January 26, 2023
Our bodies have a lot of work to do on a daily basis, to put it lightly. But one critical function is blood circulation, which is at the top of the list in terms of importance.
You can experience many health conditions without proper blood flow, ranging from aches and pains to serious heart problems. That's why it's wise to learn the ins and outs of blood circulation. There are several components to this broad topic. These include:
What is blood circulation?
The link between blood circulation and heart health
Blood circulation benefits
What is the cause of poor blood circulation?
The link between blood circulation and foot health
How to improve blood circulation
Photo by pch.vector from FreePik
What is Blood Circulation?
Blood circulation is how your blood vessels deliver nutrients and oxygen to your cells and body parts.
The issue with blood circulation is that we can easily restrict blood flow when we neglect to care for ourselves. Furthermore, blood flow is not an "all-or-nothing" dynamic; we can go about our routines with poor blood circulation and not even realize it!
But the longer you proceed through life with poor blood flow, the closer you become to experiencing health conditions and frequent aches and pains.
The Link Between Blood Circulation and Heart Health
The circulatory system distributes blood throughout your body, with the heart at the centre of all the action. This system has three main components: the heart, blood vessels and blood itself. This system is the reason why we can function every day. As a result, it's safe to say it's a rather critical function of the human body.
Your heart pumps around eight pints worth of blood every single day. This means that if your heart is in poor health, it can affect blood flow. The same is true if you switch things around: if your arteries and veins are in poor condition, it can affect your heart health. More specifically, when your arteries deliver oxygenated blood throughout your body, the blood then has to find its way back to where it came from. Your veins do this by bringing the blood back to your heart, making its way towards your lungs to "drop off" carbon dioxide and "pick up" more oxygen.
Blood Circulation Benefits
It keeps your heart healthy.
It keeps your feet, legs and other body parts healthy.
It allows all vital organs to function properly.
It keeps you feeling sharp and alert (blood delivers oxygen and glucose to your brain)
It reduces aches and pains, including foot pain.
What is the Cause of Poor Blood Circulation?
How you live your life can determine how efficiently your body distributes blood. Since plaque build-up, narrowed vessels and blood clots are the main culprits behind circulation restriction, preventing these interferences is important.
Likewise, you can tackle many causes of poor blood circulation by adjusting lifestyle habits. Your family doctor or healthcare specialist can address diseases that lead to poor blood circulation.
Here are some reasons your body may be struggling to distribute blood:
You live a sedentary lifestyle without exercise.
You smoke cigarettes.
Your diet is lacking in healthy foods. Furthermore, a high fat and high cholesterol diet can lead to plaque build-up (atherosclerosis) in the vessels.
You have high blood pressure (when blood pushes against the vessel walls, it can weaken them).
You have diabetes. This disease can cause excess glucose to harm your blood vessels.
You have blood clots in your legs.
You are overweight. Obesity can be a risk factor for other causes of poor blood flow.
Photo by brgfx from FreePik
The Link Between Blood Circulation and Foot Health
When blood efficiently flows from your heart to your legs and feet, you reduce your risk of developing muscle pain, stiffness and weakness. Your feet and legs can also give you signals that you are having a problem with blood circulation.
But how does blood reach your feet?
There are specific arteries that transport blood to your legs and feet. One, the femoral artery, starts in the thigh area and extends downward toward the knees. This artery is responsible for transporting blood to your lower body and branches off into six other arteries along its route, all of which must supply blood to a different body part. Then there is the posterior tibial artery, which transports blood to the plantar surface of the foot.
Foot and leg issues may occur if you neglect your health by disregarding these arteries. For example, peripheral artery disease (PAD) may develop. This will lead to plaque build-up inside the femoral artery, and the vessels will narrow, greatly reducing the amount of blood that can pass through.
Here are some indicators that you need to improve blood circulation to your feet:
Numbness
Cold feet
"Pins and needles"
Foot pain
Discolouration
Varicose veins
Foot fatigue and "heaviness."
