What to do if the legs swell? 10 Actionable Tips

The problem of edema can be encountered for various reasons. In our article, we will tell you what exactly can serve as a prerequisite for swelling of the legs and how to get rid of this problem.

The legs swell in many, and usually overweight people suffer from this ailment. Most mistakenly believe that this is a cosmetic problem that appears due to the use of large amounts of fluid.

Causes of swelling of the legs

If the legs swell, then this is not without reason. Among the most common causes are heat, tired legs, pregnancy, the consequences of the habit of cross-legging.

Swelling of the legs is mainly due to muscle insufficiency of the walls of the veins. This is facilitated by genetic predisposition, malnutrition, poor physical activity. Gradually, the vein becomes weaker and begins to cope worse with its work - the return of blood to the heart.

The blood begins to stagnate, and the veins gradually stretch, as a result of which the legs swell, characteristic pains and burning sensations appear. Therefore, if your legs swell, this suggests that most likely the reason for this is venous insufficiency.

First, the legs feel like they are on fire, the legs swell and hurt, it becomes more difficult to walk, the skin looks transparent and blue or red veins appear on the surface. If venous insufficiency is left untreated, it can develop into more serious problems, such as phlebitis - venous thrombosis. Later, complications such as venous eczema and hypodermitis may appear.

Also, the causes of swelling of the legs can be flat feet, improper metabolism, lymph stagnation, a large load on the legs and kidney problems.

If your ankles are mostly swollen, this is a good reason to see a doctor, as these may be signs of a serious illness - heart failure. At a young age, swelling of the legs also causes problems with blood vessels. And in older people, edema is most often caused by cardiac diseases.

Varicose veins can be recognized by the characteristic capillaries and veins on the legs, if the swelling of the legs is accompanied by heaviness. Particular attention should be paid to the veins of those in whose family someone suffered from varicose veins. It is better not to look for the cause of edema on your own and not to diagnose yourself, but to consult a doctor. It is advisable to contact a therapist, cardiologist and phlebologist.

What to do if the legs swell

If the cause of edema is orthopedic in nature, then in this case it is important to choose the right shoes. She should not be wearing high heels, but the complete absence of a heel is also undesirable. It is best to find comfortable shoes with a small heel, they should also be loose and wide enough not to squeeze the foot and toes, they should be in a natural position.

A good help in solving the problem of varicose veins and edema will be the daily wearing of special therapeutic compression stockings and tights. They will help the vessels stay in good shape and prevent stagnation of blood, will promote its outflow. Such medical products are made in such a way that the strongest compression falls on the bottom of the legs, and the weakest one - in the upper part, this contributes to good blood circulation. It is preferable to choose socks or tights. Ideally, varicose knitwear is selected by a doctor.

To cope with swelling, try not to drink a lot of fluids after seven in the evening and remove excess fluid from the body. For this purpose, it is good to use decoctions of medicinal plants. Very effective for swelling of the legs, as well as kidney decoction of berries and elderberry bark. And steamed elderberry leaves can be applied to varicose nodules on the legs.

Swollen feet: diuretics

Herbs and plants

An excellent diuretic are decoctions of linden flowers, birch leaves and buds, and horsetail extract. You can prepare such an infusion: take 2-3 tablespoons of field horsetail, knotweed and birch buds. Stir them and take 1 teaspoon of the mixture. Pour a glass of boiling water and leave for about 30 minutes, then strain. Drink 3 days with breaks for 1 day, 1 tablespoon after meals 3 times a day. Carry out a course of treatment for three weeks.

The astragalus plant will also help. A decoction of it can not only reduce swelling of the legs, but also has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system. Pour boiling water over 10 grams of astragalus, cool and strain. Take it 2-3 tablespoons for 2 weeks 2-3 times a day. After a 3-day break, the course can be repeated.

Baths and massage

Swollen and tired legs are well helped by foot baths or rubbing with ice cubes. Dip the legs in a cold bath for 5-10 minutes, and then massage the swollen areas with light pinches, moving from the bottom up. You can also add sea or ordinary table salt to the water, or a few tablespoons of coniferous extract. Place the legs in this healing bath for 15-20 minutes - fatigue will be removed as if by hand, and swelling will disappear.

Garlic compresses

Garlic is also suitable for removing edema. Chop the head of garlic and pour it with a glass of boiling water. Rub the chilled slurry on the swelling sites and leave for 30 minutes, then rinse. In the presence of varicose veins, it is very important to avoid taking hot baths and showers, as hot water contributes to stagnation of blood and dilates blood vessels.

Feet swell: how to prevent it?

To prevent swelling and heaviness in the legs, regularly perform a set of exercises.

1. Place the right foot on the left, lift the toe of the left as high as possible, then repeat the same with the right foot. Get up on your toes and stay like that for a few seconds. Do 10 easy jumps on tiptoe.
2. Sitting on a chair, lift your legs and make circular motions with your feet. Bend your toes down, and then straighten them sharply.
3. Shift your weight from heel to toe, inside to outside of the foot, and vice versa.

If the legs swell, you can apply ointments

Also, to combat swelling of the legs, it is worth purchasing special ointments: troxevasin, lyoton, heparin ointment. They contain substances heparin and rutin, which strengthen the capillary system. Ointments based on horse chestnut are also well suited.

Lemon infusion with parsley

A unique folk remedy helps to get rid of swelling on the legs.

Scroll about 200 g of parsley with roots with a meat grinder. A glass of the resulting mass is poured with boiling water (2 cups), wrapped and insisted all night. In the morning, strain and add the juice of a whole lemon. The drug is taken twice a day for 1/3 cup. Take two days, and then take a break for three days. The course of therapy is carried out until absolute recovery.

Salt compress

Good remedy for puffiness. A kilogram of chicken fat is mixed with 0.5 kg of iodized salt. The mixture is left to cool and then used as a compress. The application should be done before going to bed, and in the morning the legs are washed with a contrast shower.

Review your diet, give up spices and salt. Watch your weight and try to play sports, water aerobics is perfect. Also quit smoking, as it negatively affects the walls of blood vessels, slowing down blood flow.

Do you have edema? How do you deal with them? Share with us!