimes unpleasant symptoms are provoked by illnesses. It should be remembered that fighting pathologies on your own is extremely dangerous. Therapy will be selected depending on what disease is causing the severe swelling of the legs.

Varicose veins. In the initial stages, coping with unpleasant sensations is quite easy. The doctor will prescribe a special ointment that will eliminate swelling. If necessary, it will be recommended to wear special stockings or wrap the limbs with elastic bandages. It is necessary to periodically take cold baths for your feet and do gymnastics. When sleeping, it is recommended to place your limbs on an elevated surface. This will ensure free blood flow.
Heart failure. For this pathology, treatment is prescribed only by a cardiologist. Therapeutic measures include: the prescription of diuretics, medications that support the functioning of the heart. The doctor will prescribe medications that can fight the underlying disease (hypertension, atherosclerosis, ischemia). The patient is recommended to do gymnastics and improve nutrition. As a rule, with this pathology, the legs at the ankles become very swollen. What to do? Patients are often prescribed to wear elastic stockings.
Thrombophlebitis. Therapy is prescribed by a phlebologist. In case of pathology caused by infectious diseases, antibiotic therapy is prescribed. In some cases, surgery may be recommended.
Kidney pathologies. The patient needs treatment. Therapy is prescribed by a nephrologist.
Liver diseases. The patient must be observed by a hepatologist. If symptoms are caused by viral hepatitis, then consultation with an infectious disease specialist is necessary.

How to relieve fatigue?

An unpleasant condition is most often provoked by harmless reasons. Sometimes, as a result of excessive stress and fatigue, the legs become very swollen. What to do in such a situation?

Special baths. However, it should be remembered that with dilated veins this procedure is contraindicated. So, if your legs are very swollen at the ankles, what should you do? It is recommended to resort to contrast baths. Soak your feet in hot water for 5 minutes. Then put it in cold for 10 seconds. It is recommended to add salt and herbs to the water.
Massage. This event is very useful for tired legs. Use ointment or cream. Rub the medicine into your feet, ankles, and calves using light movements.
Lift your limbs up. Sit comfortably on the sofa. At the same time, place a cushion under your feet. The feet should hang freely. You can place 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 products can be easily purchased at a pharmacy. They allow you to relieve your legs from fatigue. In addition, tights and stockings are an excellent preventive measure against varicose veins.
Cold compresses. They can quickly relieve swelling. You can use this method if your legs are tired. It is quite effective for swelling caused by inflammatory processes.

Diuretics

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

However, there are also 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 drugs have a diuretic effect:

Parsley infusion. It is necessary to carefully wash the whole plant (with roots). Pass it through a meat grinder. To make the medicine you will need 1 glass of the green composition. Transfer the resulting mass into a thermos. Pour boiling water - 0.5 l. This product should be infused in a thermos overnight. In the morning, strain the mixture. To this remedy you should 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 the infusion is completely independent of eating. The treatment regimen for this remedy is as follows. For 2 days you need to take parsley infusion. Then there is a short break - for 3 days. And the 2-day course is repeated again.
Flax seeds. They also help remove excess fluid from the body. You will need 1 tsp. Flaxseed. This component is poured into 1 liter of boiling water. The mixture must be boiled over low heat 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 the medicine. During the day you will get 6-8 doses. This therapy should last 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: calendula flowers, linden flowers; fruits of hawthorn, rose hips, viburnum; leaves of birch, blueberry, plantain. Grind all ingredients thoroughly and mix them. You will need 2 tbsp of this composition. l. Pour boiling water over them - 0.5 l. This product should be infused in a thermos all night. You should take the medicine 3-4 times a day, 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. This mixture should be boiled for about 5 minutes. Strain the cooled broth. You should take 0.5 cups 3-4 times a day.