Swelling (edema): your body's lower extremities can swell if your heart cannot circulate blood properly. When blood collects, your vessels release fluid into the surrounding tissues.
Photo by Drazen Zigic from FreePik
How to Improve Blood Circulation
The primary way to boost blood circulation is to move your body. You can also use medical devices and make lifestyle changes.
When you perform exercises and stretches, the blood vessels around the targeted muscle will expand thanks to the chemicals the body releases when you move. This signals your heart to pump more blood into the more spacious vessels. Furthermore, your muscles will receive more oxygen, transforming glucose into muscle "fuel."
Harvard Health also notes that leg stretches that stimulate blood flow can protect against heart disease and strokes. Their study also showed that working the muscles in the hips, knees and ankles for 45 seconds at a time leads to better blood flow in the arteries of the lower legs, as well as less stiffness and pain.
Virtually any type of exercise improves your body's overall blood flow system. In addition to a regular stretching routine, you can try light to moderate cardiovascular exercise, yoga, and playing sports.
Compression stockings are also excellent (and stylish!) medical devices that boost blood flow in the lower legs and feet. You don't have to have a serious condition to use them; you can get them if you spend a long time sitting at a desk during the work day, frequently travel, or spend a lot of time lying down in bed. They are excellent for those experiencing conditions that greatly impact blood flow, including:
Pregnancy-related blood pooling in the feet and ankles
Chronic venous insufficiency
Deep vein thrombosis
Phlebitis
Natural ways to improve blood circulation include eating a healthy diet. According to Healthline, foods that boost and stimulate blood flow include cayenne pepper, garlic, fatty fish, beets, nuts and leafy greens. Furthermore, quitting harmful habits like smoking cigarettes can also help you exercise efficiently. You will notice the effects of improved blood circulation between 2 to 12 weeks after ditching smoking.
Image by storyset on FreePik
January 19, 2023
Do you have an irresistible urge to move your legs while trying to relax? If this sounds like you, you may suffer from restless leg syndrome.
There are countless leg conditions out there, some directly related to the vast array of foot conditions we treat at Feet First Clinic. However, many people do not even recognize restless leg syndrome as an issue. For instance, if you're someone with a lot of natural energy and pep, you may think your jittery legs are normal. But unbeknownst to you, your restless legs result from a neurological disorder affecting roughly 5% of the general population and 10% of people over 65 years old.
Today's article will address everything you need to know about restless leg syndrome, including:
What is restless leg syndrome?
Symptoms of restless leg syndrome
Causes of restless leg syndrome
Restless leg syndrome treatment
Home remedies for restless leg syndrome
What is Restless Leg Syndrome?
Restless leg syndrome(RLS) is a neurological sleep disorder that causes an unpleasant sensation in the legs and an uncontrollable desire to move them. Symptoms typically arise when people are at rest, such as while watching a movie, sitting at a desk or trying to fall asleep at night. Furthermore, moving the legs can provide temporary relief, but RLS symptoms will appear again when you fall back into a sedentary position.
RLS is also called Willis-Ekbom Disease.
Symptoms of Restless Leg Syndrome
The primary symptom of RLS is, of course, a nagging desire to move your legs.
Usually, we encourage high energy levels and love when people want to move their limbs and be active. However, while exercising is excellent for fighting foot pain and getting into shape, this fidgety, uncontrollable feeling can be distressing when trying to relax. In other words, it's important to understand that RLS is a serious problem that shouldn't be diminished, and it's critical to differentiate between RLS and being physically energetic.
To gain a better understanding of whether or not you may have RLS, you can look out for the following symptoms:
An unpleasant feeling in the legs. RLS patients have described the feeling in numerous ways, from a "crawling" sensation to electric pulsing. Other ways to describe the sensation include aching, itching, throbbing, pulling and "creeping."
