Swollen legs, ankles, and feet (Oedema)
Health and lifestyle FAQs
View our short videos specifically designed to answer all your questions about how your health and lifestyle affect your heart health.
What is oedema (swelling)?
Oedema, or swelling, is excessive fluid collecting in the body’s tissues, usually in the legs, ankles, and feet. This fluid cannot be removed with a needle.
There are different types of oedema, including:
Pedal oedema – swelling in the feet and legs
Peripheral oedema – swelling in the hands or lower legs
Pitting oedema – swelling in the feet, legs, or anywhere else on the body. Pitting oedema leaves a ‘pit’ or dent in the swollen skin.
Pulmonary oedema – a build-up of fluid in the lung that can cause swelling in the lower part of the body. This is due to decreased blood circulation around the body.
Symptoms
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
Complications
If swelling is left untreated, it can cause many complications including:
- Increased swelling that gets more painful
- Decreased mobility
- Overly stretched, itchy skin
- Decreased blood circulation
- Stiffness
- Less blood flow
- Increased risk of skin ulcers
Swelling can sometimes be a sign of a serious health complication like heart or kidney failure. You must seek medical advice if you are experiencing these additional symptoms:
- Difficulty breathing
- Sudden swelling whilst pregnant
- Irregular heartbeat
- Chest pain
Causes
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.
Diagnosis
Our specialist will evaluate your symptoms, and family and medical history, to assess whether you are at risk of any heart conditions. They will also conduct a physical exam to determine the cause of your swelling.
If we believe you have an underlying health condition, we may conduct further tests, such as blood tests, urine tests, chest X-rays, ultrasound, or vein studies.
If we suspect you have heart failure, we may also perform electrocardiograms (ECGs), echocardiograms, and stress tests. These tests will help us determine the cause of your heart failure and assess the severity of your condition.
Treatment
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.
Book an appointment
Don’t let swelling become an issue. At London Heart Clinic, we perform thorough diagnostic tests and tailor treatment plans so you can take control of your health and prioritise your heart.
With our care and support, we can help you manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life.
Book an appointment to learn how we can help you today.
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After suffering from a heart condition for a number of years I was very happy to meet Dr Ahsan, from the first consultation where he believed there was a solution I have now completed the surgery and had my final consultation with him today…
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