Swollen Ankle and Leg

The ankles and legs are common sites of swelling because of gravity’s effect on the fluids in the human body. However, fluid retention from gravity isn’t the only cause of a swollen ankle or leg. Injuries and subsequent inflammation can also cause fluid retention and swelling.

A swollen ankle or leg can cause the lower part of the leg to appear larger than normal. The swelling can make it difficult to walk. It may be painful, with the skin over your leg feeling tight and stretched out. While the condition isn’t always a reason for concern, knowing its cause can help rule out a more serious problem.

What causes a swollen ankle or leg?

If you stand a large part of the day, you may develop a swollen ankle or leg. Older age can also make swelling more likely. A long flight or car ride may cause a swollen angle, leg, or foot too.
Certain medical conditions can also result in a swollen ankle or leg. These include:

• being overweight
• venous insufficiency, in which problems with valves of the veins prevents blood from flowing back to the heart
• pregnancy
• rheumatoid arthritis
• blood clots in the leg
• heart failure
• kidney failure
• leg infection
• liver failure
• lymphedema, or swelling caused by a blockage in the lymphatic system
• previous surgery, such as pelvic, hip, knee, ankle, or foot surgery

Taking certain medications can lead to this symptom. These include:

• antidepressants, including phenelzine (Nardil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), and amitriptyline 
• calcium channel blockers used to treat high blood pressure, including nifedipine (Adalat CC, Afeditab CR, Procardia), amlodipine (Norvasc), and verapamil (Verelan)
• hormone medications, such as birth control pills, estrogen, or testosterone
• steroids

Swelling in the ankle and leg could be the result of inflammation due to acute or chronic injury. Conditions that can cause this type of inflammation include:

• ankle sprain
• osteoarthritis
• gout
• broken leg
• Achilles tendon rupture
• ACL tear

Edema

Edema is a type of swelling that may occur when extra fluid flows into these areas of your body:

• legs
• arms
• hands
• ankles
• feet

Mild edema can be caused by pregnancy, premenstrual symptoms, consuming too much salt, or being in one position for a long time. This type of leg or ankle swelling can be a side effect of certain medications, such as:

• thiazolidinediones (used to treat diabetes)
• high BP medications
• steroids
• anti-inflammatory medications
• estrogen

Edema can be a symptom of a more serious medical issue, such as:

• kidney disease or damage
• congestive heart failure
• veins that are weak or damaged
• a lymphatic system that isn’t working properly

Mild edema will usually go away without any medical treatment. However, if you have a more serious case of edema, it can be treated with medications.

Why do swollen ankles and legs occur during pregnancy?

Swollen ankles and legs are common when you’re pregnant because of factors such as:

• natural fluid retention
• pressure on veins due to the extra weight of your uterus
• changing hormones

The swelling tends to go away after you deliver your baby. Until then, try these tips to prevent or lessen the swelling.

Swelling prevention in pregnancy

• Avoid standing for long periods of time.
• Sit with your feet raised.
• Keep as cool as possible.
• Spend time in the pool.
• Keep a regular exercise routine as approved by your doctor.
• Sleep on your left side.

Don’t reduce your water intake if you have swelling. You need plenty of fluids during pregnancy, usually at least 10 cups per day.
If the swelling is painful, you should see your doctor to make sure that your blood pressure is normal. Your doctor will also want to check if you have a blood clot and rule out other possible conditions, such as preeclampsia.

When should I seek medical help?

Seek emergency medical care if you also have heart-related symptoms. These can include:

• chest pain
• trouble breathing
• dizziness
• mental confusion

You should also seek emergency treatment if you notice an abnormality or crookedness to the ankle that wasn’t there before. If an injury prevents you from putting weight on your leg, this is also cause for concern.
If you’re pregnant, seek immediate medical attention if you have symptoms associated with preeclampsia or dangerously high blood pressure. These include:

• severe headaches
• nausea
• vomiting
• dizziness
• very little urine output

Seek medical attention if at-home treatments don’t help reduce swelling or if your discomfort increases.

