Health issues do not suddenly occur. Often the body hints through different ways to alert people of potentially serious issues happening within the system. These signals come in different forms depending on the types of health issues the body is experiencing. They can be in the form of bodily odors, dermatological disorders, or inflammation and pain. Having swollen feet is amongst the common signs shown by the body to flag up health problems.
Peripheral edema, a gathering of fluid within the same tissue, is the term used to refer to swollen feet. With so much importance placed on feet as a means of mobility, taking care of them becomes paramount.
There are many factors that can trigger swelling in the feet. Even though it may be true that swollen feet are caused by prolonged inactivity, walking for a long time, or even hot and humid weather conditions there may also be serious underlying medical causes.
If you often experience puffy feet and wonder what could be wrong, take a look at these 11 leading causes of swollen feet.
1. Foot Injury
Foot injuries cause swelling on the lower body limbs, with leg, ankles, and feet being the most affected. The common injuries include sprains, fractures, and torn foot ligaments and tendons. Lower limb injuries can stimulate the swelling of feet. You may have sprained your ankle during a physical exercise like running or something heavy might have fallen and injured you.
If this takes place, inflammation starts in and around the injured area as a way of responding to the injury. A lot of blood containing healing cells and fluid is pumped down to heal the affected area. The blood and fluid meant to heal the injury expand your foot, hence the swelling. Amid this, you can use the R.I.C.E technique (rest, ice, compression, elevation) for relief and help reduce the swelling. Sometimes if these injuries are left untreated, feet remain puffy for a longer time than they normally should.