Oedema

If you've noticed your ankles, feet or legs looking puffy or swollen, you're not alone. This swelling has a medical name - oedema (sounds like "uh-DEEM-ah") - but it simply means fluid has built up in these areas of your body.

What causes swelling?

The most common reasons for swelling are everyday things that many of us do:

Daily habits:

• Standing or sitting in the same spot for too long
• Eating too much salty food
• Being overweight
• Being pregnant

Medicines that can cause swelling:

• Some blood pressure tablets
• The contraceptive pill
• Hormone replacement therapy
• Some antidepressants
• Steroid medicines

Other causes include:

• Injuries like sprains or strains
• Insect bites or stings
• Problems with your kidneys, liver or heart
• Blood clots
• Infections

What does swelling look like?

You might notice:

• Your ankles, feet or legs look puffy or bigger than usual
• Your skin looks shiny or stretched tight
• The skin colour might change
• It feels uncomfortable or stiff
• When you press the swollen area, it leaves a dent

How to help reduce swelling at home

The good news is that swelling often goes away on its own. Here are some things you can try:

Do:

• Put your legs up on a chair or pillows when you're resting
• Go for gentle walks to help your blood flow better
• Wear comfortable, wide shoes with low heels and soft soles
• Keep your feet clean, dry and moisturised to prevent infections

Don't:

• Stand or sit in the same position for long periods
• Wear tight clothes, socks or shoes

When to speak to your GP

You should see your GP if:

• One or both ankles, feet or legs stay swollen for more than a few days
• The swelling gets worse instead of better

When to get urgent help

Contact your GP urgently or call NHS 111 if:

• You have swelling in one ankle, foot or leg with no clear reason (like an injury)
• The swelling is severe, painful or came on very suddenly
• The swollen area is red or feels hot
• You have a high temperature or feel hot and shivery
• You have diabetes and your feet, ankles or legs are swollen

Emergency symptoms - call 999

Call 999 immediately if you have swelling and:

• Feel short of breath or struggle to breathe
• Your chest feels tight, heavy or painful
• You're coughing up blood

These symptoms could mean you have a blood clot in your lungs, which needs emergency treatment in hospital. Don't drive yourself to A&E - the person at 999 will tell you what to do.

Getting the right treatment

If your swelling doesn't go away on its own, speak to your GP. They can help find the right treatment based on what's causing your swelling. This might include lifestyle changes like losing weight or eating less salt.

Remember, while swelling is often nothing serious, it's always better to check with your GP if you're worried or if it's not getting better.

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Based on NHS.uk guidance. Written by Dr Krishnan Pasupathi, NHS GP.