Subtitle: Waking up with swollen feet or ankles can be alarming. While edema is often temporary and harmless, persistent or unexplained swelling may be an early sign of an underlying health condition.
Let me tell you about the first time I noticed my feet were swollen.
I was in my late fifties, and I'd been on my feet all day. I took off my shoes and noticed that my feet looked puffier than usual. My ankles had lost their normal shape. My socks had left deep marks on my skin.
I assumed it was just from standing all day. But then it started happening more often. I started to worry. What was causing this?
I did some research, and I learned about the many different causes of swollen feet and ankles. I realized that while most cases are harmless, some can be a sign of a serious health condition.
The Science of Swelling
Edema is the medical term for swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in your body's tissues.
The fluid shift: It's often caused by a shift in fluid between your blood vessels and the surrounding tissues.
The force: Gravity pulls fluid down into your lower extremities.
The cause: It can be caused by something as simple as standing too long, or by something more serious, like heart failure or kidney disease.
10 Common Causes of Swollen Feet and Ankles
1. Standing or Sitting for Long Periods