Also useful:

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

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

Eliminate salt. It is advisable to reduce such seasoning to a minimum if it is not possible to completely avoid it. In some cases, doctors prescribe a salt-free diet to the patient.
Drink plenty of fluids.
Avoid drinking coffee and alcoholic beverages.
Diversify your diet with vegetable dishes. Steamed food is very healthy.

If the patient is prescribed diuretics, then foods that protect the body from potassium leaching should be consumed. Dried apricots, beans, baked potatoes, and cabbage have these properties.

It is useful to introduce into the diet foods that have a diuretic effect: celery, pumpkin, garlic, parsley. It is recommended to diversify your 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 events are very useful. They will relieve the patient of discomfort if the ankles of the feet are severely swollen 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.
Walk around the room on your toes for a few minutes (1-2).
Try to pick up a pencil or a small ball from the floor surface. The 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. Draw circles with them in one direction, then in the other.

Be sure to consult a doctor if you experience very severe swelling of your legs. In most cases, your doctor will recommend using an ointment. However, we should not forget that this remedy is a medicine. Therefore, resorting to self-therapy is highly undesirable.

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

Heparin ointment. It stimulates blood circulation in the damaged area. This ointment is capable of dissolving 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 medicine is based on horse chestnut extract. The 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 strengthen veins and capillaries.

Now you know the answer to the question: “If your legs are very swollen, what should you do?” However, remember that it is important to correctly identify the cause of 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.

Swollen feet are a problem of both a medical and aesthetic nature. If a healthy person's leg is swollen, it is unsightly and unpleasant. Feet may swell during menstruation in women, after a long flight, prolonged exposure to the sun or alcohol abuse, as a result of disrupted sleep patterns. To relieve swelling, healthy legs only need to rest for a couple of hours.

If your feet become swollen and swollen too often, you should be concerned and consult a doctor.- a symptom of a number of pathologies and a serious problem requiring medical attention.

The causes of swelling of the legs are different: allergies, injuries, vascular somatic and endocrine diseases. Infection often leads to swelling of the lower extremities: abscesses, cellulitis and some skin diseases. Only a doctor, after conducting a comprehensive diagnosis, will be able to determine the etiological factor of the pathology in each specific case.

Ankle swelling can be unilateral or bilateral. Swelling of two limbs is a sign of a developed pathology that needs to be treated. If only the right or left leg swells, there is most likely an injury or local lesion.

Heart disease is the cause of swollen feet

Swelling of the legs due to heart failure

manifestations of severe heart failure

Treatment of venous diseases of the legs is complex and serious.

Renal pathology

Kidney diseases are also a cause of swollen feet. Inflamed kidneys cannot cope with excess fluid, and swelling forms. They are localized on the face around the eyes and gradually spread down to different parts of the body. A pathognomonic symptom of kidney pathology is that arising as a result of edema. The cause of fluid retention in the body is a lack of albumin protein, which is excreted in the urine. Renal edema is mobile; when squeezed, it can move. Externally, the swollen area is slightly paler than the surrounding areas of skin.

Nephrotic edema caused by an imbalanced protein ratio in the blood. They are accompanied by swelling of the face, lower back and are dense.
Nephritic edema associated with impaired blood circulation in the kidneys. They are localized on the face, feet, are soft and develop with glomerulonephritis.

Edema is always accompanied by other symptoms of the disease: oliguria, pain in the lumbar region, characteristic changes in the urine. When kidney function improves after treatment, swelling quickly disappears.

To treat renal edema, patients are prescribed diuretics “Lasix”, “Veroshpiron”, “Mannitol”, etiotropic drugs - antibiotics and NSAIDs, diet therapy, and administration of saline solutions.

Endocrinopathy

Severe thyroid dysfunction often manifests itself as swelling of the legs. With hypothyroidism, little thyroid hormones are produced. In patients, the leg swells at the ankle. When you press on the swollen area, there is no hole left. This is a characteristic sign of edema when the thyroid gland is damaged.

