Good for the elderly
Home Care Put your legs on pillows to raise them above your heart while lying down. Exercise your legs . Follow a low-salt diet, which may reduce fluid buildup and swelling . Wear support stockings (sold at most drugstores and medical supply stores). When traveling, take breaks often to stand up and move around.
When should you call the doctor ? “Report your symptoms to your doctor if there’s so much swelling that it leaves an indentation if you press your finger into it, or if it has developed suddenly, lasts for more than a few days, affects just one foot , or is accompanied by pain or discoloration of the skin,” Dr .
Sometimes swelling can indicate a problem such as heart, liver, or kidney disease . Ankles that swell in the evening could be a sign of retaining salt and water because of right-sided heart failure . Kidney disease can also cause foot and ankle swelling.
Here are some natural remedies to reduce swelling : Soak your feet in cool water. drink plenty of water. Wear shoes that allow your feet to breathe and move freely. Rest with your legs elevated. Wear support stockings. Do a few minutes of walking and simple leg exercises.
The more the swelling and the longer there has been swelling, the longer and more frequently your need to elevate your legs. Start with 20 minutes twice a day. This might do the trick. If not, go to 30 minutes or even an hour.
Applying an ice-pack or cold compress to an injury is the fastest way to deal with immediate swelling . It helps reduce swelling by restricting blood flow to the area and slowing down cellular metabolism. Cold therapy systems and ice baths are other methods you can use to apply cold to the area.
Extra water in fruits can reduce foot swelling by flushing out extra water. Other vegetables , like cucumber and asparagus, are natural directs that eliminate water in your body. Drinking lots of water will also help your foot and ankle mobility with less swelling .
Here are 10 to try. Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water per day. Buy compression socks. Soak in a cool Epsom salt bath for about 15 to 20 minutes. Elevate your feet , preferably above your heart. Get moving! Magnesium supplements can be helpful for some people. Make some dietary changes. Lose weight if you’re overweight.
7 Helpful Ways to Reduce Swollen Feet and Ankles Walk it Out. Drink Lots of Water. Sleep on Your Side. Enjoy Some Pool Time. Limit Your Salt. Wear Compression Socks. Elevate Your Feet .
View tags. A swollen foot may be caused blood vessel blockage, lymphatic blockage, or trauma from an injury. Other causes of swelling in one foot include skin infections like cellulitis, or ankle arthritis which can also be the cause of one swollen ankle .
Foot, leg, and ankle swelling is also known as peripheral edema, which refers to an accumulation of fluid in these parts of the body. The buildup of fluid usually isn’t painful , unless it’s due to injury. Swelling is often more apparent in the lower areas of the body because of gravity.
What medications can cause swollen ankles and feet? Hormones such as estrogen and testosterone. Calcium channel blockers , a type of blood pressure medication. Steroids, including corticosteroids such as prednisone. Antidepressants. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Diabetes medications.
The hot water allows the blood vessels to dilate, while the cold water causes them to contract. This helps improve circulation, which can reduce and prevent pooling of fluids in the feet and ankles. Try putting your feet in the hot water for three to five minutes, and then into the cold water bath for 30 to 60 seconds.
Conditions caused by overuse include: Extensor tendonitis: This is caused by overuse or tight-fitting shoes. The tendons that run along the top of the foot and pull the foot upwards become inflamed and painful.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs ) reduce pain, swelling, stiffness and inflammation. Two drugs in this category, ibuprofen and naproxen , also reduce fever. These include: Aspirin (Bayer® Aspirin, Ecotrin®, Excedrin®, St. Ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, and others) Ketoprofen (Orudis®) Naproxen (Aleve®)