An inability to settle into a sedentary position. RLS sensations kick in when you're trying to relax or are in a place where you can't move for a while. You may be seated on an airplane for hours or simply trying to fall asleep in bed after a long day. Moreover, you'll notice the symptoms subside when you start to move again.
Daytime drowsiness and a lack of sleep. RLS can be a significant contributor to insomnia and is technically a sleep disorder, so it's essential to seek medical attention when you notice an impact on your sleep schedule.
Causes of Restless Leg Syndrome
There are no known causes of most cases of RLS. That said, scientific evidence suggests the following risk factors may play a role in RLS development:
RLS is slightly more common in seniors, likely because diabetic neuropathy, end-stage renal disease and hemodialysis are known risk factors.
Specific medications can make RLS symptoms worse. Some examples include antihistamines, anti-nausea and anti-emetic drugs, antidepressant medications and antipsychotic medications.
An iron deficiency can contribute to RLS.
Genetics can play a role in RLS development. Between 40-90 percent of affected individuals have at least one first-degree relative with RLS, like a parent or sibling.
For unknown reasons, women are more likely to experience RLS than men.
Restless Leg Syndrome Treatment
It may seem like nothing will help your restless legs. Since the symptoms are quite strange, it may feel like you simply have to put up with them. But rest assured, there are ways you can make your life much more comfortable while dealing with RLS:
Compression stockings: Compression wear is known to help with aches and alleviate sedentary symptoms, so it may be beneficial for those with RLS. More specifically, the National Library of Medicine notes that when light pressure is applied to the limbs, it can act as a counter-stimuli to the uncomfortable feeling RLS causes. The feeling of pressure essentially overpowers the other sensations.
Massage therapy: Registered massage therapy may prompt dopamine release in the body. It can also alleviate tension in the skin and muscles.
Medications: Dopamine-related medications, iron supplements, benzodiazepines (and other sleep-inducing drugs), and alpha-2 delta drugs (calcium channel blockers) may be prescribed by your family doctor.
Benefits of Compression Stockings from Sigvaris Group
Home Remedies for Restless Leg Syndrome
Sometimes, your RLS symptoms will bother you before you can see your family doctor or get a compression stocking fitting with a chiropodist. If you're waiting around for treatment and becoming progressively more uncomfortable, these at-home remedies may help:
Hot baths: The warm temperature of bath water can "distract" your muscles when RLS sensations arise.
Restricting caffeine and alcohol: Stimulants and depressants can hurt your sleep. However, if you suffer from severe RLS, restricting caffeine may not do much, but it can be helpful in mild cases. Likewise, alcohol can make you sleepy, but it also tends to wake people up in the middle of the night.
Ice packs: Cold compresses can "distract" your muscles like hot water can.
Exercises: Foot and leg stretches, specifically flexing the ankles and performing toe circles, can help provide relief. That said, sudden vigorous exercise isn't always recommended for people with RLS. Instead, you should ease into moderate routines.
Magnesium and Calcium: These supplements may decrease muscle spasms. For the best results, take them before bed.
Valerian and Passionflower: These herbs may relax your muscles and trigger sleep.
December 19, 2022
Christmas and the holidays are naturally stressful as we hunt for the perfect gifts. But it's important to take a moment to reflect on what gifts are the most meaningful rather than the most expensive or luxurious. One example of a loved one we may struggle to shop for is our grandma. But finding the perfect stocking stuffers for grandma may not be as challenging as you think!
Shopping for health and wellness gifts is a great angle to take. Seniors are more prone to suffering from foot conditions than we are, and many products that help alleviate these problems are affordable and perfect for stockings.
Let's take a look at some of our top picks!
Stocking Stuffers For Grandma
Gehwol's Fusskraft Leg Vitality
Foot File
Medilogics Massage Ball
Sigvaris Compression Stockings
Dermal Therapy Heel Care
Misc Gehwol Products
Photo by Nicole Michalou from Pexels!