Myxedema occurs when there is significant damage to the thyroid gland. In this case, almost all tissues of the body swell. The skin in the area of swelling becomes rough, flaky and yellowish. Patients gain weight. Swelling is well expressed on the face, which becomes mask-like: puffy and lifeless. The general condition of patients worsens: hair, eyebrows and eyelashes fall out, nails break and peel. With myxedema, the skin, muscles, ligaments, nerves and even internal organs swell. Treatment of the disease consists of additional administration of thyroid hormones.

Injuries

Injuries are one of the common causes of swollen feet. If your leg is swollen after a fall, you should find out the nature and result of the injury.

Swelling, increasing pain, hematoma, dysfunction and unnatural position of the limb are signs of a fracture. When a bruise occurs, swelling of the injured area appears and the pain gradually subsides. A hematoma forms a couple of days after the injury. Swelling prevents full movement of the injured leg.

Traumatic swelling of the foot can be determined visually: it swells and increases significantly in size. The toes become swollen, the skin becomes bluish. Patients experience a feeling of heaviness in the legs, discomfort, and pain.

Allergy

Allergic reactions develop to certain medications, insect bites, and foods. One of the manifestations of allergies is local swelling of the legs. To get rid of it, you need to eliminate contact with the allergen: stop taking medications or eliminate other sources of irritation.

Allergic swelling of the legs is a pathological condition also called allergic arthritis. This is a clinical sign of Quincke's edema or other allergic reaction, as well as any joint pathology.

Symptoms of allergic edema: swelling of the limb, redness of the skin, a small rash and severe itching. Pain syndrome is another clinical sign of pathology. The pain intensifies after a long stay in an uncomfortable position, physical activity, or heavy lifting. In severe cases, swelling can spread to surrounding tissues and internal organs. Such changes are quite serious and can lead to fainting and even death.

Swelling of the extremities is caused by hormones, antidepressants, steroids, beta blockers and other antihypertensive drugs.

Liver diseases

Swelling due to portal hypertension

Cirrhosis or liver cancer leads to the death of liver cells and organ dysfunction. Metabolism in the body is disrupted, fluid is retained in the body. Affected hepatocytes cease to fully produce the protein albumin, blood stagnates in the systemic circulation, and ascites develops. With cirrhosis, connective tissue fibers prevent the outflow of venous blood; it stagnates in the veins of the legs, which is manifested by edema. Patients' skin turns yellow, their breasts become enlarged, their palms turn red and breathing becomes difficult.

A large number of people suffer from swelling of the legs. To the question “Why do swelling in the legs occur?” — there is no definite answer, since the reasons for their appearance are diverse. For example: accumulation of salts and toxins in the tissues of the kidneys, heart, diseases of the veins, arteries, heavy weight of a person, long-term forced position. Edema is the accumulation of fluid in a particular cavity. In this article we will look at all the ways to get rid of swelling of the legs.

The causes of swelling in the legs are very diverse.

The main reason is venous stagnation. Renal edema in the legs appears due to insufficient functioning of the kidneys, the systemic circulation is overloaded, and the kidneys cease to cope with their work normally. Toxins accumulate in the blood, water accumulates in the shin area, on the eyelids, and dark circles appear. Other reasons: excess weight, uncomfortable shoes, pregnancy, deep vein thrombosis.
Heart pathology. When the heart muscle is weak, blood stops circulating in full. Swelling is observed in the lower leg area. If heart failure is not treated, the “water” will rise, first to the level of the knees, hips, then to the abdomen. In advanced cases, pulmonary edema can easily develop. Therefore, it is important not to let the disease progress and consult a doctor immediately. Swelling of the legs is the first sign to seek help from a medical organization.
Occupational diseases can also be a cause. In this case, they appear from standing for a long time during the day, or in one position: salespeople, massage therapists, pharmacists, farmers, drivers, bank employees.