How is a swollen ankle or leg treated?

Home care

To treat a swollen ankle or leg at home, remember the acronym RICE:

• Rest. Stay off your ankle or leg until you can get to the doctor or until the swelling goes away.
• Ice. Put ice on the swollen area as soon as you can for 15 to 20 minutes. Then repeat every three to four hours.
• Compression. Wrap your ankle or leg snugly, but be sure not to cut off circulation. Support stockings may be an option.
• Elevation. Raise your ankle or leg above your heart (or as far above your heart as possible). Two pillows will usually give you the correct elevation. This encourages fluid to move away from your leg.

Medical treatment

If you seek medical attention, your physician will likely determine what’s causing your symptoms. Testing may include:

• blood tests
• an x-ray
• an ECG
• urinalysis

If the swelling is caused by a medical condition such as congestive heart failure, the doctor may prescribe diuretics. These medications affect the kidneys and stimulate them to release fluids.
If an ongoing medical condition such as rheumatoid arthritis is the root of the problem, your treatment may turn into management and prevention of that condition.

Swelling due to injury may require bone resetting, a cast, or surgery to repair the injured area.
For swelling that’s painful, a doctor may prescribe a pain reliever or over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication, such as ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen sodium (Aleve).

Mild swelling from pregnancy or a mild injury usually goes away on its own after delivery of the baby or with sufficient rest.

After treatment, you should contact your doctor if:

• your swelling gets worse
• you have breathing difficulty or chest pain
• you feel dizzy or faint
• your swelling doesn’t decrease as quickly as the doctor said it would

What are possible complications?

Complications from a swollen leg or ankle can include:

• increased swelling
• redness or warmth
• sudden pain that wasn’t there previously
• chest pain lasting for more than one to three minutes
• feeling faint or dizzy
• confusion

If any of these conditions arise, you should contact a medical professional immediately. They will be able to assess, rule out, or treat serious medical conditions.

How can I prevent a swollen ankle or leg?

Medical condition management

If you have a medical condition that can lead to swelling, take your medications and manage your symptoms carefully. People with congestive heart failure or kidney disease may need to limit the amount of fluid they take in each day.

Exercise precautions

While you can’t always prevent injuries during physical activity, warming up first can help. This includes a walk or light jog before engaging in vigorous physical activity.
Choose supportive footwear. Proper shoes can help correct any gait issues and prevent injuries. You should choose shoes that match your activity or your specific needs. If you jog or run, get fitted by a professional for the correct shoe.

Compression socks

Compression socks apply pressure to your lower leg. In some cases, this can help prevent and alleviate ankle and foot swelling caused by certain conditions, such as:

• deep vein thrombosis
• lymphedema
• varicose veins
• venous insufficiency

You should check with your doctor before using compression socks for your swelling. These special socks should be properly fitted for you and your needs. Also, be sure to wear them during the day and remove them before you go to bed.

Diet

A low-sodium diet discourages fluid retention. It involves refraining from eating fast food. Many frozen meals and canned soups often contain excess sodium, so read your food labels carefully.

Leg elevation

If you stand a lot during the day, try propping your feet up or soaking them in water when you get home to help prevent swelling.

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Researchers find a way to make food taste salty with less sodium chloride.

Want a low salt diet but no compromise with the taste? Researchers have found a new way that can make your food taste salty but with less sodium chloride which is linked to poor   health.

It's a stealth approach, not like buying the ' reduced salt' option, which people generally don't like. If we can stair-step people down, then we increase health while still making food that people want to eat said a researcher.

The researchers took into account, salt blends that use less sodium chloride but include other salts like calcium chloride and potassium chloride.

Calcium and potassium chloride do not have those adverse effects on health. Potassium can help reduce blood pressure. Although, they aren't that great in taste. Potassium chloride tastes bitter, hence people really don't like it.

The research had an electronic tongue to check how much of the substitute salts could be added for sodium chloride before people object of the food being not tasty.

