leg swelling Archives

Doctor, my feet and ankles are getting swollen. What can I do? – By Dr harold Gunatillake What is the most common cause of leg swelling? In older adults is what we call venous insufficiency.” The second most common cause of leg swelling is a reaction to certain medications. When you remove your socks and shoes at the end of the day and detect swelling around your ankles and feet, you need to worry about it. Travelling by plane for long hours and not moving your legs is an acute problem. In some situations, this can be due to DVT, meaning that the deep veins in your calf muscles become clogged up with clots due to a lack of peripheral pumping action in the calf muscles, or may be due to a condition called ‘lymphatic stasis’ meaning that the extra-cellular fluid is not being returned from the dependent areas, ...

Importance of knowing the causes of leg swelling-By Dr Harold Gunatillake This is a common condition that is most prevalent in your 60s and over. If you observe the condition you may need to see your health provider for investigation and treatment. Swelling can occur in one leg and foot, or both. If one limb is involved the cause is local in the leg itself, such as lymphatic gland blockage near the groin, blood vessel blockage due to deep vein thrombosis (DVT), skin infections, cellulitis and so on. Deep vein thrombosis is a serious condition that occurs when blood clots form in the calf and thigh veins. Early detection and treatment are required before a clot moves from the leg into the lung referred to as pulmonary embolism. The commonest cause is when you sit frequently without much leg movements as travelling on a plane, the venous blood flow ...