Gehwol's Fusskraft Leg Vitality
Price: $27
The perfect gift for grandma can be something that helps her with mobility. Joint problems and muscle weakness are quite common in elderly people and can lead to instability, difficulty standing up after sitting, and even falls. So why not enhance her Christmas stocking this year with a multi-beneficial leg product?
Now, this trusty balm won't eliminate mobility problems --- it takes a lot of attentive care, exercises, and visits with healthcare professionals to improve mobility. However, gently massaging Gehwol's Leg Vitality does produce a soothing effect for tired, achy muscles.
The ingredients are scientifically proven to positively affect the circulation and vascular system. Gehwol's Leg Vitality also prevents skin irritation, tightens the skin, and prevents dry, scaly dead skin. These benefits can be extremely valuable for people who have difficulty moving since discomfort can lead to skin care neglect.
Foot File
Price: $8 (2 for $14)
One of the best gift ideas for grandma is a foot file. This pedicure tool scrapes the dead skin off the bottom of the feet. As a result, happy foot filers enjoy fewer calluses and cracked heels and a lower chance of developing a fungal infection.
But a lesser-known benefit of using a foot file is the boost in blood circulation, which can help relax your feet and prep them for a day of walking.
Now, you may be wondering why this is a good Christmas gift for grandma versus someone else. To answer that, studies show that seniors are more at risk of developing plantar keratosis, also known as a "painful, discrete, and focused callus" resulting from dead skin buildup. Aging also leads to the reduction of natural collagen production, which can result in even more dead skin and calluses. A good foot file can help with all of that!
At Feet First Clinic, we have quality double-sided foot files available. Use the coarse side to exfoliate, and the other side to smooth and soften the skin. They also come with a free GEHWOL foot scrub to use with the foot file.
Medilogics Massage Ball
Price: $11
This year, grandma can stimulate blood circulation and soothe her sore muscles with a therapeutic massage ball. This gift is meaningful since countless older adults suffer from bottom of the foot pain.
More specifically, elderly people are more at risk of succumbing to stress fractures, poor circulation, gout (typically in the big toe but it can target the heel), and plantar fasciitis, so comforting and strengthening all of the foot muscles is important.
The textured surface of this massage ball helps it stand apart from other therapeutic balls or the standard tennis balls some use for foot pain exercises.
Sigvaris Compression Stockings
Price Range: $60-190
Fashionable, discrete, and snug compression stockings from Sigvaris can help make daily life easier for seniors. They help preserve health in older adults by preventing fluid buildup and blood clots and improving circulation. Medium-pressure (20 to 30 mmHg) stockings are generally sufficient for seniors experiencing mild swelling and aching legs and feet.
The only issue with choosing compression stockings for Christmas gifts is that you need to arrange a fitting for your grandma, so the surprise element isn't there. However, gifts aren't all about the surprise. When a present is meaningful and used daily, it can be much more valuable than other gifts.
Dermal Therapy Heel Care
Price: $15
This heel care cream is all your grandma needs to get through the bitterly cold winters.
Cracked heels can be more common in older adults as the skin around the rim of the heel dries out and thickens. As the fat pad under the heel bears a lot of pressure throughout one's lifetime, it only makes sense for cracked heels to develop if seniors don't take proper precautions. Furthermore, seniors are more prone to dry skin due to water loss in the stratum corneum (outermost layer of the skin), causing cracking, itching, and bleeding.
But Dermal Therapy Heel Care can be a lifesaver of a Christmas gift. The ingredients (such as urea and silk amino acids) actively hydrate the skin by imitating the body's natural moisturizing system. It also works as an exfoliant, replacing the dead, old skin with new skin. Lastly, it can restore skin tone in the feet and provide a silky, smooth feel.
