Swollen legs or edema is assumed to be a condition of the aged and pregnant mothers. But this is not entirely true. It could affect anyone at any age. Sometimes, it could even be a sign that you have circulation problems or a signal that your kidney is not working appropriately. That is why it is essential to seek help early enough before it gets worse. Soffer Health Institute is Weston swollen legs specialists who will diagnose and offer the necessary vein treatment.
Below are some possible causes of swollen legs:
1.Infection
Infection is one of the leading causes of swollen legs. Diabetic people are, in fact, at a very high risk of getting foot infections. Therefore, doctors advise that this category of people go for regular checkups to get their feet checked for any cuts or bruising. Otherwise, they could be risking gangrene, causing a reduction in blood supply and tissue death in serious infections.
Antibiotics will treat the infections, but surgery is necessary to remove the dead tissue for gangrene situations.
2.Venous insufficiency
The human veins carry blood under low pressure. Therefore, they have valves to prevent any backflow of blood. When the valves fail to function as required, blood will flow backward and accumulate inside the leg’s soft tissues. As a result, the person will begin to have swollen legs and ankles. Other signs of this condition could be a change in skin color or skin ulcers. Doctors recommend that you perform regular exercises, elevate your legs, and wear compression socks if you have venous insufficiency.
3.Kidney issues
When your kidneys do not perform as required, you are likely to experience swollen legs and arms. The reason behind this is the accumulation of fluid in the body when filtering is not done effectively. Apart from swollen limbs, people with kidney problems may also experience nausea, fatigue, bruising, and shortness of breath.
4.Pregnancy
By the 7th month, the weight gained from carrying the baby exerts extra pressure on the leg veins slowing down the blood circulation. As a result, the pregnant woman starts to experience swelling in the legs or eyes, severe headaches, and vision changes. This is normal and should go away independently. Otherwise, if it persists even after delivery, seek medical attention.
5. Blood clot
Mainly, blood clots affect only one of the limbs to cause swelling. There are two types; ones that occur in veins close to the surface and the other kind that occur in deep veins. If you experience heavy aches, change of color, increased warmth, and red skin in the swollen leg, seek medical treatment to prevent further problems.
6.Liver diseases
Liver diseases prevent it from effectively producing albumin- a protein that inhibits leakage of fluid from blood vessels. Therefore, the leaked fluid accumulates in the lower body and causes swelling on the legs and feet. Unfortunately, the symptoms often show after severe liver damage.
In most times, swelling is not a significant issue and will go away in a few days. However, if you experience sudden or unexplained swelling with other accompanying symptoms, you should seek immediate medical attention. The doctor needs to find the cause and begin treatment. Specialists at Soffer Health Institute offer treatments for all conditions relating to blood circulation. Book an appointment today.