Do you feel pain or discomfort in your legs due to swelling? Swollen legs, also known as edema, are a severe condition that can affect anyone, but especially pregnant women, older adults, and people with certain health issues.
Swelling in the legs can be caused by inflammation or fluid buildup in the blood vessels or tissues. It can affect your appearance, restrict your movement, and increase the risk of infection. To get the best care for edema, you should choose a wellness center that is NJ’s destination for swollen leg treatment.
If you have been suffering from swollen legs, then it is important to take the right measures to treat them. This article discusses what you need to do when you are struggling with swollen legs.
Wear Compression Stockings
It is important to wear garments or stockings that can help support blood circulation and also decrease swelling in your legs. After consulting with a healthcare professional, you can buy compression stockings or garments.
Elevate Your Legs
In case you experience swollen legs, you should elevate your legs above the heart level. This helps gravity push the blood through the veins in your swollen legs. It is important to keep your legs elevated several times a day for at least 15 minutes.
Change Your Diet
When you have swollen legs, you should limit your sodium intake, as excessive salt contributes to water retention. It is important to adopt a well-balanced diet with a lot of vegetables and fruits, which helps maintain healthy fluid levels in your body.
Stay Active
Most people who have swollen legs stay in the same place without moving for long periods of time. It is essential to participate in regular physical activity, such as swimming or walking, to increase blood circulation in your legs. You should walk for at least 30 minutes every day. You should avoid exercises that cause too much stress on your leg joints and may cause pain.
Avoid Prolonged Standing or sitting
You should take regular breaks to stretch your legs and move around, if your job requires long hours of standing or sitting. By doing so, you prevent any chance of blood accumulating in the veins of your legs.
Hydration
You should drink sufficient water throughout the day to prevent dehydration. According to a study by the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, men must drink about 125 oz.of water per day and women must drink about 91 oz. of water per day.
Heat and Cold Therapy
You should apply a warm and cold compress to your swollen legs, which can decrease inflammation and improve blood flow. You must apply a hot compress for 15 minutes, followed by a cold compress for 10 minutes, and repeat as required.
Massage
You should gently massage your swollen legs. It can improve your blood circulation and help decrease fluid buildup. While massaging your swollen legs, you must use upward strokes. You can also use an oil or moisturizer to lubricate your skin.
Weight Management
If you are obese, reducing your body weight can significantly decrease the strain on your swollen legs and improve blood flow. To maintain a healthy weight, you must follow a weight loss plan to lose about 1 to 2 pounds weekly. It is also important to stay active.
Keep Track of Medications
You must be cautious about what medication you are taking because the wrong medicine can also cause swelling in your legs. It is always better to consult your doctor to discuss alternative medicine options. A few medications that can cause swelling include anti-inflammatory drugs, gabapentinoids, antihypertensive drugs, and hormones.
Avoid Tight Clothing
You should avoid wearing tight clothing around your ankles and legs, as it may stop blood circulation.
Get a Medical Check-Up
Whether the swelling is mild or severe, you should get a medical checkup immediately. By getting a medical checkup, your healthcare provider will identify the root cause of your swollen legs and suggest the right treatment for your condition.
Conclusion
We hope our article helped you understand the underlying causes of swollen legs and how to treat them. The above self-care measures can go a long way toward relieving leg discomfort and recovering from it.
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