Miscellaneous Products From Gehwol
Price Range: Roughly $18-30
When pondering stocking stuffers, it's important to shine a light on all products from Gehwol. They continue to master the art of combining natural ingredients and medicinal properties to create multipurpose foot care products.
The following products are perfect as stocking stuffers and are all available at Feet First Clinic:
Gehwol's Foot Bath
Gehwol's Lipidro Cream
Gehwol's Med Express Foam
Gehwol's Fusskraft Soft Feet Cream
Gehwol's Fusskraft Herbal Foot Bath
Gehwol's Foot and Shoe Deodorant
Gehwol's Med Lipidro Cream
Gehwol's Med Salve for Cracked Skin
Gehwol's Extra Universal Foot Cream
December 12, 2022
This holiday season, let's consider healthcare during our shopping trips. Medical gifts are often on the wish lists of people we love, like our grandparents or even our doctors and medical student friends. They want useful gifts that not only ease foot pain and provide comfort, are also special for folks who like to showcase their foot health knowledge and care about preventing foot conditions.
But maybe you don't know where to start as you hunt for a healthy gift.
That's where we come into the picture! Feet First Clinic has curated the ultimate medical gift guide with a special focus on foot health. These goodies are affordable and can be stocking stuffers or larger gifts.
Useful Medical Gifts for Foot Care and Wellness
Here are some great finds in our holiday gift guide:
Shoes, shoes, and more shoes
Medical compression stockings
Orthopedic slippers
Therapeutic massage balls
Superfeet insoles
Foot files
Gehwol products
Shoes, Shoes, and More Shoes
For the loved one who is infamous for buying ill-fitting footwear.
Show someone you care by investing in a long-lasting pair of shoes that provide comfort and the right support.
Of course, it can be tricky to surprise someone without knowing how a shoe will fit, so you can offer to take your loved one on a shopping trip and treat them to a proper shoe fitting. At the end of the session, they'll leave with a great new pair of runners, winter boots, or another type of shoe they need.
To ensure you snag the right shoes to gift someone, consider this trusty shoe-shopping checklist!
Medical Compression Stockings
For the loved one going through pregnancy or struggling with edema-related(swelling) conditions.
There is a lot of misinformation about compression stockings. Some claim that they're only suitable for seniors, they cut off blood circulation, and they're bulky and ugly. But they couldn't be more wrong! Compression stockings are great for young people too! They stimulate blood flow and are super stylish!
Compression stockings help pregnant women and those suffering from foot swelling, and they're a great idea for frequent travellers and people who stand all day long at work. They're also great for athletes who need an oxygen boost for their muscles.
They're a wonderfully versatile gift. To arrange this type of gifting, instruct your loved one to attend a complimentary fitting and then cover the cost when the stockings arrive.
Orthopedic Slippers
For the loved one who wants some extra support and coziness at home.
Orthopedic slippers are a fun gift that would make almost anybody happy simply because they feel so soft and comforting. As a bonus, they can also increase blood circulation, help with spinal issues and lower back pain, and reduce the risk of sustaining an injury from a fall.
You can have some fun shopping for supportive slippers. Some come with furry collars and several colours to choose from. There are also broad selections for both men and women.
Check out this blog to learn why these slippers are a great medical gift idea!
Therapeutic Massage Balls
For the loved one struggling with pain at the bottom of their feet.
This tiny ball works wonders and is the perfect stocking stuffer. You can also include them in a foot care gift box if you'd like them to be a part of a major gift!
They're an accompaniment to several foot exercises (use them instead of tennis balls), and regularly using them can make a big difference in your loved one's quality of life.
Specifically, therapeutic massage balls help loosen tense muscles on the bottom of your feet. You can also use them to help with back and neck pain as they work out knots and boost blood circulation.
Superfeet Insoles
For the loved one looking for extra support to accommodate their footwear.
As far as medical gifts go, Superfeet insoles are a wonderful route to take. The general use of their most popular colour, green, is to provide extra support for people with flat feet, plantar fasciitis and other types of foot pain. They're also great at ensuring your footwear fits more snugly.
