I have always been in pretty good health, so I was surprised one day when my doctor told me my blood pressure was a bit high. She told me to begin watching my salt intake, start exercising, and to try to relax. Well, I intended to follow her advice when I left her office, but the next day I was back to my same habits. I kept using the salt shaker and didn't begin an exercise routine like I had planned. When I went for my next check-up, she told me that my blood pressure was even higher and approaching a dangerous level. I had to begin a blood pressure medication to manage it. I wanted to create a blog to share my story and remind people to listen to their doctors' advice. If a few lifestyle changes can improve your health, then you should make them.
There are a number of reasons why your feet could become swollen. Wearing uncomfortable high heels, dealing with extreme temperatures, and being on your feet for too long can all lend themselves to some foot swelling. There are other times where it is a bad idea to ignore the swelling. Here are some times where swollen feet should definitely send you to a podiatrist.
Swelling causes your shoes to not fit
If you get off and on swelling in your feet, you know how annoying it may be to have to squeeze into your tennis shoes until the swelling dies down. If your feet and ankles are swollen to the point that you cannot wear shoes, you may need to see a podiatrist. If you cannot wear sneakers or sandals, there may be a major issue in your legs that is leading to swelling. If the problem is lymphedema, you may need to undergo treatment to decrease the swelling and the size of your ankles and feet.
Swelling and no feeling are combined
If your feet swell, you may notice some discomfort during the swelling. If your feet are actually numb while they are swollen, this can be a major issue. Swollen and numb feet can mean nerve damage or that you have an infection. An infection that is unknown and left untreated can spread which could be devastating to your overall health. Go to see a podiatrist to determine if you have an infection or if there is significant nerve damage. If there is nerve damage, your podiatrist can give you a course of treatment that will help reverse the effects so that your swollen feet do not lead to more serious medical problems.
Other symptoms appear with the swelling
One of the telltale signs that something besides tight footwear is the culprit of foot swelling is if other symptoms appear at the same time. If you are having pain in your abdomen, weight changes, or appetite changes, you could be going through a major issue such as kidney failure. By making an appointment to visit your podiatrist, your doctor can determine if the symptoms are due to a larger problem. If the swelling appears to be from kidney disease, you will need to start a regimen of medical treatment to decrease the symptoms and stop the affects the disease through medical intervention.
For more information, visit a site like http://www.westmorelandfootdoctor.com.
Share28 April 2017
