Cardiovascular exercises, or "cardio" as it is often referred to, is an effective way to strengthen your muscles and keep your heart healthy. These exercises can include a wide range of different activities including running, jogging, walking, biking and others. At times, however, you may experience some level of swelling in your legs immediately following a cardio exercise. While this is typically seen as a normal body response, a few medical conditions can also cause leg swelling with or without exercise.
Increased Blood Flow
One of the main and most common responses to performing a cardio exercise is for your blood flow to increase around your muscles. This is due to your heart working faster and pumping harder in response to increased strenuous activity in your body. As your blood begins to flow faster through your body, your arteries and blood vessels will dilate to allow for this increased blood pressure. As such, your legs and arms may swell slightly as blood flow increases to these areas of your body.
Blood Pooling
Another cause of leg swelling is blood pooling. Prolonged periods of standing can cause your blood to pool in your lower extremities, thus causing temporary swelling. This can also be seen in individuals who have exercised in a standing or upright position for a long period. While this type of swelling is normal and harmless, you may experience some discomfort associated with the swelling temporarily.
Kidney Failure
A more serious cause of leg swelling in some patients stems from a medical condition that affects your kidneys. Kidney failure, for example, can include a symptom of increased swelling in your legs, ankles and feet. However, you will also need to exhibit additional symptoms traditionally associated with kidney failure -- such as yellow skin, nausea, nosebleeds, or bruising -- before you can be sure that your kidneys are affected.
Misconceptions
While swelling in your legs is often a normal response to cardio exercises, prolonged periods of swelling can be a sign of a more serious medical condition. If you begin to experience other symptoms such as abdominal cramping, bruising in your body, or pain in your legs, speak to a physician immediately as this may be the sign of a medical condition or injury.