But if you have a loved one with more specific needs, worry not!
Superfeet produces several insoles with colours that indicate how they stand out. For example, Superfeet Berry is made specifically for women and comes with a slimmer heel and an arch length to fit the proportions of the female foot. And Superfeet Black is a versatile, low-profile option for people with flat feet. And that's just the beginning!
Foot Files
For the loved one who likes to practice a solid foot care routine.
You can gift someone a foot file as a stocking stuffer or as part of a gift box (throw in some Gehwol products and a massage ball for the perfect foot care selection!).
But why do we need them?
Foot files remove hard, scaly dead skin from the bottom of the foot, making them feel silky smooth. The perfect tool for concluding a luxurious at-home foot care session, you should give them some consideration as you shop for medical gifts.
Gehwol Products
For the loved one who embraces skincare.
Gehwol is known for its abundance of high-quality foot creams, sprays and powders. They also make lovely bath foams and revitalizing bath salts for tired, achy feet.
You can gift someone one product as a stocking stuffer or try creating a gift bundle with some variety. Here's a great example of a Gehwol gift bundle:
Gehwol's Fusskraft Herbal Foot Bath
Gehwol's Med Salve for Cracked Skin
Gehwol's Foot and Shoe Deodorant
Gehwol's Med Lipidro Cream
October 10, 2022
Inflammation is your body's natural and beneficial reaction to fight off invaders. From illness to injury, inflammation protects our bodies from damage that would worsen without this bodily response. However, sometimes there may be too much inflammation. And too much of a good thing can have damaging effects.
When addressed and managed correctly, you can reduce pain and discomfort associated with inflammation.
In this article, we'll show you how to control inflammation. Additionally, you'll learn more about inflammation, its causes and symptoms, and finally, how to relieve and reduce pain associated with inflammation.
What is inflammation?
Inflammation is your body's reaction to an irritant. Specifically, inflammation occurs when your immune system triggers white blood cells to release chemicals into your blood or tissues to fight off invaders. As a result, blood flow to the area increases, causing redness, warmth, and enlargement.
However, in some cases, certain conditions trigger inflammation when it's not needed. When your body produces too much inflammation, you may experience discomfort, pain, and other issues.
Generally, there are two types of inflammation: acute and chronic.
Acute inflammation is a short-lived bodily reaction, usually to some injury, foreign substance, or illness.
Chronic inflammation is a long-term reaction from your body's immune system. This type of inflammation can damage your body. Conditions linked to chronic inflammation include cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, gouty arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, asthma, and Alzheimer's.
Next, let's get into the symptoms of inflammation.
What are the symptoms of inflammation?
Those with inflammation may experience any number of symptoms you'll find below, but not necessarily all of them.
The most common symptoms of inflammation include:
Redness (a red tinge to your skin)
Swelling (warm to the touch and slightly enlarged in some cases, like if you sprain an ankle, for example)
Sharp or dull pain, especially in the joints
Stiffness
Deterioration of your joint's motor function. For instance, a loss of range of motion or reduced weight-bearing ability.
Now that you understand the signs and symptoms of inflammation, how does one know what causes inflammation? Let's get into the causes of inflammation next.
What causes inflammation?
Many things can trigger either low-level regulatory or quick, intense inflammatory responses. The source of the inflammation directly ties back to the type of inflammatory response: acute or chronic.
Below you'll find an extensive list of instances and causes where your body may trigger a swelling and inflammatory response:
An autoimmune disorder mistakes a healthy component of your body for a foreign antigen. As a result, your body attacks healthy tissues. Such diseases include rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Exposure to toxins and particular chemicals
Infections
An acute injury
Pregnancy can increases inflammation for several reasons. When pregnant, your body holds more water, and the added water may pool in your legs. The weight and pressure of your womb may also cause increased swelling in your legs, especially if you stand a lot.
