Everything You Need To Know About Swollen Calves
When fluid happens to be retained in space that is between body cell it causes swollen calves, otherwise known as edema. It can affect other parts of the body as well but typically will affect calves, ankles and feet. Pregnant woman often suffer from swollen calves and really the only thing they can do is follow the elevation guidelines. Mother nature controls some things in a woman's body that can't always be cured.
Swollen calves can be caused by serious conditions from the kidney or liver but more often, swollen calves are caused from other factors, including:
- Abusing diuretics
- Recreational drug use
- Sodium retention
- Consuming too many carbohydrates in your diet
- Pregnancy
- PMS symptoms
- Allergic reactions
- Birth control pills
- Abusing laxatives
- Varicose veins
In the beginning, swollen calves will appear later in the day, generally after you've been either on your feet all or at least active in some way, but eventually this can get worse. This can become a condition that begins your day when you wake up and continues to gradually get worse in the evening causing a lot of swelling and discomfort. If you have edema for a long period of time it causes pitting. This can be described as the result you get from pressing on you swollen calves and it leaves an indentation. Edema can also lead to skin ulcerations, high blood pressure, headaches, increased urination, puffy eyes, palpitations and weight gain.
To eliminate further side effects of swollen calves you should aim to reduce the swelling as soon as you can. Leg elevation is the key factor in eliminating the problem. When elevating your legs they should be above heart level because this puts the least pressure on your back, thighs and knees. A reclining chair works great or a few pillows has the same effect. This is really helpful when coming home after a long day at work. It not only helps to alleviate the swelling but gives you a few minutes to yourself to sit, unwind and focus on yourself for a few minutes. People that deal with stress properly tend to have less physical ailments. You can also purchase support socks that help and make sure your shoes fit properly. Support socks can be purchased at many drug stores and come in different sizes and lengths to accommodate a variety of people's needs. It is always recommended to buy shoes in the afternoon to ensure the best fit.
Walking is also a great technique to help to decrease swollen calves. Even short walks once a day help to increase muscle activity in your legs and when you exercise your body produces endorphins which is a natural pain killer. This will help with any pain or discomfort you may be feeling. It is also important to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Proper water intake ensures many compartments of your body to function properly. Be sure to limit your salt intake so you don't retain all that water you're drinking or you will be stuck in a viscous cycle.
Other prevention techniques are to not abuse diuretics or laxatives. They may seem like a good idea at the time but they are doing long term horrible effects to your body. It is always better to have a healthy lifestyle, eating proper foods and exercise rather than depending on the use of these products. Also, avoid birth control pulls and hormone replacement therapy if you can. Many women get stuck in a rut that they feel they need to stay on their birth control even when they're not sexually active. You can always start them back up again and there are plenty of alternatives to use. If your swollen caves get worse or persist for a long period of time then you may want to consult your physician.