Feet and Ankle Swelling

[Guest guest]

Hey Rita, CM, other good folks ..

 

> However, swollen ankles etc. indicate a heart condition and it needs to

> be checked out.

> C-M

 

It CAN indicate a heart condition .. but that is not always the case.

So Rita .. you can relax a bit .. but you should see a doctor to be sure

it is NOT a heart condition. ;-)

 

I went through that last September. Had big time swelling late at

night. Professor Lady at Hacetepe University Hospital took me through

the entire physical and heart check routine and I came out smelling like

a rose .. now after having said that I'll probably kick the bucket some

time tonight. ;-)

 

But .. the swelling in my ankles still occurs when I get lazy. Mine was

caused (said she) by closure of the small capillaries due to multiple

injuries over the years .. and smoking too much .. and sitting on my

butt in front of this PC screen 16 or more hours a day.

 

According to my handy dandy guide on Symptoms and Their Causes ..

swollen ankles can be caused from:

 

1. Injuries .. now or in the past).

 

2. Chronic overuse .. doing too much, too soon and too fast can lead to

excess fluid accumulation and swelling.

 

3. Certain medications.

 

4. For those who are prone to water retention .. just lazing around on

a hot day can produce " grapefruit size ankles. "

 

5. Certain shoes can turn traitor and transform ankles into

mini-replicas of the " Hindenburg. "

 

6. Circulatory and vascular diseases.

 

7. Lymphatic and kidney disease.

 

8. Diabetes.

 

9. Gout.

 

10. Rheumatoid arthritis.

 

11. Heart failure .. due to high blood pressure, heart attack or

anything that weakens the heart.

 

But .. like CM said .. you DO need to see a doctor. Odds are the

swelling is caused by some common ailment or by something that can be

fixed by any of the ways mentioned in my handy dandy manual.

 

1. Off the feet and prop them up.

 

2. Ice for 15 minutes several times a day.

 

3. Avoid anti inflammatory pain relievers like aspirin and ibuprofen.

Better are acetaminophens .. like Tylenol.

 

4. Gentle massage .. twice a day .. pushing upward toward the knee.

 

5. Go to the Beach or to the Pool. Walk in water .. the movement of

water against muscles helps pump out fluids that accumulate.

 

6. Change your prescription. The doctor can tell you (maybe .. some

can some can't .. might need to ask a Pharmacist) if a medication you

are taking can cause swelling of the ankles/feet.

 

7. Change shoes .. if you must wear them choose a good running shoe as

it has the proper support.

 

8. Take a hike. Lack of muscle movement causes accumulation of fluids.

Docs say regular walking and such can turn these situations around.

This is what I do now .. after 30 years of running 5 miles or so a day I

got lazy .. now I walk for an hour a day .. and it helps. When I miss a

few days the swelling comes back.

 

9. Go for the cold. Heat dilates the capillaries but stimulates the

leaking of blood and other fluids .. making the swelling worse. Ice is

much better at reestablishing a healthy blood flow. Soaking feet for

15-20 minutes several times a day in cold water can help.

 

10. Stop smoking.

 

All the above are followed by the names of the medical docs recommending

the treatments .. STILL .. you should get a good medical examination.

 

Good luck .. good health .. and y'all keep smiling. :-)

 

Butch http://www.AV-AT.com