Toggle: English /
Spanish
Foot, leg, and ankle swelling
Definition:
Abnormal buildup of fluid in the ankles, feet, and legs is called peripheral edema.
Alternative Names:
Swelling of the ankles - feet - legs; Ankle swelling; Foot swelling; Leg swelling; Edema - peripheral; Peripheral edema
Considerations:
Painless swelling of the feet and ankles is a common problem, particularly in older people. It may affect both legs and may include the calves or even the thighs. Because of the effect of gravity, swelling is particularly noticeable in these locations.
Common Causes:
Foot, leg, and ankle swelling is common with the following situations:
-
Prolonged standing
-
Long airplane flights or automobile rides
-
Menstrual periods (for some women)
-
Pregnancy -- excessive swelling may be a sign of
pre-eclampsia
, a serious condition sometimes called toxemia, that includes high blood pressure and swelling
-
Being overweight
-
Increased age
-
Injury or trauma to your ankle or foot
Swollen legs may be a sign of
heart failure
,
kidney failure
, or
liver failure
. In these conditions, there is too much fluid in the body.
Other conditions that can cause swelling to one or both legs include:
-
Blood clot
-
Leg infection
-
Venous insufficiency
(when the veins in your legs are unable to adequately pump blood back to the heart)
-
Varicose veins
-
Burns (including sunburn)
-
Insect bite or sting
-
Starvation or malnutrition
-
Surgery to your leg or foot
Certain medications may also cause your legs to swell:
-
Hormones like estrogen (in birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy) and testosterone
-
A group of blood pressure lowering drugs called calcium channel blockers (such as nifedipine, amlodipine, diltiazem, felodipine, and verapamil)
-
Steroids
-
Antidepressants, including MAO inhibitors (such as phenelzine and tranylcypromine) and tricyclics (such as nortriptyline, desipramine, and amitriptyline)
References:
Cho S. Peripheral edema.
Am J Med
. 2002; 113(7): 580-586.
Schroeder BM. ACOG practice bulletin on diagnosing and managing preeclampsia and eclampsia. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Am Fam Physician
. 2002; 66(2): 330-331.
-
Review Date: 5/17/2007
-
Reviewed By: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Pediatrics and Psychiatry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
|
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's
accreditation program
is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s
editorial process
. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).
|
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.