Harms of Swollen Feet and Hands
1. During pregnancy, if the pregnant woman feels swelling in the feet, it can be two reasons. Firstly she is experiencing hypertension, and secondly, anemia during pregnancy. Pregnant women must always take iron food; otherwise, they will feel swelling in their legs due to lack of oxygen circulation to the leg muscles because blood cannot reach there correctly.
2. Swelling of hands and feet can be caused by a lack of daily movement or exercise, even high blood pressure.
3. It may happen that during the menstrual cycle, women might feel swelling in their legs. This occurs because the overproduction of estrogen hormone results in water retention in nearby tissues causing the portion to swollen.
4. Swollen feet may also happen due to some diseases like- arthritis, atherosclerosis, multiple myeloma, etc. The swelling of the hands and feet is the first sign shown by people with kidney problems.
5. Overweight is another cause why people feel swollen legs because their leg muscles are overstretched, causing a lack of circulation.
6. Low potassium in the blood can cause swelling of the legs and hands by creating a chemical imbalance within the body levels.
7. Early menopause is another reason behind swollen feet during pregnancy because lack of estrogen causes water retention in the tissues causing swelling. In this case, pregnant women must consult their doctor.
8. Medication is also one of the leading causes that lead to swelling in the legs. Therefore, if women are on any medication, they must discuss with their doctor if that medicine is causing feet and hand swelling or not.
9. Low immunity, thyroid problems, improper diet, etc., are also responsible for swollen hands and feet.
10 . People who use steroids may feel swelling in their feet because steroids lead to an abnormal fluid retention level in the body.
11 . Drink lots of water, wear shoes in a proper size, and measure your blood pressure for swollen legs and hands during pregnancy to deal with this problem. Consult a doctor if you feel pain or numbness in your feet.
There are various causes of swollen feet during pregnancy. Here is a list from most common to least common.
1. High Blood Pressure: This usually happens due to the pressure of the uterus on one or more blood vessels which increases the heart rates and reduces pulse volume leading to high blood pressure, thus causing your feet and ankles to swell.
2. Preeclampsia: Symptoms of this complication are swelling in the face and hands, severe headaches, vomiting, rapid weight gain, abdominal pain.
3. Gestational Diabetes
4. Bacterial Vaginosis
5. Cancer
6. Anemia
7. Increased Intrauterine Pressure
8. Urinary Tract Infections
9 . Asthma Medications
10. Allergic Reactions
11. Eclampsia
12. Hyperemesis Gravidarum
13 . Heart Disease
14. Erythrodermic
15. Nephrotic Syndrome
16. High Blood Pressure During Late Pregnancy
17 Chronic Venous Insufficiency
18 Varicose Veins
19. Increased Intrauterine Pressure
20. Lung Disease
21. Maternal Lymphoma
22. Multiple Myeloma
23. Pregnancy Induced Hypertension
24. Clotting Disorders
25. Thrombophlebitis
26. Dehydration
27. Heart Valve Problems
28 Urinary Tract Infection
29.Hyperemesis Gravidarum
30. Kidney Infections
31. Preeclampsia 32. Deep Vein Thrombosis [DVT]
33. Bladder Cancer
34. Maternal Lymphoma
35 Ampicillin Reaction
36. Lung Disease
37. Swelling of the Fingers and Toes in Pregnancy 38. Chronic Venous Insufficiency
39. High blood pressure problems
40. Elevated Blood Pressure.
Foods that cause swelling in feet:
1. Diuretic foods:
Some foods stimulate the kidneys to excrete more fluid through urine, leading to water retention and swelling in the feet. These foods include beets, cranberries, celery, citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruit, apple cider vinegar, etc.
2. Spicy food:
Eating spicy foods can lead to perspiration and cause feet swelling by widening the blood vessels, making it easier for fluid to flow out of them, causing water retention and swelling in the feet.
3. Preserved and processed food:
Foods high in sodium (salt), like preserved food or processed foods like bacon, ham, hot dogs, etc., can cause salt-water retention causes feet syndrome, which is a temporary condition marked by swelling of the feet.
4. Carbonated drink:
Drinking carbonated drinks can lead to bloating and gas which causes puffiness in the legs and feet. TIn addition, the sodium content of the soda absorbs water causing temporary fluid retention or edema in your lower limbs, making your ankles and feet swell up.
5. Dairy food:
Milk is high in calcium, vitamin D, potassium, and protein which can cause bloating even if you do not have lactose intolerance problems. At the same time, certain foods containing dairy products like cheese may contain salt, making it difficult for the body fluids to flow correctly, causing problems for swollen ankles or feet. In contrast, eating saturated fats found in milk, cream, cheese, etc., may also raise cholesterol levels, leading to hypertension, which can cause water retention in your lower limbs.
6. Preservatives and additives:
These are added to processed foods for a longer shelf-life or to enhance flavor, which can cause inflammation of the digestive tract, gas, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea. Overeating these processed foods can also lead to obesity which is a significant cause of foot swelling by limiting the flow of blood vessels, thereby preventing toxins from being easily removed from our body tissues.
7. Alcohol:
Drinking alcohol excessively will increase urination that lead to fluid loss, and makes you feel dehydrated, which reduces blood volume leading to lower blood pressure which causes sluggish circulation, especially in your legs, making it more difficult for fluid removal resulting in swollen ankles or feet during nighttime when there is less blood flow to your legs and feet.
