Swollen legs can not only cause a lot of physical discomfort, but they can also be incredibly painful and troublesome. Therefore, many people who have problems with swollen legs seek advice on what they can do about it, and why swollen legs occur.
Swollen lower leg and foot
When a person suffers from swollen legs, it is usually the lower leg, ankle, and foot that are affected. Swollen lower legs and feet are a very common condition often seen in pregnant or overweight women. The cause of the swelling is fluid retention, which is called oedema. Overall, the swelling, i.e., the accumulation of fluid, occurs due to an imbalance in the system that regulates fluid distribution in the body.
Discomfort with swollen legs
A condition with swollen legs, lower legs, or feet can occur and develop over hours to days or, in the worst case, be of a more chronic nature. Swelling can occur in one or both legs and the causes of this can be very different.
Swollen legs can cause a lot of discomfort and swollen legs, ankles, and feet often give a sore and tense feeling in the leg.
Causes of swollen legs
Swelling can occur in one leg or both legs. If swelling occurs in both legs, it could be due to:
- Long periods of sitting
- Pregnancy
- Heat
- Overweight
- Side effects of medication
- Menstrual cycle
If only one leg or lower leg is swollen, it could be due to a disease or condition in the swollen leg.
- Skin inflammation
- Varicose veins
- Thrombophlebitis
- Blood clot in the leg
- Vascular changes after a blood clot
How can swollen legs be treated?
If both legs are swollen and it is not due to a disease, exercise and having an active and healthy lifestyle may help. If you have a very sedentary job, it may also help to sit with your legs elevated, get up often and change position.
Swollen legs can feel very uncomfortable, so wearing a compression stocking may help relieve the discomfort.
However, if the swelling in the leg is due to a disease, such as varicose veins, treatment of the underlying disease will be required to improve the condition with the swelling. Generally, the treatment will depend on the cause of the swelling in the leg.
Swollen Legs and Varicose Veins
One of the causes of swollen legs and lower legs can be varicose veins. Varicose veins are thick and distinct veins, blood vessels, that bulge out on the skin. Varicose veins can be both physically troublesome and a cosmetic inconvenience. Varicose veins very often occur on the calf, but also occur on the feet and thighs. Varicose veins are completely harmless, but if not treated, the condition can worsen and in the worst case lead to more serious illnesses such as venous ulcers.
Below is a visual overview of the classification of varicose veins, which is divided into grades. It shows that a swollen leg is a sign of varicose veins of grade C3.
Treatment of Varicose Veins - Treatment of Swelling in the Leg
As mentioned above, you should treat the underlying cause of the swelling in the leg, and therefore a varicose vein treatment is required to get rid of swollen legs if the swelling has occurred due to varicose veins. There are various gentle methods to remove varicose veins where laser treatment is a very common method.
The new treatment methods for removing varicose veins on the legs have a short recovery time, only local anesthesia is used, and you can usually resume your daily life immediately after the varicose vein treatment.
After a varicose vein treatment, the diseased vein causing the varicose veins and the swollen legs will be sealed and disappear after a while, and the varicose veins will disappear.
Summary - Swollen Legs
It is quite normal to have swollen legs, and the condition can occur in one leg or both legs. Swollen legs can be due to various things and swollen legs, lower legs, and ankles can among other things be caused by varicose veins. To treat swollen legs, you must first treat the cause of the swelling. That is, to improve the condition of leg swelling caused by varicose veins, varicose vein treatment is required.
Quick Questions About Swollen Legs
Is it dangerous to have swollen legs?
Swollen legs do not have to be dangerous in themselves, but they can cause pain and affect mobility. However, it can be a sign that important functions are not working properly, so it is a good idea to see a doctor if you experience swollen legs.
What should you do to reduce swelling?
Swollen legs arise, among other things, because blood circulation is impaired. Therefore, the swelling can be minimized by ensuring that there is good blood flow. If the swollen legs are due to varicose veins, varicose vein treatment will be required to eliminate the swelling.
What can cause swollen legs?
Swelling at the ankles, legs, and feet can be due to the venous system in the legs not functioning properly. Swollen legs can among other things be a symptom of varicose veins.
