9 Possible Culprits Behind Swollen and Inflamed Feet

Your feet make sure you get everywhere you need to, A lot of your regular activities might be halted by swelling or irritation. Identifying the source of your symptoms helps you get the right care and can resume your normal activities.

What is the root of your symptoms? Here are the typical reasons why your feet could swell up and get inflamed.

1. Traumatic injury
Swelling and inflammation are frequent after severe foot injuries such as fractures, tendon tears, sprains, and strains. Traumatic foot injuries can sometimes result in sudden, excruciating pain.

You should consider visiting a reputable podiatry clinic right away if your feet are swollen and inflamed as a result of an accident or a slip and fall on the pavement. Early diagnosis and treatment are necessary to prevent future problems.

2. Infection
Inflammation and swelling are frequently brought on by foot infections. Diabetes patients are more prone to getting foot infections from cuts, blisters, and other minor injuries.

Look for a podiatrist who offers diabetic foot care, managing and monitoring diabetic patients' foot health. All of those with diabetes are urged to make an appointment right away if they think they have an injury or infection in their foot. If your ingrown toenail is swollen and inflamed, you could have an infection that requires professional medical care.

3. Blood flow issues
Swelling and inflammation in your feet can be a symptom of blood flow issues such as venous insufficiency. Venous insufficiency results from compromised veins that hinder blood flow back to your heart and lungs. Your ankles can develop ulcers, edema, inflammation, and skin discoloration as a result of the blood pooling in those veins.

4. Arthritis
Your joints become inflamed, painful, and stiff when you have arthritis. Each joint in your body, including the ones in your feet, might be impacted. If you have foot arthritis, you may be dealing with ongoing swelling and irritation.

5. Underlying medical condition
Your swollen or irritated feet may also originate from an underlying medical problem not immediately connected to your feet or ankles. For instance, foot and ankle inflammation is frequently brought on by pregnancy. Diseases of the heart, liver, and kidneys can also cause edema in your feet due to problems with blood flow and fluid balance. Getting help as soon as possible is essential to manage your symptoms and improve your foot health, regardless of what caused your swollen or inflamed feet.

6. Lifestyle factors
Swollen feet and ankles can also result from factors other than medical disorders. For instance, eliminating salty meals might lessen the likelihood of fluid accumulation due to water retention. Less sitting time might also help maintain healthy blood circulation in your lower limbs. Fluid and blood are pumped to and from your limbs when you move. If your job requires you to be standing or seated all day, take breaks to stand up, sit down, stretch, or go for a walk to prevent fluid from building up in your feet.

7. Excess weight
The joints in your body, especially those in the lower limbs, are put under more strain when carrying excessive weight, which causes them to retain fluid. This is one of the reasons why pregnant women frequently deal with swelling in ankles and feet in the third trimester.

8. Certain medications
Drugs sold both with and without prescription might lead to fluid retention. They include certain hormones, antidepressants, and blood pressure medications. This outcome is possible even with non-steroidal anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen.

9. Blood clots
Deep vein thrombosis, often known as a blood clot in the leg, should never be underestimated. It's a dangerous medical condition that might have disastrous effects. Blood clots may cause swelling ankles, feet, and legs by preventing blood from circulating through your legs and returning to your heart. See the emergency doctor right away if any swelling is accompanied by leg discomfort, a fever, changes in the color of your leg, difficulty breathing, or dizziness. This might be a potentially fatal disease that requires urgent medical care.