What swelling looks like and what it is like

Venous edema is another name for edema of the legs. They arise due to weakness of the venous walls, excess or lack of salt (sodium ion) in the body, varicose veins, deep vein thrombosis. Varicose swelling of the legs appears in the evening and at night;
Localization of edema of renal etiology is the face, abdomen, arms and legs;
Cardiac edema. They are characterized by water rising to the upper part of the body. The patient may die from fluid accumulation in the brain, an increase in toxic metabolites in the blood (increase in uric acid), or cardiac arrest. Water can fill the pericardial sac and thereby stop the heart muscle.
Local swelling in the wrist area indicates the presence of kidney or heart disease.

Preventive measures include wearing comfortable shoes. If you have flat soles, you need to buy orthopedic insoles at the pharmacy;
People prone to swelling must wear compression stockings before a long walk;
Heavy bags need to be redistributed evenly to avoid heavy load on the muscles and blood vessels of the legs;
If swelling does appear in the evening, you can raise your shins up, lean on the wall and lie in this position for 5-6 minutes. First rub the swelling area with your hands;
Eating more vegetables and fruits, high in vitamins, helps strengthen the walls of the veins.

What to do for swelling of the legs - treatment methods

Edema can be life-threatening, so this article is for informational purposes only; treatment should only be prescribed by a doctor.

Today, the pharmacy has a large assortment of anti-edema products. And only one of them will suit you. Eliminating the underlying disease means curing its manifestation forever.

Therapists and phlebologists recommend getting rid of swelling of the legs with the help of complex treatment. It includes: taking venotonic drugs (Venarus), wearing compression garments, and following preventive measures.

Drug treatment of edema involves taking diuretics: furosemide, Lasix. The drug must be prescribed by your doctor.

It is worth noting a very important fact! All stagnant fluid in the body is waste - it is full of toxins and harmful substances that must be removed from the body.

Therefore, during complex treatment of fluid stagnation, it is very important to take at least two liters of clean water per day.

How to get rid of swelling of the legs with folk remedies

Some traditional methods of treatment help much more slowly than medications, and some give a very rapid effect.

Soda lotions are such a quick remedy;

Swelling in the legs often begins in the feet, where salts and toxins are deposited, causing pain, fatigue and fluid retention. The best way to get salts to move is through an acid-base reaction. It can be easily done on the feet with the help of night lotions made from soda slaked in boiling water. Feet should be placed in socks soaked in this solution, and then in plastic bags so that the soda solution does not dry out overnight. In this way, swelling on the feet is eliminated overnight.

Fluid stagnation can be effectively treated with diuretic herbs. To do this, you need to grind bearberry grass, knotweed, birch leaves, dill, lingonberry leaves through a meat grinder..

Grind one of the medicinal plant materials in a meat grinder. Place in a container and store in the refrigerator. You can add 1-3 tablespoons to tea. Use no more than two weeks, because herbs can accumulate in the body and cause adverse reactions. You can store the juice in a cool place for a long time - 3 years. The smell should remain the same;

Dried herbs also contain medicinal compounds, but in smaller quantities.

Herbs for swelling: yarrow, parsley, dill, cornflower flowers, black currant leaves, etc.

Most patients, on the advice of doctors, take baths for swelling of the legs. They only help cope with unpleasant sensations and slightly eliminate bloating. An example of a herbal mixture: chamomile, birch leaves, mint, it is better to use fresh herbs. Make a concentrated hot decoction, add stir with cold water and steam the shins for 12-15 minutes. For patients with hypotension, heart and kidney failure, foot baths should be taken no more than 2-3 times every seven days;
Compresses for swelling of the legs are very common in use. Pour cold water over the cabbage leaf, then fix it in the area of swelling (not too tightly) for two hours or overnight (make sure that the limbs do not go numb and the blood flow is not disturbed). You can also make compresses from raw potatoes, grate 2-3 tubers, mix well, make a compress. After completing the procedure, rinse the skin of your feet.