Using the e-tongue and panels, they found that a blend using approximately 96.4% sodium chloride with 1.6% potassium chloride and 2 % calcium chloride was the ideal reduction.

They had a higher reduction when they added only calcium chloride, getting acceptable rates with a combination of 78 % sodium chloride and 22 % calcium chloride.

This combination of the 2 salts did not significantly differ compared to 100 % sodium chloride but when we added potassium chloride, consumer acceptance decreased, claimed the researcher.

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Everything You Need to Know About Water Retention

What is water retention?

Plane flights, hormone changes, and too much salt can all cause your body to retain excess water. Your body is made up mainly of water. When your hydration level is not balanced, your body tends to hang on to that water. Usually, water retention may cause you to feel heavier than normal, and less nimble or active. It can also cause:

• bloating
• puffiness
• swelling

Water retention is a common health issue, and can occur on a daily basis. A number of factors can cause it including:

• diet
• menstrual cycle
• genetics

You can help relieve water retention by making lifestyle changes.

Symptoms

Symptoms of water retention can include:

• bloating, especially in the abdominal area
• swollen legs, feet, and ankles
• puffiness of the abdomen, face, and hips
• stiff joints
• weight fluctuations
• indentations in the skin, similar to what you see on your fingers when you’ve been in the bath or shower a long time

Causes

A number of factors can cause water retention, including:

• flying in an airplane: Changes in cabin pressure and sitting for an extended period of time may cause your body to hold on to water.
• standing or sitting too long: Gravity keeps blood in your lower extremities. It’s important to get up and move around often to keep blood circulating. If you have a sedentary job, schedule time to get up and walk around.
• menstrual changes and fluctuating hormones
• eating too much sodium: You may get too much sodium by using a lot of table salt or ingesting processed foods and soft drinks.
• medications: Some medications have water retention as a side effect. These include:
  • chemotherapy treatments
  • over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers
  • blood pressure medications
  • antidepressants
• weak heart: A weak heart that can’t pump blood well can cause the body to retain water.d
• deep vein thrombosis(DVT): Leg swelling can be caused by DVT, which is a clot in a vein.
• pregnancy: The shift in weight during pregnancy can cause the legs to retain water if you don’t move around regularly.                                                                                                       

Can persistent water retention cause complications?

Consistent water retention might be a symptom of a serious condition such as:

• deep vein thrombosis
• pulmonary edema, or fluid buildup inside your lungs
• fibroids in women

If your body doesn’t return naturally to its balanced state, you should seek medical help. Your doctor can determine if you need any of the following to relieve your water retention:

• diuretics
• special supplements
• birth control pills

Remedies

Remedies for water retention include:

1. Follow a low-salt diet

Try to limit your intake of sodium to no more than 2,300 milligrams per day. This means shopping the perimeter of the grocery store and not eating processed, packaged foods. Try adding spices instead of salt to flavor vegetables and lean proteins.

2. Add in potassium- and magnesium-rich foods

They will help balance out your sodium levels. Options include:

• bananas
• avocados
• tomatoes
• sweet potatoes
• leafy vegetables, such as spinach

3. Take a vitamin B-6 supplement

According to a study, vitamin B-6 significantly helped with premenstrual symptoms like water retention.

4. Eat your protein

Protein attracts water and keeps your body balanced. A special protein called albumin keeps fluid in the bloodstream and prevents it from leaking out and causing swelling.

5. Keep your feet elevated

Elevating your feet can help move the water upward and away from your lower extremities.

6. Wear compression socks or leggings

Compression socks are becoming more popular and easier to find. They are available at athletic clothing stores and many online sites. Compression socks are made to fit tight. They may even feel a little uncomfortable at first. The purpose of compression apparel is to squeeze your legs and prevent fluid from accumulating.

7. Seek your doctor’s help if your problem persists

Your doctor may prescribe a diuretic medication to make you urinate more.

