Swelling causes parts of the body to grow slightly larger than its normal state. Some symptoms of swelling can include:

• Stretched or shiny skin
• Feeling of heaviness in the leg
• Skin that holds a dimple after a few seconds (pitting)
• Swelling or puffiness of the tissue right under the skin
• Swelling in the stomach

Many conditions can cause swelling. Mild fluid retention can result from sitting or lying down too long, eating too much salt, being premenstrual, pregnant, or overweight.

Serious conditions, such as heart failure, can also cause swelling.

When the heart cannot pump properly and circulate blood around the body efficiently, the amount of blood that remains in the veins on the left side of the body increases. As the pressure increases in the blood vessels, fluid is pushed into the lungs. This fluid collects into the air sacks within the lungs, making breathing difficult and reducing normal oxygen movement.

Treatment will depend on the cause of your swelling. We may suggest taking ‘water tablets’ (diuretics) for swelling in the legs. This medication helps the kidneys break down the fluid in the legs and pass it through the body and out through urine.

Lifestyle changes that can reduce mild swelling include moving around often, monitoring your weight, noting your salt and fluid intake, and cutting down your alcohol intake. Wearing compression bands can also reduce the amount of swelling.

Feet can also swell in the heat. It is important to control your body temperature during high temperatures to prevent swelling.

We may also recommend medications, such as beta-blockers to slow the heart rate and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors to relax blood vessels.

If none of these options work for you, surgical procedures might be needed. These include placing a pacemaker in the heart, or repairing or replacing a damaged heart valve.