Reasons for Your Feet Swelling

Foot swelling is a common condition and is medically referred to as edema. Edema can occur in any part of the body, but most commonly happens in the feet, arms, ankles and legs.

Features

• Foot swelling occurs when small blood vessels leak fluid. This is usually due to increased pressure, damage or a low level of protein in your blood. When the body notices that the blood vessels are leaking, the kidneys begin to retain more sodium and water. This causes the vessels to leak more.

Mild Foot Swelling

• Mild foot swelling can be caused from standing, or remaining in the same position for long periods of time. It can also be cause by a diet that is too high in sodium. In women, foot swelling can be caused by pregnancy or the menstrual cycle.

Medication

• Certain medications can cause the feet to swell. Vasodilators, or drugs that open blood vessels, are often a common cause of foot swelling. Anti-inflammatory drugs can cause the feet to swell, as well as drugs that contain estrogen.

Inadequate Lymphatic System

• The purpose of the lymphatic system is to clear excess fluid from the tissue. If the lymphatic system is damaged, than excess fluid can not be drained, and edema of the feet can occur.

Congestive Heart Failure

• Congestive heart failure occurs when one of your heart's lower chambers fails to effectively pump blood. This can cause blood to back up in the feet and than swelling occurs.