Swelling can occur anywhere in the body, and this includes the foot, ankle, and legs. In fact, swelling in these locations can be common due to the many different ways swelling can develop. This can be painful and often relates to stress on one of more points below the knee, whether it involves the bones, the tendons, the ligaments or the muscles.
Common Causes
Overuse is a common cause of swelling. Prolonged standing can cause this, particularly if you wear footwear that is uncomfortable or painful. Obesity places extra stress on the feet and legs that can cause swelling, and pregnancy is another potential cause. You may also experience swelling during long periods of sitting, such as on airplane flights or car rides. Old age or a blunt injury or trauma to the location can also be contributing factors, according to MedlinePlus, a publication of the National Institutes of Health.
Conditions
Some diseases, accidents or medications can cause swelling to develop in the foot or legs. These tend to be more serious in nature and could be warning signs of problems that could jeopardize your life. These include blood clotting, varicose veins, any type of burn, insect bites or stings, malnutrition, lymphatic obstructions, infections, hormone-affecting medications, steroids, blood pressure medications and antidepressants, according to MedlinePlus.
At-Home Treatment
You can do several things at home to treat swelling and see if it recedes on its own. Start by elevating your legs above the heart, such as by laying down and propping up your legs. You can also attempt to exercise the legs to encourage blood flow back to the heart. Support socks that provide compression tot he legs and feet are also available, and you can try to eat a low-sodium diet to stop swelling caused by fluid retention.
Warning
Some circumstances require you to seek medical attention rather than treat the condition on your own. According to the MayoClinic.com, you should contact a doctor if any one of several situations arise, including unexplained and painful swelling, swelling that becomes warm and red in tone, a fever the develops in conjunction with swelling, or if you are pregnant.
Prevention/Solution
It is hard to prevent some types of swelling without simply attempting to prevent the conditions that cause them. However, you can prevent general swelling by exercising often, getting up to stretch and walk around periodically if you sit for long stretches, avoiding prolonged standing and losing weight to reduce stress on the feet and legs, according to MedlinePlus.
