Ankle Swelling Symptoms

Ankle-swelling symptoms may be a result of a sprain, poor diet, medications, standing on your feet for hours or from more serious health issues. Edema is the general term for swelling in any part of the body caused by excess fluid trapped in your body's tissues. For minor sprains, practice R.I.C.E., or rest, ice, compress and elevate the ankle to limit swelling and discomfort. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), consumption of some types of birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy, calcium channel blockers or antidepressants also can result in ankle-swelling.

Identification

• Ankle-swelling is an obvious puffiness around the ankle joint and foot. During the first day of swelling, there may be minor discoloration, which sometimes leads to purple or yellow bruising. If the ankle-swelling is from a sprain, take weight off the foot immediately, and ice it for 20 minutes hourly to significantly reduce swelling.

Types

• There are many possible reasons for ankle-swelling. Aside from an ankle sprain, the NIH states that ankles can swell as a side effect of taking contraceptive pills that contain estrogen. NIH also states taking pills to lower blood pressure, called calcium channel blockers, might cause ankle-swelling. These pills include brand- name medications Amlodipine, Diltizaem, Felodipine, Nifedipine and Verapamil.
  Ankle-swelling also may be caused by consuming steroids or antidepressants such as phenelzine and tranylcypromine, according to the NIH.

Considerations

• If you are taking birth control or medications to lower blood pressure or antidepressants and have swollen ankles, ask your doctor to prescribe a different medication. The Podiatry Institute states that if you consume a high-salt, high-carbohydrate diet or are overweight, you may have ankle-swelling. Pregnant women often have swollen ankles and legs. People with varicose veins additionally have swollen ankles.

Prevention/Solution

• If you are overweight or taking birth control or other prescription medications that are creating swollen ankles, change your diet to reduce total salt intake, and change your medications. If you stand for many hours a day and have swollen ankles, wear support hose, socks and shoes that support your feet properly. You also can exercise moderately to increase your overall circulation, which might reduce ankle-swelling. At the end of the day, elevate feet on a chair, and ice to reduce swelling.

Warning

• If you have swollen ankles and other symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, problems urinating or have a family history of liver disease, call your doctor immediately, according to the NIH. If you have a fever, or your ankles are red and feel hot to the touch or you are pregnant and the swelling has increased suddenly, also see your physician right away.