Swollen ankles and swollen feet are common and usually not cause for concern, particularly if you have been standing or walking a lot. But feet and ankles that stay swollen or are accompanied by other symptoms could signal a serious health problem. Here are some possible causes of foot and ankle swelling and offers advice on when to call the doctor.
Swollen feet can be a result of different things some may be a minor one but some can be a sign for a serious illness.
1. Deep Vein Thrombosis
This is a blood clot called thrombosis, it forms deeply in vein of the womb muscles. Symptoms can be swelling legs and that it feels heavy. And some instances, redness and discoloration of the affected are occurs.
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a serious health condition that you should see your doctor if you have this kind of sign.
If you’re over 60, you smoke, you’re overweight, or you sit for long periods of time, your risk for the condition is higher — so stay alert for some possible signs of a problem. Talk to your doctor as soon as possible if you think you might have DVT.
Blood Clot Symptoms
Call your doctor’s office if you have these symptoms, especially if they appear suddenly:
- Swelling in one or both legs
- Pain or tenderness in one or both legs, even if it’s just when you stand or walk
- Warm skin on your leg
- Red or discolored skin on your leg
- Veins you can see
- Tired legs
If you have a blood clot and it breaks free, it could travel to your lungs. That’s called a pulmonary embolism, and it can be deadly. Like DVT, it may not cause symptoms.
2. Inflammation of the brain
The thickest tendon on your body is called Achilles tendon which is exposed to a heavy stress in a daily basis. Some swelling will go away after doing some physical activities.
If you bump your knee, it’s likely to swell. But what if you injure your brain?
Swelling — also called edema — is the body’s response to many types of injury. It can result from overuse or infection. Usually, swelling happens quickly and is simple to treat with some combination of rest, ice, elevation, medication, or removal of excess fluid.
Your brain can also swell as a result of injury, illness, or other reasons. Brain swelling, though, can quickly cause serious problems — including death. It’s also usually more difficult to treat. As your body’s master control system, the brain is critical to overall function. Yet, the thick, bony skull that snugly protects this vital organ provides little room for the brain to swell.
3. Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis and congestion is a common reason why you have a swelling foot. But it doesn’t mean you should take this lightly. Osteoarthritis in the feet can cause pain, stiffness, swelling and tenderness.
Osteoarthritis, or “wear-and-tear” arthritis, is the most common type of arthritis. Also known as degenerative joint disease or age-related arthritis, osteoarthritis is more likely to develop as people age. Inflammation and injury to the joint cause a breaking down of cartilage tissues, resulting in pain, swelling, and deformity. The changes in osteoarthritis usually occur slowly over many years, though there are occasional exceptions.
Symptoms of foot and ankle osteoarthritis often include:
- Tenderness or pain
- Reduced ability to move, walk, or bear weight
- Stiffness in the joint
- Swelling in the joint
4. Heart Failure
Heart failure cases can show sign such as swollen feet. American Heart Association said that a symptom of heart failure is an accumulated fluid which is called edema. And that fluid retention can cause swelling of the legs, ankles and feet.
Heart failure (HF), often referred to as congestive heart failure (CHF), occurs when the heart is unable to pump sufficiently to maintain blood flow to meet the body’s needs. Signs and symptoms commonly include shortness of breath, excessive tiredness, and leg swelling.
Since the legs are the most dependent part of the body, fluid often will first accumulate in the feet and ankles, causing them to swell. This is called dependent edema. The person’s shoes may not fit, and socks may cause an indentation in the skin after they have been worn for a couple of hours. The more fluid that accumulates and the more severe heart failure, the more the legs will swell. If the person is confined to a bed or a chair, the swelling may also be noted in the buttocks or small of the back.
5. Cellulite
Cellulite can be seen as fracture-like densities in the fatty tissues under your skin. Cellulites can affect the lower legs and can also cause skin to become swollen too.
Edematous cellulite
This is the least common type of cellulite and also the most difficult to treat. It results from problems of poor circulation aggravated by significant fluid retention. It mainly occurs in the legs, which lose their defining shape and become more columnar. The skin is pasty and may be painful when touched or when the sufferer is seated for a long time.
Areas affected: Can affect thighs and knees, but most frequent in the lower legs, which lose definition.
Age of onset: Around 20 to 30. Appearance: Slightly ‘corky’, almost like foam-rubber.
Texture: The skin feels spongy, and may be painful to the touch. There are signs of venous and lymphatic insufficiency in the legs (water-retention, swelling, varicose veins, cramp, etc.).
Solutions/treatment: Edematous cellulite is closely associated with fluid-retention and circulation problems, so it is important to treat both of these conditions; varicose veins may also occur and need to be dealt with. Gentle, non-impact exercise such as cycling, walking or swimming is recommended. Compression stockings can help, as can showering with alternate hot and cold water, and venotonic supplements such as ginseng, butcher’s broom (ruscus) and horse chestnut, which help strengthen the vein walls. Foods that encourage fluid retention should be avoided, including salty and prepared foods, and fizzy drinks. Lymphatic drainage massage is beneficial, as is acupressure, and herbal teas such as horsetail and green tea that help reduce fluid-retention.
6. Gout
This happens when there is too much uric acid accumulates in the body and cause inflammation of the joints, this is according to National Institute of Arthritis.
Gout is actually a form of arthritis that commonly affects the big toe in men. It may cause a sudden burning pain in one of your joints, or stiffness and swelling in one or more joints. Attacks of gout can happen repeatedly unless it is treated. Eventually, gout attacks can cause long-term damage to your tendons, joints, and soft tissues.
Uric Acid Is the Cause
When there is an overabundance of uric acid in the blood it is called gout. Usually, having too much uric acid in the blood is not harmful. In fact, many people with high levels in their blood never know about it. When uric acid levels in the blood become extremely high, the uric acid may start to form crystals. These crystals most commonly form in the joints, especially the joints in the big toe. Your odds of experiencing the pain of gout are higher if you are overweight, drink excessive amounts of alcohol, or have a diet that is comprised of meat and fish that are high in chemicals called purines.
7. Bursitis
This esophageal inflammation and this usually occurs in common areas like knees, shoulders and elbows. Toes and heels can also be affected.
Bursitis is named after your bursa, which are fluid-filled cushions that protect your body’s joints. These cushions help you absorb shock, keep your joints moving smoothly, and prevent irritation from where your tendons and ligaments pass over your bones.
However, when your bursa become inflamed and your ability to absorb shock decreases, the area around your joints also becomes irritated and inflamed. Bursitis most commonly strikes the elbows, shoulders, hips, knees and feet.
8. Rheumatoid Arthritis
This kind of Arthritis usually starts in the feet. Patients with this kind of disease symptoms might be different from person to person.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. This means that the immune system attacks its own tissues. In RA, the defenses that protect the body from infection instead damage normal tissue (such as cartilage and ligaments) and soften bone.
How It Happens
The joints of your body are covered with a lining — called synovium — that lubricates the joint and makes it easier to move. Rheumatoid arthritis causes an overactivity of this lining. It swells and becomes inflamed, destroying the joint, as well as the ligaments and other tissues that support it. Weakened ligaments can cause joint deformities — such as claw toe or hammer toe. Softening of the bone (osteopenia) can result in stress fractures and collapse of bone.