Why do legs swell after a working day and what to do about it

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Swollen legs are not only ugly or uncomfortable. Sometimes this is a signal that you are not doing well with your health.

The first reason the legs get bigger is swelling that occurs when water is retained in the body. Moreover, sometimes not only the feet and legs swell, but the face and hands.

If the swelling appeared after a long flight, several hours spent standing on your feet, or before menstruation, and then disappeared, then this is normal.

But if the legs swell every evening or in the morning the face looks like a pillow, then the following diseases may be to blame.

Possible causes of edema

Injury

Perhaps you just stumbled and did not attach any importance to it, and the leg was swollen because you pulled a ligament or damaged a joint. In this case, the sore spot swells both due to damage to the vessels, and because the blood rushes to the source of the pain. So if your legs also hurt, then you should go to the emergency room.

Pregnancy

Edema in pregnant women appears often, especially in the later stages. If they are small, then there is nothing wrong with that, but a doctor should monitor the condition of the legs.

If headache, nausea, shortness of breath, dizziness are added to the edema, then these are alarming signs. They signal high blood pressure and, possibly, preeclampsia, a dangerous condition for pregnant women.

Lymphostasis

Sometimes water does not leave the body, because the lymphatic system, which is supposed to cleanse our body, does not work. Problems appear if, for some reason, lymphatic vessels and nodes cease to function in full force.

This happens in case of serious diseases, in the treatment of cancer, obesity.

Special treatments and compression garments are needed to help reduce swelling.

Chronic venous insufficiency

The blood that donated oxygen returns to the heart through veins - vessels with one-way valves needed to keep blood flowing in one direction. If there is something wrong with the valves, for example, they function less well with age, blood can accumulate in the legs.

Heart failure

With this disease, the heart cannot cope with work and does not pump blood with the required strength. Therefore, the blood stagnates, especially in the legs.

Other symptoms: rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath on exertion (for example, difficulty climbing stairs), constant fatigue.

Kidney disease

The kidneys filter the blood and excrete waste products from it. If the kidneys suddenly fail, then excess water is retained in the body and accumulates at the bottom.

Kidney problems are also signaled by morning swelling on the face and bags under the eyes.

Liver disease

If you have hepatitis or drink alcohol frequently, the liver cells die and are replaced by connective tissue that cannot cope with filtration, the main function of the liver. That is, the fluid will accumulate again, edema will appear on the legs and in the abdomen.

What to do with edema

First of all, understand where they came from. To do this, you need to consult a doctor and make a diagnosis in order to try to eliminate the very cause of the edema, that is, the disease.

While the treatment is underway, help yourself here and now.

• Relax and cool off. For rest, it is better to take a position in which the legs are higher than the head. Put on compression socks and apply ice to the swelling. This will help reduce the swelling.
• Walk at a walking pace. If you sit or stand a lot during your workday, movement can help relieve swelling. And regular walks are even better.
• Take a diuretic. Diuretics are medications that help remove fluid from the body. If you have any of the medical conditions that we have listed, your doctor will prescribe a medication to treat the swelling. In addition, some medicines for high blood pressure can cause swelling. Tell your doctor about these symptoms.
• Eat foods high in magnesium. If you add 200-400 mg of magnesium to your diet, then it will help you get rid of excess fluid. Talk to your doctor about over-the-counter supplements, but try eating oatmeal, bananas, almonds, broccoli, and beets more often first.

When edema is dangerous

You need to seek medical help as soon as possible if your legs are swollen, you find it difficult to breathe, and you feel chest pain. Also, do not delay a visit to the doctor if:

• you press on the swollen area with your finger, and when you release it, a dimple remains on the skin;
• the skin in the swollen area looks swollen and looks like it is about to crack.