Even simple parsley helps cope with swelling of the legs. Make a decoction of parsley and drink it as tea 3-2 times a day. Contraindications: cardiac renal failure. Has a diuretic effect.

How to remove swelling in your legs with simple anti-swelling exercises

The following exercises help with fluid stagnation in the legs:

Stretching the back surface of the legs, namely the calf muscle, by raising the feet on the wall forces the stagnant lymph to move upward;
Squats are a great way to eliminate leg swelling;
Diaphragmatic breathing is ideal for eliminating fluid stagnation and its absolute absence. For those who breathe differently, it is recommended to specifically breathe with the stomach for 10 minutes a day in the morning and evening.

Therapeutic exercise helps to reduce swelling in the legs.

Lie on your back, raise your straightened legs above you and lower them to the starting position. Repeat 6-7 times;
Jump not high and often for 1 minute, hitting your heels on the floor;
Jogging (good for all blood vessels);
Stand up like a “dog”, raise your leg back, then touch your forehead to your knee, put it in the starting position;
Lie on your stomach, straighten and bend your knee joints;
It is also useful to place your shins on a wall in a vertical position for 10 minutes at night.

Regular yoga practice helps relieve swelling of the legs. Here is an approximate set of asanas for swelling of the legs:

Yoga asanas against swelling of the legs.

https://youtu.be/mhEigNJaGfU

Massage for swollen legs

For swelling of the legs, kinesiotherapists strongly recommend massage. The work of certain muscle groups pushes water to the blood vessels; during exercise, the fluid is absorbed back into the bloodstream and released through the kidneys. Contraindications: renal failure, blood clots of various etiologies, infection, skin wounds.

General massage for swelling of the legs. All techniques are done for 1-2 minutes.

Apply oil (you can use any vegetable oil) to your hands, warm it up by rubbing the area from heel to knee, first with your palm, then with your fist;
Lightly pinch;
Wring as if squeezing a rag;
Pet.

By doing a foot massage you can relieve swelling of the sole of the entire foot.

How to quickly relieve swelling in the legs with medications

They cope with the cause of the disease to such an extent that they help reduce the manifestation of swelling of the legs, medications.

Diuretics for swelling of the legs have different chemical structures. The choice of the right drug depends on the form and severity of the disease.

Loop diuretics are the most powerful drugs. They have a quick and powerful effect. Representatives of the class: furosemide, lasix. They are available in ampoules and tablets. Often used in emergency situations. Medicines inhibit the absorption of sodium, chlorine and calcium ions, as a result of which bloating decreases. The drug reduces the function of the loop of Hentle. Drugs of this class are used for swelling of various etiologies.
Thiazide. Mechanism: absorption of sodium, water and chlorine decreases, a lot of potassium is released from the cells. A lot of calcium appears in the blood, which is very good for patients with osteoporosis. Contraindications: hypokalemia, heart failure, gout, diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, obesity, gastritis, metabolic alkalosis. For swelling of the legs, doctors often prescribe hypothiazide tablets.
Diuretic, potassium-sparing diuretics against swelling of the legs have no less pronounced effects; they are indispensable aids for heart failure and hypokalemia. These include: veroshpiron (spirolactone), amiloride. They help eliminate swelling in the legs, diuretics of this group act slowly, and retain potassium in the body.
Osmotic diuretics. Mechanism of action: drugs transfer water from soft tissues back into blood plasma (vessels), increasing blood pressure. Do not use for high blood pressure, dehydration, renal and heart failure and other diseases. See instructions. Representative of the group: mannitol. To relieve swelling of the legs, you need to take drugs from this group once a day.

Tablets for swelling of the legs help well: furosemide, mannitol. But only a doctor can prescribe it, based on laboratory tests.

IMPORTANT! Medicine for swelling of the legs is selected only by a doctor.

Lasix and furosemide tablets for leg swelling are prescribed to people with an advanced form of the disease.

