I bet you’ve had days where you look down at your feet and they don’t seem normal. They are swollen. You wonder what the cause could be and how to relieve the swelling. The worry that ensues could lead to an exaggeration of the problem.
However, having swollen feet is common, especially when you’ve had a long flight, been on your feet all day or are pregnant. You can take care of swollen feet and bring them back to normal by applying a few basic practises.
In this post, we’ll look at some of the common causes of swollen feet and explore ways to take care of them the right way.
What Causes Swollen Feet?
Swelling is mainly a result of excess fluid that accumulates on your feet or ankles. Medically, this condition is known as oedema and can be pretty uncomfortable and painful. Also, trying to move around with swollen feet is not easy.
Different aspects may contribute to swollen feet, with some being more serious than others. Some common causes of swollen feet include;
- Foot and ankle injury
- Pregnancy
- Lifestyle factors (living an inactive lifestyle, being overweight, and wearing ill-fitting shoes).
- Infections
- Allergic reaction to specific medications
- Medical conditions that affect the liver, kidneys, and heart.
How to Take Care of Swollen Feet
Some factors that result in swollen feet are unavoidable, leaving you to find ways to cope with the condition. There are different ways to relieve the pain, like taking painkillers or going for a more effective approach with ear seeds.
The benefits of ear seeds in relieving pain and being a holistic solution make them a great option. However, you can also implement practises that will help you reduce the swelling in your feet altogether.
Here are six incredible ways to help you take care of swollen feet and significantly reduce discomfort.
Wear Compression Socks
Compression socks feature technology that allows them to put pressure on your feet and ankles by squeezing them. The pressure on your feet helps promote better blood circulation in the feet and ankles.
In addition, it helps relieve swelling and pain by decreasing fluid accumulation in the feet and ankles. This makes them a great option to consider when looking to reduce swollen feet with ease.
When investing in compression socks, you need to choose comfortable ones. For this option to be effective, you’ll need to wear the compression socks for some time showing that your comfort is essential.
Compression socks come in different sizes and feature different compression intensities, depending on what you want. These options include light, medium, and heavy, with compression intensities increasing, respectively.
If it’s your first time wearing compression socks, start with the light option and work your way up as you get used to them. You can wear your compression socks for as long as comfortable to facilitate the benefits for your swollen feet.
Hydrate
Adding more fluid to your body while it’s accumulating in parts of your body like the feet sounds counterintuitive. However, it is the right strategy to implement and will yield incredible results.
The main reason why your body tends to hold on to fluids is when it senses your reservoirs are running dry. When this happens, the natural response is to hold on to as much fluid as possible, building up toxins in the body.
So, increasing your fluid intake and hydrating more often will help avoid triggering such a response in your body. In addition, hydrating will help your body get rid of excess sodium and waste that may contribute to swollen feet.
Elevate Your Feet
A great way to assist your circulatory system and increase its efficiency is by involving the help of gravity. For example, elevating your feet above your heart will help circulate the fluid and relieve your swollen feet.
It’s an easy option to start implementing this so you can enjoy walking around without discomfort. An easy way to do this is by lying down on your bed or a mat and raising your legs using a wall as your support.
You will be comfortable as you scroll on your phone or read your favourite book. In addition, you could opt to use a pillow or a pile of books to prop your legs a bit and allow gravity to take over.
Incorporate Epsom Salt Baths
Inflammation in the feet and ankles is linked to a magnesium deficiency that you can quickly solve with Epsom salts. Epsom salt is rich in magnesium and is a great solution to consider when dealing with swollen feet.
You can incorporate Epsom salt baths into your routine or opt to soak your feet in water with Epsom salt. Around 15 to 20 minutes will help the salt soak into your skin and improve your magnesium levels.
Over time, the swelling in your feet will go down as the inflammation lessens leaving you feeling and looking comfortable.
Enjoy a Massage
Excess fluid will often accumulate when there is damage in the lymph vessels and blood is pumped through. These excess fluids may result in swollen feet and ankles and affect other parts of your body.
A lymphatic drainage massage is a great way to help relieve swelling in your feet and ankles. It will help drain excess fluid from the lymph vessels and alleviate swelling in your feet and ankles.
Implement Significant Lifestyle Changes
Simple tweaks to your lifestyle will help you care for your swollen feet and relieve them the pain and discomfort.
If you are on certain medications that cause allergic reactions and inflammation, consider changing them. Consult your doctor to find alternatives that won’t contribute to developing swollen feet.
In addition, consider leading an active lifestyle to keep you fit and healthy. For example, avoid sitting for too long and instead walk around or do light exercises. Doing this will help significantly reduce the swelling in your feet and ankles.