Your diet has a direct connection with inflammation. Foods high in fat, fried foods, and refined carbohydrates can induce inflammation. More on that further along in the article.
Your age contributes to elevated inflammation levels. For example, Aging may cause higher levels of several inflammatory molecules. The age-associated increase in inflammatory molecules may be due to mitochondrial dysfunction, free radical accumulation over time, and other age-related factors like an increase in visceral body fat.
Obesity
Smoking cigarettes can reduce the production of anti-inflammatory molecules in your body.
Poor and a lack of sleep can cause increased inflammation. But not just a few poor nights of sleep. Being consistently sleep deprived interferes with the normal function of the brain's housecleaning system, and your body cannot clear itself of specific beta-amyloid proteins.
How can I reduce and relieve pain from inflammation?
Whether it's medication or altering your diet, the best treatment method for inflammation depends on the type of inflammatory response. For some, it may be a simple change to your lifestyle that can help relieve inflammation. For others, it may be a lifelong challenge where treatment methods aim to improve quality of life.
Exercise & Physical Activity
Exercise is a natural anti-inflammatory. The movement breaks up inflammation and stiffness. Physical activity also strengthens your muscles, which helps them better withstand your everyday activities without becoming over-exerted and getting injured. Since over-exertion can trigger an inflammatory response, strong muscles are your body's best defence and treatment against inflammation and injury. Check out our Pinterest Exercise and Stretching Board for recommended exercises to keep your inflammation at bay.
Pain relief cream
Over-the-counter topical creams can help provide pain relief associated with inflammation. These can be in the form of analgesic creams, rubs, and sprays. Diclofenac, known for its brand name Voltaren, for example, can help provide pain relief as well as provides a cooling sensation. Salicylates and topical NSAIDs may also provide relief.
Oral medications
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs like ibuprofen or naproxen)
Corticosteroids
Anti-inflammatory diet
The adage that you are what you eat has particular relevance for inflammation. Certain foods can cause inflammation, while other foods can help reduce inflammation. Foods like tomatoes, olive oil, greens, nuts, fish, and fruit all have anti-inflammatory properties to reduce inflammation. Conversely, avoid processed foods, fried foods, refined carbs, and sugary drinks, as these all have inflammation-inducing ingredients.
Cold therapy
Cold therapy, for instance icing, can be effective against pain related to swelling and inflammation for acute injuries. For sprained ankles, icing can help numb the area and encourage blood flow away from the site, which can help reduce swelling and discomfort. However, be careful when using cold therapy for chronic inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis, as cold can sometimes cause your muscles to stiffen.
Elevate
Elevating your legs about your heart can help reduce inflammation by promoting blood flow back towards your heart and away from your feet. Elevating your legs is as simple as resting your legs up at an upward angle against the wall for 5-10 minutes.
Compression socks
Compression is a common and effective way of controlling and limiting swelling and inflammation. Custom garments exist to specifically increase circulation and help prevent swelling. These garments are called compression socks. Compression socks can be particularly handy when standing for long periods, travelling, or if you're sedentary for prolonged lengths.
September 19, 2022
Swollen feet can catch you off guard at any point during your life. And since it's often not painful, it can be tricky to pinpoint what's causing swollen feet and ankles. Simple lifestyle factors can play a major role, but additional symptoms often indicate a more serious health concern.
Feet swelling is the result of two occurrences:
Edema: The medical term for swelling. It occurs due to fluid buildup under the skin.
Inflammation: Your body's healing process to foreign invaders and injuries. Foot swelling can also occur for other reasons unrelated to inflammation.
When excessive fluid builds and gets trapped in your body's tissues, your feet become puffy under the skin. Furthermore, if you press on swollen feet with your fingers, they will often retain the shape, similar to memory foam. Foot and ankle swelling can also make the skin look shiny or stretchy.
