Swollen feet or edema in the feet is caused by fluid buildup in the tissues of the feet, this presents as signs of swelling in the feet. Various reasons may cause swollen feet. Diabetes increases the chances of people suffering from swollen feet. People using medications for diabetes, pregnant women, and overweight people frequently face the situation. Let us examine various causes of swollen feet or edema and try to determine whether swollen feet are a sign of any serious illness.
Causes of Edema
Many causes can present as the visible signs of edema or swollen feet. Among the most salient causes of edema is diabetes. Edema is seen in most people suffering from diabetes.
Some of the main causes for edema:
- Edema occurs if a person is suffering from diabetes. Medication taken for diabetes generally causes swollen feet. Thiazolidinedione, often taken for diabetes, can increase signs of edema.
- Apart from medicines taken for treatment of diabetes, steroids are among common causes of the signs of edema or swollen feet.
- Being overweight causes swollen feet.
- Weight gain during pregnancy often causes edema.
- Edema may occur in cases of leg infection.
- Swelling is common following surgery such as pelvic surgery.
- More than adequate sodium salt in the diet is among common causes of signs of swelling in the feet.
Are Swollen Feet a Sign of any Serious Illness?
Conditions like diabetes or pregnancy may cause swollen feet. However, some conditions might be a result of chronic swelling in the feet. Usually swollen feet indicate some sign of illness such as diabetes. However, not all such signs may indicate a serious illness. Some conditions may even arise due to swollen feet and lead to serious illness.
Let us examine such cases where edema may be a sign of illness.
- Though swollen feet are common during pregnancy, excessive swelling may lead to pregnancy complications like a serious condition of preeclampsia, where high blood pressure and high protein content in urine may occur.
- In continuous and extreme signs of edema, there are chances of developing a serious problem called venous insufficiency. This condition caused due to extreme signs of swelling in the feet indicates inadequate blood supply from the legs or feet to the heart. Chronic venous insufficiency further causes severe symptoms like changes in the skin and skin cancers.
- Swollen feet may also be the warning sign of heart failure, liver failure, or even kidney failure. This is because in edema fluid accumulates in the body, which may result in buildup of fluid in the crucial visceral organs and lead to a partial or total failure in their functions.
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