If you notice swelling on your lower limbs and if you see other threatening signs related to the swelling such as chest pains, fever, cyanosis or bluish skin, and shortness of breath, ask someone to bring you to the hospital immediately. This could be an emergency situation and should not be taken lightly. Furthermore, if you notice that there’s something wrong with your legs (one is swollen while the other one is normal), consult your doctor. This may be a symptom of deep venous thrombosis. Over-the-counter drugs may also trigger swelling such as medicine for high blood pressure, birth control pills, and anti-depressants.
The swelling shouldbeseenby a health care professional as soon as possible. Don’t think that it’s not something you should worryaboutbecause it might be symptoms of a more serious medical condition. You also need to figure out ifit’s edema,orifit’s just harmless or normal swelling. You’ll know it’s edemaif the puffy area stays pitted after pressing. This maybe symptoms of kidney, liver, or heart problems.
There are techniques and simple solutions to prevent leg swelling. Welisted them below:
1. Workout
When you work out, your blood circulates properly and keeps it from just staying in the lower part of your body. If your legs are inflamed or painful and you find it difficult to exercise, you can try swimming. It does not matter if it’s in a beach, lake, or pool for as long as you swim and move your body. You can also float around in between laps as this will remove the impact from your feet which will then lessen the feeling of discomfort. If you’re a yogi, execute inversions or postures that will allow you to position your feet above your head. This posture will improve your digestion and immunity. Once you notice swelling on your feet, do a headstand immediately. It’s important to include physical activities in your daily routine because it stimulates proper blood circulation in the body.
2.Raise those legs.
If you can’t do the headstand, you may elevate your legs by placing them on a high platform so they are positioned above the heart. Do that three times a day for thirty minutes and pay attention to the changes in your body.If you’re already in bed, you can put your ankles on top of a soft pillow. This will remove unnecessary fluid that the body can absorb which will then be eliminated the next time you pee.
3.Stand up and move around
if you’ve been sitting for hours. It’ll look weird and people will wonder why you’re pacing around but this simple body movement will prevent swelling on your legs andfeet.Do ten minute walks three times a dayto keep your feet healthy.
4. Travel must-have:
compression socks. They are tough to wear for the very reason that they increase elasticity in your blood cells to avoid blood from pooling in your legs. If you need to take long walks or are in long-haul flights and bus rides then you should wear compression socks because they help stop varicose veins. They can also give you relief if you’re experiencing leg inflammation.
5. Healthy diet.
This also means that you should stay away from salt as much as possible. A small amount of salt is okay because the body needs it to function properly but when taken in excessive amounts, it causes water retention which won’t be good for you. Caffeine causes water retention too, so drink it in small amounts. If your body is overweight, consider shedding off those extra pounds not to try to fit into the society’s definition of beauty, but to help your joints, muscles, and bones by reducing the pressure that your body weight’s been putting on them for the past years.
6. Say no to smoking!
While it does make you look cool, it also brings you one step closer to more serious medical conditions and that’s not even an exaggeration. Those who haven’t smoked a cigarette stick in their entire lives won’t have issues with this but those who can finish one pack of cigarettes per day will find it difficult to just stop smoking. We know. But then try to zero in on the health benefits that you’ll have when you stop smoking. Or at least think of your feet that will no longer be swollen because you stopped smoking. That’s enough reason to slowly put an end to that bad habit, right?
7. Hydrate.
We can chug down liters of beer and soft drinks but for some reason we find it difficult to drink the recommended eight to twelve glasses of water each day. To think, drinking water will help hydrate the tissues in our body and flush out the toxins. We dilute the primary suspects of the swelling on our feet (caffeine and sodium) when we drink enough water. If you drank alcoholic beverages the night before, you need to drink more than the recommended daily intake of water. Bring a bottle so you can just refill it with water whenever necessary. You can also add a slice of lemon or lime to add more antioxidants.
8. Massage gently
If you can’t do it, ask someone to give you a massage. A foot massage can be very relaxing since it stimulates proper blood circulation. Don’t press too hard, be firm but gentle and always move towards the heart.
9.Soak in Epsom salt
Pour a few cups of Epsom salt and sea salt into the bath tub, fill it with water, and then soak yourself in it. It will also help if you light scented candles or use essential oils to lessen the feeling of pain and discomfort. Lavender, eucalyptus, lemon, and peppermint are scents that will help you relax.
10.Load upon magnesium supplements
Swollen feet might be linked to magnesium deficiency. Drinking 350 mg of magnesium supplements each day will benefit your body, but just to be on the safe side, consult your doctor before doing anything.
Take good care of your legs and keep them healthy. You only have a pair and they’ve been helping you move around and explore the world since you were born. Once you see symptoms, talk to your doctor immediately.