Now it's time to discuss some common causes of swollen feet. Some of these can be solved with lifestyle changes and healthy living, while others may require medical intervention and appointments with your chiropodist.
5 Swollen Feet Causes
Foot injuries
Prolonged standing
Pregnancy
Diabetes
Inflammatory foods and weight gain
Foot Injuries
Often, edema results from inflammation. This is our body's response to trying to protect us from harmful invaders. When your body senses danger, it releases chemicals from its white blood cells, boosting blood flow to the affected area and causing swelling and redness.
Inflammation-related edema is often associated with an injury like a foot or ankle sprain, fracture or infection.
Since injury-related swelling is the body's attempt to heal itself, it can last for a few months following injury. Additionally, inflammation-related foot swelling is almost always accompanied by pain, redness, reduced mobility and sometimes a warm feeling in the skin.
If you practice at-home treatment methods (rest, elevation, ice, compression) and visit your doctor, your foot swelling will go down as your injury heals.
Prolonged Standing
The simple effects of gravity on our vascular system can cause your feet and ankles to swell. If you spend consecutive hours standing up, the water in our blood enters the tissue in the feet and lower legs, causing edema.
Neglecting to move and continuing to stand for long periods is bad for older adults since it contributes to venous insufficiency. This condition arises when the vein valves in the legs become even more unable to stop blood from pooling.
Sometimes an adjustment to your work schedule and making some lifestyle changes is all you need to address swollen feet. Be sure to rest tired, aching feet and relax for a while if you notice mild swelling after a long day.
Pregnancy
Going through nine months of pregnancy can do wild things to the human body, with foot swelling being just one change pregnant women experience.
If you notice foot swelling during pregnancy, rest assured that it's normal. First, the growing uterus puts much more stress on the veins than usual, contributing to vascular inefficiencies. Your hormones, particularly estrogen, are also so out of whack that they cause fluid retention in the ankles and feet.
Mild edema is common for pregnant women, but if it's sudden, severe and causes pain, you should see your doctor. Many women experience relief when they stay off their feet, gently flex and stretch their feet and wear compression stockings. Wearing loose socks and pants can also help promote blood flow.
Diabetes
High blood sugar often causes localized edema in the feet and ankles. When you don't have natural insulin in the body, you're not able to absorb sugars. This causes glucose levels to build, affecting the lining of small blood vessels and reducing blood flow. This poor blood circulation then impedes the body's ability to distribute fluid and it gets trapped in the feet and ankles.
If you have diabetes, your feet become incredibly vulnerable to damage and complications. As such, people with diabetes need to regularly check in with a foot specialist for diabetic foot care.
Inflammatory Foods and Weight Gain
Inflammatory foot swelling doesn't just occur with injuries and infections. Eating refined carbohydrates, sodas, fried/salty foods and red meat are all known to cause inflammation in the body.
Fried foods produce advanced glycation end products (AGEs), stimulating inflammation. Red and processed meats are also full of AGEs, and too much sugar triggers excessive, fast weight gain and insulin resistance, both associated with inflammation. And of course, several studies highlight how too much salt can cause an increased inflammatory response in the body.
You can stop harming your health and fight foot swelling by choosing foods that fight inflammation. Some examples include:
Tomatoes
Olive oil
Fatty fish (like salmon)
Leafy vegetables
Berries
Oranges
Additional Swollen Feet Causes
Gout: This painful arthritic condition can cause sudden swelling and tenderness.
Age: Adults are more at risk of developing diseases that contribute to edema as they get older. Some examples include heart, liver or kidney disease.
Lymphedema: Damage or blocking of the body's lymph system can trigger edema in the feet and ankles.
Blood clots: When clotting occurs in the legs it can prevent blood from returning back up to the heart, triggering swollen feet.
Medications: Blood pressure medicine, steroids, antidepressants, NSAIDs, and oral contraceptives have all been linked to foot swelling.
