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5 At Home Remedies for Your Swollen Feet and Ankles from Elizabeth Auger on Vimeo. Swollen ankles and feet are not typical. If you find that your lower extremities are filling with fluid, known as edema, there is a reason. You may be suffering with high blood pressure or kidney problems, you may be pregnant, or you may even be dehydrated. While edema can occur in any part of the body, it is most often seen in the legs, ankles, feet, arms and hands. Edema is not normally painful, but it can be uncomfortable. It can cause socks to feel too tight and shoes to start pinching. The good news is that if you are suffering with edema, there are ways you can take care of it at home. How to get rid of swollen ankles and feet1. Limit Salt Intake If you regularly experience edema, try limiting your salt intake. Don’t add extra salt to your food when you are cooking or eating, and look for low-sodium options at the grocery store. 2. Drink More Water You may think that the last thing you want to do is add more water to your body, but edema can be a sign that you are dehydrated and your body is trying to hold onto the water it has. Make an attempt to drink at least eight glasses of water each day, preferably 10 if you can. Drinking any less than eight glasses can promote swelling in your feet and ankles. 3. Movement and Elevation If your feet and ankles begin to swell, determine whether you have been on your feet for a long period of time. If you have, take a break and put your feet up. This will help decrease swelling. You can also try a few yoga positions. One of the best if you are trying to reduce swelling is lying on your back with your back end against the wall. Put your legs straight up, propped against the wall. 4. Mint Bath Try to relax your feet in a soothing mint bath. You will need 4 cups of water and 1/2 cup of mint leaves. Put the leaves and water in a pot and heat it for about 10 minutes. When you remove it from the heat, give it a chance to cool for another 10 minutes. Pour the water in a shallow pan or bucket and soak your feet. Try to soak for about 30 minutes if you have the time. 5. Tonic Water Soak Tonic water is fantastic for reducing swelling in the feet and ankles. Fill a bucket or shallow pan with cold or room temperature tonic water. Soak your feet for 30 minutes or more if you wish. Don’t let swollen feet and ankles stop you from enjoying your day. Try one or more of these remedies to see which one is best for you. If you would prefer medical intervention or the home remedies aren’t enough, reach out to Dr. Elizabeth Auger in Salt Lake City. Dr. Auger is an experienced podiatrist and ready to help you determine why you are being affected by edema and will work to relieve your discomfort. DiagnosisTo understand what might be causing your edema, your doctor will first perform a physical exam and ask you questions about your medical history. This information is often enough to determine the underlying cause of your edema. In some cases, X-rays, ultrasound exams, magnetic resonance imaging, blood tests or urine analysis may be necessary. TreatmentMild edema usually goes away on its own, particularly if you help things along by raising the affected limb higher than your heart. More-severe edema may be treated with drugs that help your body expel excess fluid in the form of urine (diuretics). One of the most common diuretics is furosemide (Lasix). However, your doctor will determine whether these types of medications are a good option for you based on your personal medical history. Long-term management typically focuses on treating the underlying cause of the swelling. If edema occurs as a result of medication use, your doctor may adjust your prescription or check for an alternative medication that doesn't cause edema. Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing
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forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Clinical trialsExplore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition. Lifestyle and home remediesThe following may help decrease edema and keep it from coming back. Before trying these self-care techniques, talk to your doctor about which ones are right for you.
Preparing for your appointmentUnless you're already under a specialist's care for a current medical condition, you'll probably start by seeing your family doctor to begin evaluation for what could be causing your symptoms. Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor. What you can do
For edema, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
What to expect from your doctorYour doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time for you and your doctor to review important points. Questions your doctor might ask include:
Dec. 01, 2020 How do you get rid of swollen legs fast?Some tips that may help reduce swelling:. Put your legs on pillows to raise them above your heart while lying down.. Exercise your legs. ... . Follow a low-salt diet, which may reduce fluid buildup and swelling.. Wear support stockings (sold at most drugstores and medical supply stores).. What is a natural remedy for swollen legs?Take a Salt Bath
Soak your legs for 15 to 20 minutes in lukewarm water with Epsom salts, which helps relax muscles and ease swelling. If you don't have a bathtub, try to find a bucket big enough to fit at least one leg at a time, with the water covering your legs up to your knees.
What to drink to reduce swelling in feet?Extra water in fruits can reduce foot swelling by flushing out extra water. Other vegetables, like cucumber and asparagus, are natural directs that eliminate water in your body. Drinking lots of water will also help your foot and ankle mobility with less swelling.
What herb is good for leg swelling?Essential oils such as peppermint, lavender, helichrysum, marjoram, eucalyptus and chamomile can be used to reduce swelling. We can use it by adding 2-3 drops of it in hot water bath and soaking the swollen legs in it for 10 minutes or until the water turns cold. Essential oils can also be used to massage the legs.
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