All medications for swelling of the legs must be combined with basic medications (antibiotics, cardiac glycosides..)

How to quickly relieve swelling in the legs: give an intravenous injection of furosemide.

The drug Mannitol for leg swelling has many contraindications; self-treatment can ruin your health even more.

Ointments for swelling of the legs are made on a hydrophobic basis; gels, of course, are more effective, since they are created from a fine dispersion medium. They penetrate through skin pores more easily and quickly, the effect occurs in an hour to two hours. Ointments: troxevasin, heparin, lyoton, venitan - from horse chestnut plant. The main component is aescusan. Creams are in third place in terms of effectiveness, so we will not consider them in the article.

How to relieve swelling of legs during pregnancy

Obstetricians and gynecologists treat edema in pregnant women. They often prescribe herbal preparations and give advice to avoid the appearance of edema.

Edema in pregnant women is a fairly common reason to go to the hospital. For pregnant women, the presence of edema is determined as follows: place the woman on the couch and press firmly on the site of the swelling. If there is swelling, a hole remains. In healthy people, the skin immediately rises into place. To remove excess fluid, you should take a bag of orthosiphon stamen, pour boiling water over it, and drink it twice a day, for no more than a week. Be sure to take any diuretics only as prescribed by a doctor. Since microelements useful for the fetus are excreted along with urine: calcium, magnesium, potassium.

If you take diuretics for a long time during pregnancy, after a year the woman risks losing her teeth, or the child may be born very weak.

It is important when taking diuretics to make yourself a vitamin salad from: dried apricots, raisins, prunes. It is not recommended to take complex vitamins.

During pregnancy, dill seeds should be drunk very carefully; the decoction, like all diuretics, removes a lot of vitamins and beneficial microelements. It is prohibited without a doctor's recommendation.

Puffiness of the lower leg is not only discomfort and pain, but also a visible defect that repels interesting looks. You can cope with edema forever only by eliminating the main cause of the underlying disease. Attempts without following this rule are as effective as “water through a colander,” and only useless treatment.

Edema is the accumulation of excess fluid in tissues. Various tissues in the body can swell, but most often it is the legs that suffer. They bear the maximum burden as they have to constantly bear the weight. And often this is not only your own weight, but also huge bags from the store and carrying a child. And besides, the legs are the lowest part of our body. Therefore, gravity helps the fluid come down here and greatly interferes with its outflow.

Symptoms of leg swelling

Swelling of the legs can be immediately noticed if you see marks from the elastic of the sock on the ankle. In the future, as the problem worsens, the usual shoes may become tight. And in the evenings, swelling of the legs may increase as a result of the stress that has fallen during the day. If your legs swell regularly, then it’s time to look for the reasons 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 leg swelling?

If swelling persists for more than a day, you should definitely consult a doctor - first, a therapist. When your 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 legs, worsening in the evening, may indicate just this problem.
Problems with blood vessels. 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 - this means, probably, inflammation of the vein or phlebitis.
Kidney and liver diseases. In this case, swelling of the legs usually occurs after the night, that is, 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. A simple examination may not be enough to determine the reason why your legs swell. Often you need to undergo 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 raise your legs, placing a cushion under them. Soon the outflow of stagnant venous blood will begin and the swelling of the legs will go away.
Foot and calf massage. Sometimes a simple massage is enough to normalize blood circulation.
Herbal tea or herbal tincture. Swelling of the legs is well relieved by herbal teas brewed from medicinal plants with diuretic properties.

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

Contrast baths. Women often relieve swelling of their legs by alternately dipping their 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 dry collection of medicinal herbs is brewed in 3 liters of boiling water, after which the feet are steamed for 10-15 minutes.

Healthy legs require strong muscles, which cause blood to flow through the veins when walking. Legs should always be in motion - exercise, climbing stairs, cycling, dancing, water aerobics keep blood vessels in good shape. And thus the risk of edema is reduced.