How to Treat Peripheral Edema

The swelling of feet and legs is not usually a disease but can be a symptom of an underlying disorder and is a common problem for physicians of all specialties. Specialists at Soffer Health Institute offer Weston swollen legs relief, restoring patients’ well-being.

Causes of swelling

Swollen legs are also known as peripheral edema, can occur due to:

• An increase in volume and pressure of blood in the body, for example, during pregnancy.
• The vessels holding the blood are leaky, causing fluid to leak out and accumulate in the feet and legs.
• There is a low protein level in the blood. Protein sucks fluid into the blood vessels. Having low protein levels because of consuming a low protein diet or losing protein through the kidneys or gut causes edema. The liver produces a plasma protein known as albumin, which acts as a fluid transporter to the blood. Low albumin levels result in low fluid, causing your body to retain water.
• Alcohol, stress, and diabetes will deplete your body of Vitamin B1, causing low extremity edema.
• Compression is one of your lymph nodes or channels that can cause blockage of lymph. A venous or lymphatic channel blockage can also cause swelling in the legs.
• The human body requires 4,700mg of Potassium per day and only 1,500mg of sodium per day. In a diet that is high in sodium that retains water and low in Potassium, our body will not regulate the water levels in your body, causing peripheral edema.
• Venous insufficiency is the major cause of leg swelling in older people. Veins usually carry blood from the body tissues back to the heart. Veins have little valves in them: if the veins become distended or the valves malfunction, then there will be some venous stasis (meaning that the blood will not move but accumulate in the vessels), causing edema. Venous stasis edema occurs gradually and usually improves after elevating your feet.

Swollen legs can also be a symptom of an underlying condition such as Congestive heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, cirrhosis, protein-deficient states, renal disease, Cushing’s syndrome, vena cava obstruction, infections, idiopathic cyclic edema, DVT, cellulitis, pregnancy, obesity, pretibial myxedema, and venous insufficiency.

Treatment of peripheral edema

Things you can do to reduce your ankle swelling may include reviewing your medications with your doctor or your pharmacist. Some medications can promote peripheral swelling.

For some people taking in a lot of salt and fluid can also promote swelling. Therefore, you should monitor your nutrition content. Consume lots of vegetables including spinach, kale, and parsley, either raw or blended in a shake. Vegetables will help detox the liver, which will enhance the movement of fluid in your body. Additionally, you can consider asparagus, which is an excellent natural diuretic, ginger root, and apple cider vinegar that will detoxify your whole body.

Wearing compression stockings and elevating the legs might also help reduce the swelling.

Medication: Your doctor may recommend supplements such as Serrapeptase, which is a phenomenal anti-inflammatory drug. This enzyme dissolves scar tissue in the liver, dissolves clots, and reduces inflammation.

If you have swollen feet, it is crucial to check with your doctor to determine that it is not due to some other severe cause. Contact Soffer Health Institute by phone or book an appointment online for comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of your leg swelling.