Featured, Health
By Benprince Ezeh
THE swelling of the foot, ankle, and leg can be severe enough to leave an indentation pit when you press on the spot. This swelling ‘Edema’ is the result of excess fluid in your tissues, often caused by congestive heart failure or blockage in a leg vein.
According to medical experts, Edema affects not only the legs and feet, but can also occur in other parts of the body, such as the face or abdomen. Sometimes it is just normal for pregnant women, sudden or excessive swelling, however, may be a sign of preeclampsia, a serious condition in which high blood pressure and protein in the urine develop after the 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Osita Ngwu, a medical doctor in Enugu explains that if a woman experiences severe swelling or swelling accompanied by other symptoms such as abdominal pain, headaches, infrequent urination, nausea and vomiting, or vision changes, she should seek medical help. “Women need to take good care of themselves when they are pregnant because it can affect the delivery of the baby.
“Pregnant women aside, when you notice a constant swollen of your ankle, it’s called blood clots. This form in the veins of the legs can stop the return flow of blood from the legs back up to the heart and cause swelling in the ankles and feet.
“Blood clots can be either superficial ‘occurring in the veins just beneath the skin’, or deep ‘a condition known as deep vein thrombosis’. Deep clots can block one or more of the major veins of the legs,” Ngwu said.
According to him, these blood clots can be life-threatening if they break loose and travel to the heart and lungs. “If you have swelling in one leg, along with pain, low-grade fever, and possibly a change in colour of the affected leg, call your doctor immediately. Treatment with blood thinners may be necessary,” he said.
Felicita Ogbu, a medical doctor based abroad, advised that to treat a swollen foot or ankle injury, a person should elevate the foot and try not to bear weight on the affected leg. “Elevate your legs above the level of your heart a few times a day.
“If you have to sit or stand a lot, take breaks to move around, reduce high intake of salt. Do this why you go for a kidney function test and blood pressure test as well,” she said.
Ogbu also stated that using an ice pack or compression bandage can help reduce swelling, and over-the-counter pain relievers can help ease discomfort.
Blessing Chima, a physiotherapist with University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH, Enugu, says that sometimes swelling can indicate a problem such as heart, liver, or kidney disease. “Ankles that swell in the evening could be a sign of retaining salt and water because of right-sided heart failure.
“Kidney disease can also cause foot and ankle swelling. When kidneys are not functioning properly, fluid can build up in the body. Liver disease can affect the liver’s production of a protein called albumin, which keeps the blood from leaking out of the blood vessels into the surrounding tissues.
“Inadequate albumin production can lead to fluid leakage. Gravity causes fluid to accumulate more in the feet and ankles, but fluid can also accumulate in the abdomen and chest. If your swelling is accompanied by other symptoms, including fatigue, loss of appetite, and weight gain, see your doctor right away,” she said.
According to Chima, some home remedies can help stop swelling of foot and ankle. “Exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight, drinking plenty of water, eating a healthful diet and mindful of salt intake, massaging the feet and eating more potassium-rich foods,” she said.
Many cases of swollen feet tend to resolve without medical care, although home remedies and lifestyle changes can help reduce the swelling, if the swelling does not go away, occurs repeatedly or alongside shortness of breath, chest pain, or pressure in the chest, it is essential to make an appointment with a doctor to determine whether there is an underlying cause.
– May 21, 2021 @ 16:29 GMT
Tags: Edema: causes and treatment
