What causes swollen legs? There could be many possible reasons for this. However, physiologically, this condition is usually caused by muscle insufficiency of the walls of the veins. Unhe althy diet, lack of physical activity, or simply bad heredity can lead to this. The weaker the vein becomes, the worse it functions. Blood stasis leads to the fact that the venous system is stretched and the legs swell. The swelling may be accompanied by pain and a burning sensation. Therefore, to the question: “What should I do if my legs swell?” - the first and main answer is to check the circulatory system.
Symptoms
If your feet are swollen, you are likely to feel itchy and burning. Your limbs are on fire, your skin looks thinner, your veins are clearly visible, and it becomes difficult to move around on your own. If treatment is not started in time, simple swelling can cause phlebitis and venous eczema.
What should I do if my legs are swollen?
In order to find the cause, you should undergo a series of medical examinations. Check for possible flat feet andlymph stasis. You should also exclude the possibility of kidney problems. You may be putting too much stress on your legs (you have to stand all the time or walk a lot at work). If it is not the legs that swell, but the ankles, it makes sense to visit a cardiologist - this symptom may indicate heart failure or other cardiac diseases. The question "what to do if the legs swell" most often worries women, because in most cases it is they who suffer from varicose veins. This disease is quite serious, especially if someone else in the family suffers from it. In this case, you should regularly undergo examinations with a phlebologist - a specialist in veins.
Shoes
When a doctor is asked what causes swollen feet, the first thing he advises is to change shoes to more comfortable ones. Stiletto heels are remarkably slimmer and look very sexy, but ruthlessly squeeze the foot and can cause swelling and severe pain at the end of the day. If you want to avoid this, don't overuse tight shoes and heels. Pay attention to the assortment of orthopedic stores - you can find very nice models there. For everyday wear, ballet flats, sneakers or gladiator flat sandals are perfect.
How to relieve swelling
We figured out the possible causes of swelling, now let's move on to the main thing - what to do if the legs swell. It helps to wear special compression stockings (you can buy them at the pharmacy). Due to the fact that the legs in them are tightly compressed,blood circulation is enhanced. Please note that when dilating the veins, it is better to choose tights, not stockings: the latter will only create an additional load on the capillaries.
Do not drink too much water, especially at night: this can cause fluid retention. It will also be useful to use diuretics (again, it is better to do this under the supervision of a doctor). Cold baths with sea s alt help well with edema (you can simply massage your limbs while holding ice cubes in your palms). Watch what you eat: if possible, eliminate s alt and sugar from the diet, try to stop smoking.