Outlook

You can live a healthy life if you naturally retain water. It’s a common health issue. Its side effects are usually little more than feeling like you’ve gained some weight and your clothes fit tighter than usual. If you feel concerned about your symptoms, consult your doctor.

Prevention

It’s best to follow a healthy diet and limit foods high in sodium. Keep a diary of what you’re doing and eating when you feel like you’re retaining extra water. This will help you pinpoint the causes. Then you can make appropriate lifestyle changes to help prevent water retention.

Takeaway

Water retention is a common health issue that can be caused by a number of factors, including diet, menstrual cycles, and genetics. You can help relieve water retention by making some lifestyle changes. If your water retention persists, consult your doctor who may prescribe medications.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                                                                                                                                      PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/   
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6 Dietary Tips To Avoid Kidney Diseases

It is the World Kidney Day 2018 today. World Kidney Day is a global awareness campaign aimed at raising awareness of the importance of our kidneys. The bean shaped organs are vital for smooth functioning of the body. Many of you would know, that it is because of the kidneys, that our body is able to discharge waste and toxins in form of urine. But in addition to that, kidneys also help filter blood before sending it back to the heart. Kidneys are body's natural filters that also help maintaining overall fluid balance, regulating and filtering minerals from blood and  play a crucial role in producing red blood cells and regulating blood pressure.

So, on this World Kidney Day 2018, lets pledge to take maximum care of these precious organs. Few dietary tweaks can go a long way in managing the health of our kidneys better.

1. Cut Down on Sugar
A Nutritionist, says, "Most processed food products contain too much sugar, so when it goes to your system it leads to hormonal imbalance and also your blood profile changes. High consumption of these empty calories can cause obesity and diabetes - diseases that directly impact the functioning of your kidneys. You can treat yourself to your favourite dessert or a fast food burger sometimes as long as it does not replace your daily balanced diet."
 
2. Keep a Check on Phosphorous Intake
Health experts and doctors have issued a warning against excess phosphorous in the human body claiming that it may increase the risk of chronic kidney disease where the phosphate levels in the body shoot up to abnormally high levels. According to them, muscle cramps, numbness, tingling, bone or joint pain and rash are all the symptoms of hyperphosphatemia and people who experience them quite often should consult a doctor at the earliest. Foods that should be strictly avoided, or at least consumed in moderation include soft drinks, chocolates, tinned milk and processed meat," suggests a Nephrologist.

3. Say No to Junk Food
Junk food or processed food may cause long-term damage to the kidneys and trigger diabetes. Steer clear of greasy fries or chips or sugary cookies. This may induce changes in glucose transport in the kidney.

4. Keep well hydrated

For a healthy kidney function, it is very important to stay hydrated at all times. Kidneys act as filters in the body, they need adequate water to flush off the toxins, waste products and unwanted or unneeded compounds from the blood. Adequate water intake would ensure that the kidneys are not too congested or calcified to carry out its filtering function. Drink at least 8 glasses of water every day. And not just water, there are several other fluids that can help you stay hydrated - buttermilk,fresh lemon juice, coconut water and kanji are some of the good fluids you can load up on.

5. Maintain healthy blood pressure

A healthy blood pressure and healthy kidneys are intertwined in more ways than you would have ever imaginedA high blood pressure could damage blood vessels throughout the body, including the small arteries within the kidneys that are very important for its filtering. Check your blood pressure regularly. Eating a low-salt diet and maintaining a healthy weight all help maintain normal blood pressure.

6. Cut down on Alcohol
Excessive alcohol intake could potentially damage several organs and your precious kidneys are no exception. According to experts alcohol(ethanol) can negatively impact the internal lining of the organ, thereby causing hindrance in the kidney function of filtering blood and balance fluids / electrolytes which can also lead to high blood pressure. Binge drinking may also cause kidneys to shut down and cause acute kidney injury . Keep your alcohol intake in moderate range, that is one to two alcoholic beverage per day.

Here's wishing you all a Happy World Kidney Day 2018

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.   

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