10 Swollen Feet Causes + When To See Your Doctor
When you try on shoes you haven’t worn in ages, you might notice they suddenly don’t fit. Your ankles and calves, which were once slender, are swelling like balloons. Whether the feet are hurting or not, they’re uncomfortable, especially when the only footwear that fits are flip flops and slippers. This swelling could be from a long day in heels or shoes half a size too small, but they could be a symptom of something else. As Britt H. Tonnessen, MD, Yale Medicine vascular surgeon, says, “There are probably 50 different things that can cause feet, ankles, and legs to swell.” Feet and legs are more likely to swell than any other part of the body, because gravity naturally draws bodily fluids to the lower extremities. [1] “I tell my patients, if you were on the moon, you wouldn’t notice it happening as much!” explains Dr. Tonnessen.
The body has two drainage systems:
Credit: Shutterstock
The veins, which brings blood from the legs back to the heart, and the lymphatics, which are tiny channels that move liquids around the body These two systems work together against gravity to prevent fluids from pooling into the legs. When something goes wrong and the fluid remains puddled in the feet, ankles, or legs, this causes a form of swelling called edema. [2] “If there’s just a little swelling at the end of the day, that’s very common and probably nothing serious,” Dr. Tonnessen says, “but if it’s starting to progress, where you’re noticing there’s more swelling after a few weeks or months, if the swelling is only in one foot or leg rather than both, or if there’s any association with shortness of breath, you should see a doctor.
10 Reasons for Swollen Feet
Credit: Shutterstock
I you have been experiencing swollen feet, one of these 10 reasons could be why.
You’ve been on or off your feet all day.
Credit: Shutterstock
Maybe your job keeps you on your toes, you had a busy day running errands, or perhaps you took a long tour through a new city. Whatever the case may be, it can leave you with sore and puffy feet. Conversely, being off your feet can create a similar effect. If you spent the day sitting due to an injury or a new job, you may suffer from dependent edema, which is caused by gravity. Luckily, this condition can be treated by simply propping up your feet on a pillow at the end of the day. Compression socks are another good option and recommended by Dr. Tonnessen. “They go from the foot to the knee and are a little snugger on the foot and ankle to prevent the accumulation of fluid,” she says. [4]
Too much salt
Credit: Shutterstock
French fries, pickles, chips, and pretzels are delicious, but consuming too much sodium can cause water retention, which results in swelling and puffiness. “I advise my patients to really look at labels of all their food,” says Dr. Tonnessen, “to see how much sodium is in their diet soda, canned soups, microwave dinners, and to consume no more than 2,000 to 2,400 milligrams per day.” [5] Making sure you get adequate potassium in your diet is also an important factor to consider.
Injuries
Credit: Shutterstock
Swelling can also be a result of inflammation from a fracture or tendonitis. These conditions have a clear sign that separates them from other causes: they hurt. While the foot heals, it’s recommended for you to rest the injury, apply ice packs and compression bandages. [3]
Read More: 10 Signs You Should Pay More Attention To Your Thyroid Health
Pregnancy
Credit: Shutterstock
There are several reasons why pregnancy leads to swollen feet. The body retains more fluid during this period. Also, the belly adds weight to the pelvic floor, which puts pressure on the blood vessels in the legs. Finally, the pregnancy hormone called relaxin. It makes the pelvis relax and enlarge, but it also loosens the ligaments in the feet. A little swelling is normal and could be treated by exercise, proper hydration, and comfortable shoes. If the swelling increases and is followed by nausea, headaches, or blurred sigh, contact your doctor immediately. This could be a sign of a dangerous condition called preeclampsia. [2]
PMS
Credit: Shutterstock
Hormonal changes can give some women headaches, mood swings, cramps, backaches, nausea, and other lovely effects. It also can cause fluid retention a week or two before the period begins. Exercise, hydration, and reducing sodium should fix the swelling in a few days. [5]
Extra weight
Credit: Shutterstock
Similar to pregnancy, extra pounds of body weight can press on the legs’ blood vessels and enlarge the feet. “If you’re sitting a lot, that extra weight in your belly sits right on the groin area, and that can disrupt the lymphatic flow that drains fluid from your legs,” says Tonnessen. “But even losing just 10 or 20 pounds can make a difference.” [5]
Medication Side Effects
Credit: Shutterstock
If you are trying new prescription drugs, such as oral contraceptives, steroids, antidepressants, and diabetes medications, they may cause fluid retention and therefore, swollen feet. Talk to your doctor if you think this might be true. However, if the medication is otherwise helping, it might be worth it to switch to comfortable flats instead of strappy sandals. [1]
Varicose veins
Credit: Shutterstock
This condition occurs when the veins in the legs become weak and lose elasticity. The vein’s valves don’t work as well, affecting the blood flow back to the heart, causing the blood to pool and create the signature blue and red lines on the legs, and puffy feet and ankles. Compression socks, exercise, weight loss, and elevating your legs for 15 minutes throughout the day can help alleviate this condition. [6]
Blood clot
Credit: Shutterstock
This is a more serious case. Leg swelling, both or usually one, can indicate a blood clot in the tissue, also called deep vein thrombosis (DVT). “This can happen at any age, and it typically happens after someone has been laid up after an injury or hospitalization, or after a long car ride or airplane flight,” says Dr. Tonnessen.
