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Suggest Remedy For Swelling On The Feet
Question: My feet are swelling following an illness that kept me inactive for a couple of weeks. What can I do to make that go away?
Brief Answer:
Regular exercise like walking will help.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
Remaining inactive for few weeks can cause the legs to swell.
Not taking adequate fluids coupled with a poor diet high in salt and carbohydrates can also cause ankle and feet swelling.
Other serious causes for pedal and ankle edema are congestive heart failure, kidney disease, arthritis, high altitude, etc. Are you taking some medicines like laxatives? Abusing these drugs can also cause bilateral feet swelling.
You should follow these lifestyle measures to alleviate the symptoms:
1) Increase muscle activity with walking, avoid standing in place for long periods of time and avoid sitting with the feet dependent.
2) Limit salt intake and stop taking any laxatives (if you are taking them).
3) Elevate the legs when sitting and wear leg wedges while sleeping, support socks and proper fitting shoes and socks.
4) Keep your fluid intake adequate by taking plenty of fluids.
5) You can take diuretic pills after consulting your doctor to relieve the pedal edema.
If the pedal edema persists then I suggest you an immediate physician consultation. You need to get blood tests, kidney function tests, electrolyte levels, ECG and stress ECHO, venous Doppler of the legs and urine tests done.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal
Regular exercise like walking will help.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
Remaining inactive for few weeks can cause the legs to swell.
Not taking adequate fluids coupled with a poor diet high in salt and carbohydrates can also cause ankle and feet swelling.
Other serious causes for pedal and ankle edema are congestive heart failure, kidney disease, arthritis, high altitude, etc. Are you taking some medicines like laxatives? Abusing these drugs can also cause bilateral feet swelling.
You should follow these lifestyle measures to alleviate the symptoms:
1) Increase muscle activity with walking, avoid standing in place for long periods of time and avoid sitting with the feet dependent.
2) Limit salt intake and stop taking any laxatives (if you are taking them).
3) Elevate the legs when sitting and wear leg wedges while sleeping, support socks and proper fitting shoes and socks.
4) Keep your fluid intake adequate by taking plenty of fluids.
5) You can take diuretic pills after consulting your doctor to relieve the pedal edema.
If the pedal edema persists then I suggest you an immediate physician consultation. You need to get blood tests, kidney function tests, electrolyte levels, ECG and stress ECHO, venous Doppler of the legs and urine tests done.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
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