3 Most Common Causes of Swollen Feet
Every time you stand, walk, or run, your feet deserve all the credit for the act. If your feet are injured or hurt, you’ll be unable to get out of bed, go to work, or engage in any other activity that you’re fond of. Not only does this have a profound effect on your mobility, but it also affects your overall wellbeing.
Swollen feet are more of a concern than you’d think. They could mean a lot more than just fatigue and tiredness.
We’ve listed down some of the possible conditions that they allude to:
Pregnancy complications
Pregnancy complications manifest in many symptoms—swollen feet are one of them. While some level of swelling in the feet can be considered normal if you’re pregnant, in extreme cases, it could be indicative of a bigger problem.
One of the possibilities is preeclampsia. This condition usually arises during the 20th week of your pregnancy and is characterized by high blood pressure. Swelling takes place because too much protein accumulates in the urine. In certain cases, the swelling is also accompanied by pain in the abdomen, nausea, and headaches.
If you’re pregnant and your feet happen to be a bit too swollen, immediately see a doctor.
Ankle injury
Whether your ankle is sprained or has been injured, swelling is one of the first symptoms that will appear. This happens when the ligaments that make sure that your ankle stays in place get stretched too far. Injuries like these can take place due to a fall or during sports.
One of the first things you need to do is to rest your ankle as much as you can. For immediate relief, you can also use compression bandages and ice packs. Keep your foot as elevated as you can. Use a pillow for this purpose.
If the pain doesn’t subside over the course of a few hours, immediately rush to your doctor and get an X-ray done.
Infection
People who deal with diabetes are at greater risk of developing foot infections compared to other patients. According to research, foot infections are one of the most common symptoms of complications relating to diabetes.
Some of the most common symptoms of foot infections are swelling, blisters, and sores. As per the same research, on average every diabetic patient is at a 15 to 25% risk of developing a foot ulcer as well.
This infection is mostly caused by the microbe gram-positive cocci and can vary in intensity. Mild infection can be treated with the help of antibiotics, whereas in extreme cases, the doctor might suggest you to undergo ankle surgery.
The Foot & Ankle Institute of Miami Beach offers a wide range of sports medicine services. We have some of the top foot and ankle surgeons on board, who are experienced in dealing with all sorts of foot injuries and infections. Schedule an appointment now.