Symptoms that accompany the swelling may include
Credit: Shutterstock
-
pain
tenderness
a warm sensation
redness or color change in the affected area
fever
Diagnosis
Credit: Shutterstock
To diagnose these cases, doctors use ultrasounds and prescribe blood-thinning medications to keep the clot from affecting the brain, lungs, and heart. These cases are usually preventable by avoiding sitting for extended periods of time, exercising, and drinking enough water. [3]
Heart, Liver, or Kidney Disease
Credit: Shutterstock
Swelling is often a condition that leaves on its own, but if it becomes steadily worse and is followed by other symptoms like weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, shortness of breath, or pressure in the abdomen, it could be a heart, liver, or kidney disease. “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,” advises Dr. James Ioli, chief of podiatry services at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital and co-editor of the Harvard Special Health Report Healthy Feet. If this is the case, stay on the safe side and visit your health practitioner as soon as possible.
Sources
https://theheartysoul.com/10-possible-reasons-for-swollen-feet/?bc21=true&slide=5
6 habits that make older women look beautiful
The idea of beauty is one of those rare things in life that becomes more intriguing as time goes by. When we are young, beauty is a purely biological thing, something that happens because of our genetic makeup and our youthful, smooth skin. But as we age, so does our understanding of beauty. Not only does beauty not disappear; it changes, becoming more complex and profound. It evolves from an aesthetic aspect into a deeper notion.
Many women become elegant in a certain way. They develop an aura of quiet confidence, poise, and charisma that is unique to them and impossible to buy or copy. Their beauty doesn’t come as a result of trendy, costly procedures and treatments, but is the product of habits cultivated over many years.
Instead of seeking perfection, which is an impossible and ultimately tiresome goal by its very definition, it’s more realistic to focus on growth and self-respect.
The following is an analysis of several traits that make up a woman’s natural beauty as she matures, as well as the rationale behind why they work for her mind and body.
The Art of Posture and Intentional Movement
A person’s posture can say more before any hello than their actual words. Body language is perhaps the most primitive means of communication and conveys what the mind truly feels. Standing straight, keeping one’s shoulders relaxed instead of hunched up by the ears, and moving with purpose convey an impression of self-confidence.
Of course, as people age, some deterioration of posture occurs. This can be attributed to the weakening of muscles, decreased bone density, and the effects of years of poor posture, which often develop from sitting too long at a desk or staring at smartphones. However, recent discoveries in the science of “embodied cognition” have shown that posture does not only affect other people’s perception but also influences one’s inner state. When a person stands tall, they do not only “pretend” to be confident—they signal to their brain that they are comfortable and in control of their surroundings.
Women who pay attention to maintaining good posture look more lively and youthful, since they do not seem to “age down” into themselves. A smooth, stable walking pattern, together with an upright posture, helps create a sense of elegance that has nothing to do with what brand name one wears or how professionally one’s make-up is applied.
Radical Consistency in Self-Care
Good skin is not about an elaborate and lengthy nighttime regimen of cutting-edge ingredients. Instead, dermatological studies continually emphasize one simple yet critical truth: consistency wins over complexity. Women who radiate health despite their advanced age are often those who have stopped playing around with each new trend and developed a trustworthy and basic routine.
Skincare for graceful aging can be simplified to the three core steps: cleansing, moisturizing, and protection. In particular, the latter step is proven to be crucial to prevent premature aging of the skin. It is believed that 80% to 90% of visible signs of skin aging, such as wrinkles, dryness, and uneven skin tone, are due to excessive exposure to the sun. For instance, women who apply a daily layer of SPF for twenty years differ noticeably from those who only do so when going to the beach.
The next pillar is moisturization. As you get older, your skin barrier weakens, becoming less effective at retaining lipids and moisture. By hydrating the skin, you support this barrier, which keeps the skin soft, glowing, and more resistant to damage from external factors. It’s not about how expensive the jar is, it’s about consistency. These women care for their skin as an investment, not as an emergency that requires miracle fixes.
