A very common question that I get from my patients is "Why are my feet swelling?" and there are many reasons why feet can swell.
Let's break it down...
First of all, if the swelling comes along with pain, it is musculoskeletal in nature due to inflammation. This is easily taken care of with an anti-inflammatory.
Most people are concerned about swelling in one or both feet. It's the kind of swelling that if you push into it, it leaves an indentation. That type of swelling is called pitting edema, which is common with different vascular conditions. Pitting edema can happen because of an inefficient valve in the veins, which causes blood to pool in the feet. It can also be caused by medication. Heart and blood pressure medication are notorious for causing pitting edema, which is often taken care of by prescribing a diuretic or "water pill."
There are other reasons for swelling that are also vascular in nature. Typically, to ensure there is no damage or problem with the veins or arteries, I will refer you to a colleague of mine who is an specialist in the circulatory system and will be able to get to the bottom of what is causing the swelling and discuss the solution with you.
If you are finding that you are developing swelling in your feet or ankles, whether it is painful or not, and are concerned about it, feel free to contact our office for an immediate appointment.
