Foot Swelling: Pinpoint the Causes

I thought this was interesting and important information. I did a search on healing well for swelling, and didn't see where a previous topic was started.

Are both of your feet swollen? If they are, you'll probably have to look a little higher for the causes. If you have too much fluid in your system, gravity pulls it to the lowest part of the body, where it collects. Subsequently, your feet and ankles will swell. People with high blood pressure frequently have this kind of swelling. If your heart is too weak to pump blood throughout your body, the liquid portion of the blood will leak out of the blood vessels and collect in your feet. People with congestive heart failure have this kind of swelling. If your kidneys do not function well and you lose protein in your urine, your may also experience swelling in your feet.

Another possible cause of foot swelling is inactivity. When you are normally active during the day, the muscles in your legs help move blood and fluids back to the heart so they can recirculate. If you are sitting in a car or riding on an airplane all day, your leg muscles will not be working as much and fluid will pool in your feet and legs. That's why it's a good idea to get up and walk around every hour or two on an airplane. If you're taking a long car trip, stop and walk around at a rest stop when you can.

Teri when my feet swell on sundays I take off my shoes and I do wear low heel or almost flats no high hels anymore and I got one pair I wore back in 1999 when son got married 4 inch chunky heels and those i have worn maybe 3 times after that. butn no flats adn support hose too. but yes tey do swell eassily.

Kathy you might have a good suggestion me get more exerise.

Heidi

Hi Marie!

It is Not Normal for your feet and your ankles to swell -There is a reason for it.  Some chest pain and even arm pain may brought on by GERD - I've actually had it occur with myself - it can also mean angina and a possible Heart Attack!  So that said, if this happens to you, get to the ER - call 911 !!  No one knows for certain that this is the cause until they do further examination. 

http://www.clevelandclinic.org/heartcenter/pub/guide/tests/exam.htm

"EKG's assess your heart rhythm, diagnose poor blood flow to the heart muscle (ischemia), diagnose a heart attack, diagnose abnormalities of your heart, such asheart chamber enlargement, abnormal electrical conduction"

http://www.clevelandclinic.org/heartcenter/pub/guide/tests/electrocard/ecg.htm

My suggestion to you is to ask him for an echocardiogram, and a stress test for starters, and perhaps a barium swallow to see if some of your problems could be from reflux or other upper GI problems.

I wish you well, Marie!!

Hugs, Teri

Good for you, Marie!!

The thing is we all need to become our own patient advocates and become a real part of our health team!  When we start taking charge of our health and learning to eat right, getting plenty of exercise and ridding ourselves of bad habits like smoking, we've already joined the team!

The next step is asking your Dr. why he feels you had the swelling to begin with...write yourself a list of questions.  Are you comfortable with this Dr.?  If you are - that's great! - if not try and find another, perhaps even for a 2nd opinion.

Best Wishes!!

Hugs, Teri