6 Hidden Reasons for Swollen Feet and Ankles

Puffiness around your ankles, swelling in your feet, the dull ache from excess fluid retained in the lower extremities—edema (the medical term for swelling) can be painful and uncomfortable.  At Goldsmith Podiatry, we know that swelling can just be the after-effects of a long day on your feet. However, there are other reasons for swelling that can point to changes in the body that need to be addressed. Below are six causes of swelling that you may not be aware of.

1.       Medications—one of the interactions of prescription and over-the-counter drugs with your body can be swelling. These include certain drugs for blood pressure, anti-inflammatories, hormones, and antidepressants.

2.       Damaged veins—when valves in your veins become damaged or weakened due to age or extended amounts of time sitting, they can get stretched out, and leaks can occur as blood is circulated back to the heart. This leaked blood tends to pool in your feet and ankles due to gravity. This condition is more common in women than in men.

3.       An arthritic condition—arthritis refers to over 100 conditions that can affect the health of joints. Inflammation, a frequent component of joint disease can manifest in edema, along with pain and joint stiffness.

4.       Heart disease—hypertension (aka high blood pressure) and coronary artery disease can result in one of the heart’s chambers not pumping blood properly. When there is a decrease in the amount fluid that is being pumped, the excess fluid tends to back up and cause swelling.

5.       Blood clot—this is a serious medical problem that can have devastating consequences. If swelling is moving up the leg and you are experiencing pain, redness, and warmth, shortness of breath, and/or feeling lightheaded, you should go directly to the emergency room.

6.       Infection—if you have a wound or any bacteria in the bloodstream, it can settle in any joint in the body. If the joint is in your feet or ankles, it can show up as swelling. Tenderness, warmth, or redness can be additional signs of infection.

If you have unexplainable swelling in your lower extremities, it’s best to contact our Upper West Side office by calling: 212-877-1002 so that our podiatrists, Dr. Howard Goldsmith and Dr. Rosanna Troia can diagnose the source of the swelling and prescribe the proper treatment.