8. Food allergies:
Some people may be allergic to certain foods like dairy products, wheat, eggs, nuts, peanuts, soybeans which can inflame the esophagus, causing heartburn issues leading to stomach acid reflux or hiatal hernia, which will force food back up into the esophagus, causing inflammation resulting in diarrhea or constipation issues making it difficult for proper removal of wastes from your body tissues that may cause swollen ankles or feet problems by retaining excess water in your lower limbs.
9. High-sodium foods:
Foods containing large amounts of sodium (salt) such as bacon, ham, hot dogs, lunch meats, among others rich in nitrates, will make it difficult for body fluids to flow correctly, which causes swelling in feet or ankles.
10. High-fructose corn syrup:
This is used as an additive for processed foods that are high in calories yet low in nutrition, making it difficult for body fluids to move freely around the body tissues while increasing belly fat leading to overweight conditions, heart diseases, diabetes, water retention issues which often makes your lower limbs swell up during night time when there is less blood flow thus resulting in swollen ankles or feet problems due to fluid retention caused by hormonal changes.
11. Genetically modified foods:
These foods have been genetically altered for specific traits such as resistance to herbicides or insecticides or enhancing their growth, color, and shelf life which has unknown health effects in the long run. Hence, it is better to avoid them when planning your meals.
12. Soda:
Many people love soda, but it’s best not to drink too much of it because sodas contain high fructose corn syrup that will cause you to feel thirsty after each glass that encourages over-drinking, which can lead to water retention resulting in swollen ankles or feet due to excess fluid retained in your lower limbs during night time when there is less blood flow, thus preventing toxins from being easily removed from our body tissues.
13. Red meat:
When eaten in excess, red meat, for example, can cause heart diseases which will increase your blood pressure by causing a buildup of plaque that makes your arteries narrower, resulting in sluggish circulation during nighttime when there is less blood flow to your legs, feet, and ankles causing them to swell up even without any physical activity.
14. Junk foods:
Most junk foods are high in sugar content yet low in nutrients, causing weight gain issues as well as increased urination due to their acidic nature, which reduces body fluids leading to swelling or fluid retention in the lower limbs at night, preventing toxins from being easily removed from our body tissues thus resulting in swollen ankles or feet problems.
15. Use of birth control pills:
Some women take this medication to avoid pregnancy, but this can increase their risk of water retention, thus creating swollen legs or feet during nighttime when there is less blood flow to the lower limbs, preventing toxins from being easily removed from our body tissues.
How to reduce swelling in feet:
1. Check your medication:
It’s best to consult your doctor and see which medication you are currently taking may be causing this problem to avoid such drugs to prevent chronic diseases such as heart problems, high blood pressure, etc.
2. Elevation:
This is an effective remedy for swollen ankles or feet by raising the lower limbs above the head while lying down, thus helping reduce water retention in the lower limbs at night when there is less blood flow, reducing fluid retention and swelling in feet or ankles.
3. Lose excess weight:
If you’re overweight, then it’s best to reduce body fat that will help improve circulation preventing heart diseases and diabetes resulting in swollen legs during night time when there is less blood flow to the lower limbs, thus preventing toxins from being easily removed from our body tissues.
4. Exercise:
Start exercising regularly especially cardiovascular workouts such as running, cycling, etc., to help reduce body fat and increase your metabolism, which will help improve blood circulation, making it easier to remove wastes and toxins from the body tissues, thus decreasing swollen ankles or feet during nighttime.
5. Apple cider vinegar:
This well-known home remedy is used for treating various skin problems like acne because of its anti-bacterial properties that can also treat swelling in legs at night due to water retention by increasing water intake with each meal containing apple cider vinegar before going to bed to detoxify your body and eliminate wastes and toxins through urine at night when there is less blood flow to your lower limbs.
6. Lemon juice:
Add two tablespoons of lemon juice into 1 liter of water that you are advised to drink before going to bed to detoxify the body tissues during nighttime when there is less blood flow, thus reducing fluid retention in the legs or ankles.
7. Hot compress:
Apply hot compress on the affected area by using a heating pad, etc. for 10 minutes several times per day for quick relief from swollen feet or ankles at night due to lack of blood flow preventing toxins from being easily removed from our body tissues, thus resulting in water retention due to excess fluid retained in lower limbs at night time when less blood flows because of its gravitational force upon the veins arteries preventing wastes and toxins from being easily removed from the body tissues.
8. Drinking more water:
Drinking adequate amounts of water throughout the day, especially after meals, will help reduce fluid retention in legs or feet at night because your body needs to balance the amount of fluid it absorbs and the amount that is lost.
9. Ginkgo biloba:
This is a well-known herbal remedy for improving circulation due to its vasodilating properties help improve blood flow to various parts of your body, including feet preventing them from swelling during nighttime when there is less blood flow which reduces fluid retention, thus reducing swollen ankles or feet preventing toxins from being easily removed via urine at night time when there is less blood flow.
10. Yoga & exercise:
Different yogasanas like Sarvangasana, halasana, etc. help reduce leg or ankle swelling by improving blood circulation throughout the body, including your lower limbs during nighttime when there is less blood flow to your feet, thus preventing fluid retention helping you get rid of swollen ankles or feet at night time due to lack of blood flow.