Personal Style Over Fleeting Trends
There is a vast difference between being “fashionable” and “having style.” The former dictates what one should wear according to fashion industry standards each month, while the latter is choosing to wear clothes that define one’s identity. In the development of one’s sense of beauty, many ladies experience a significant boost in confidence once they cease trying to fit in with fashion standards tailored to adolescents and begin building an individual aesthetic reflective of who they are now.
It is important to note that this is not about one’s selfish interests but rather a phenomenon known as “enclothed cognition.” The hypothesis posits that the clothing one wears can actually affect their psychology. When women dress themselves up in clothes that suit their body type, make them feel comfortable, and reflect their character.
As women age and become unique in their looks, they usually go for clothing that complements their body and accentuates their facial features rather than concealing their true beauty by wearing clothes that are too big for them or too small. Women who have unique looks usually become experts at color matching. They know what colors bring out the best in them and which colors are just not flattering. The reason why these women choose such a trend is not to attract attention or to be “on trend.” It is all about being true to themselves.
The Softening of Expressions
A smile is arguably one of the most universally appealing features a human being can possess. This feature provides instant appeal and warmth, making all conversations more approachable. However, aside from the socially beneficial aspect, there are physical effects when it comes to using one’s facial expressions consistently.
The face acts as an imprint of the most common emotional responses of a person. Constant tension or frowning can result in a face that has a permanent “hardened” look to it. Alternatively, by practicing keeping the facial expression relaxed, softening the jaw line, brows, and keeping up a friendly disposition, women actually experience aging differently.
It seems there is also an interesting “feedback loop” at play here. According to research, the simple act of smiling, whether or not it is a conscious process as opposed to an involuntary one, tends to cause the brain to produce neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin. Thus, by ensuring that they maintain smiles, these ladies ensure that they continue to be happy and in good moods, thereby being more open to interaction and appearing more vibrant overall. While this may be attributed to them having fewer lines on their faces, the reason behind their lack of wrinkles is really that they smile in “happy” places.
Unsplash
Cultivating a “Lively” Mind
As we already mentioned, beauty cannot only be understood on the surface level since it has something to do with the “pilot” of our organism. Curiosity and activity of the mind create that special sparkle in the eyes and that particular zest of speech. We have all known young people who appear old since they did not learn anything new, while people over 80 can look young because they continue being interested in what is happening around them.
The scientific study of cognitive health shows that being actively engaged in thinking and learning (by reading books, learning new languages, communicating with other people, or simply solving puzzles) helps preserve brain flexibility and emotional stability. Mental activity makes our personality livelier.
A positive attitude definitely has a big part to play here too. Although getting older means you will inevitably experience things like loss and change, being able to maintain a positive outlook can help slow down your aging process. Stress has long been shown to accelerate the aging process at a cellular level. When women think about growth, exploration, and gratitude, they have a certain lightness of spirit that makes them more engaging and appealing.
Unsplash
Movement as Self-Care, Not Punishment
Exercise is always advertised as a tool to “fix” our body, yet older ladies who are energetic about aging see exercise as a necessity. Elderly women don’t train to achieve an ideal physical appearance or to compensate for eating certain foods, it simply makes them feel lively.
According to researchers, moderate physical activities are more valuable compared to sporadically performed and intense exercises. Jogging, stretching, yoga, and some exercises contribute to the improvement of blood circulation; therefore, the skin receives oxygen and nutrients that enhance its beauty. Exercise positively affects joint condition and hormone levels, which are vital to sustaining good mood and proper sleep.
Of course, exercise promotes the maintenance of muscle mass. Since our muscles tend to decrease their mass and size when aging (it is called sarcopenia), having at least some muscle mass is important to have an attractive appearance and physical capabilities. In other words, if a woman perceives exercise as self-respect, she will perform her workouts regularly and develop a healthy lifestyle. As a result, one would see that an elderly woman is active and energetic rather than exhausting herself at the gym.
Unsplash
Conclusion
Looking beautiful at any age isn’t about trying to turn back the clock. Looking beautiful at any age isn’t about trying to turn back the clock. It’s about alignment. It’s the sweet spot where how you feel on the inside, how you care for your body, and how you present yourself to the world all match.
What stands out most in women who age gracefully isn’t the absence of wrinkles or a specific dress size. It’s their presence. They seem comfortable in their own skin. They’ve built habits that support their well-being, and over time, those habits become visible in the way they stand, the way they listen, and the energy they bring into a room.
Confidence, consistency, and self-acceptance create a kind of beauty that doesn’t fade, it’s the only kind that actually improves with time. In the end, the most powerful transformation doesn’t come from a product; it comes from the quiet realization that taking care of yourself is one of the most meaningful things you can do.
