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Swelling around the ankles and feet.
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A feeling of heaviness or aching in the legs.
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Symptoms that become worse after prolonged standing.
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Improvement after resting with the legs elevated.
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Varicose veins.
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Skin discoloration or changes around the ankles.
Venous problems generally affect the lower limbs more noticeably than the hands. If both your hands and feet are swollen, a clinician may consider whether another factor is contributing as well.
It is also essential to distinguish chronic circulation problems from a blood clot.
A deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, is a blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the leg. It may cause swelling in one leg, pain, tenderness, warmth, or redness. Some people have few obvious symptoms.
A suspected DVT requires urgent medical assessment because the clot can sometimes travel to the lungs and cause a potentially life-threatening pulmonary embolism.
If one leg suddenly becomes swollen, painful, warm, or red, seek urgent medical care. Do not massage the affected leg while a blood clot is a concern.
If swelling is accompanied by sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing up blood, or fainting, call emergency services immediately.
4. Your Kidneys May Be Having Difficulty Maintaining Fluid Balance
Your kidneys filter waste products from the blood and help regulate the amount of water and electrolytes in your body.
When kidney function is impaired, the body may retain salt and water. Certain kidney conditions can also cause protein to leak into the urine, contributing to fluid accumulation in tissues.
Swelling associated with kidney problems may appear around the eyes, particularly in the morning, or affect the feet, ankles, and lower legs.
Depending on the condition, other symptoms may include:
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Changes in how often you urinate.
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Foamy urine that persists.
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Blood in the urine.
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Unusual fatigue.
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Reduced appetite.
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Nausea.
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High blood pressure.
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Swelling that becomes progressively more noticeable.
However, kidney disease does not always produce obvious symptoms in its early stages. Some people may have abnormal kidney function or protein in their urine without feeling unwell.
Swollen hands and feet alone cannot tell you whether your kidneys are functioning properly.
When should you be concerned?
If swelling is persistent, unexplained, or accompanied by changes in urination, high blood pressure, or unusual fatigue, arrange a medical assessment.
A healthcare professional may recommend blood tests to assess kidney function, urine tests to check for protein or blood, and blood pressure measurements.
If you already have kidney disease, seek advice before making major changes to your fluid intake or using diuretics, sometimes called water pills.
These medications can alter fluid and electrolyte levels and should not be taken without appropriate medical guidance.
5. Heart Problems Can Cause Fluid to Accumulate in the Body
Your heart pumps blood through the circulatory system, supplying oxygen and nutrients to your organs.
When the heart cannot pump effectively, pressure can increase in the veins and fluid may accumulate in surrounding tissues. This can lead to swelling, particularly in the feet, ankles, and lower legs.
Heart failure is one condition that can cause this pattern of fluid retention. Despite its name, heart failure does not mean that the heart has stopped working. It means that the heart is not functioning well enough to meet the body's needs without increased pressure or other complications.
Possible symptoms include:
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Swelling in both feet or ankles.
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A rapid increase in body weight over a short period because of fluid accumulation.
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Shortness of breath during everyday activities.
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Difficulty breathing when lying flat.
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Waking at night feeling short of breath.
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Unusual fatigue or reduced exercise tolerance.
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A persistent cough in some cases.
Some people notice swelling before recognizing that their breathing or stamina has changed.
However, swollen feet are much more commonly associated with several possible causes, and swelling alone does not establish a diagnosis of heart failure.
Why the combination of symptoms matters
Swelling that occurs alongside breathlessness, difficulty lying flat, or a rapid increase in weight deserves prompt medical attention.
If you experience severe shortness of breath, chest pain, fainting, or blue or gray discoloration of the lips, seek emergency assistance immediately.
If you have a known heart condition and notice new or worsening swelling, contact your healthcare professional promptly. Your treatment plan may need reassessment.
Do not start taking extra diuretics or change prescribed heart medication without medical advice.
6. Liver Disease May Contribute to Swelling
The liver performs many essential functions, including processing nutrients, producing important proteins, and helping regulate substances in the blood.
Certain liver diseases can reduce the production of albumin, a protein that helps keep fluid inside blood vessels. Advanced liver disease can also increase pressure in the blood vessels around the liver, contributing to fluid accumulation.
As a result, people with significant liver disease may develop swelling in the legs and feet, fluid accumulation in the abdomen, or both.
Other possible symptoms include:
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Abdominal enlargement or a feeling of fullness.
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Yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes.
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Easy bruising.
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Persistent fatigue.
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Reduced appetite.
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Nausea.
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Dark urine or unusually pale stools.
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Itching that does not have an obvious explanation.