You might not think your leg health has much to do with your heart health, but all of your systems are interconnected. If an essential organ like your heart struggles to do its job efficiently, many other aspects of your body can be affected.
Take leg swelling. Even though you may not worry about how much thicker your ankles are these days, it could be a warning sign that your heart is in danger of failing.
Our expert cardiologist, Dr. Ola Akinboboye, is concerned with both your heart and all of the blood vessels that help your heart accomplish the task of circulating blood throughout your body. At our office in Rosedale, Queens, New York, he and our team help you improve the health of your heart and your blood vessels so you can live a long, full life.
When is leg swelling just a minor inconvenience, and when is it a warning cry from your heart?
If your ankles are swollen because you’re pregnant or work on your feet all day long, it could merely be a result of temporary stagnation. Your body needs to move. Anything that limits your mobility, whether it’s being trapped in an airplane or carrying an extra-heavy load such as a baby, may cause some swelling in your legs.
You might also be prone to leg swelling because you’re overweight. Try limiting salt intake, losing weight, and moving rather than sitting or standing in one place.
However, if you’ve been diagnosed with a cardiovascular condition, monitor for swelling (i.e., edema). It could mean that your heart is too weak to pump blood through your vessels. Instead, circulation slows, and some of the fluid in the blood is pushed into your tissues, causing swelling.
Some non-cardiovascular-related issues can also cause leg edema. Some possibilities include:
If you have varicose veins and pain in one or both legs, you could have a deep-vein thrombosis (DVT, i.e., a blood clot). While DVT isn’t life-threatening in itself, if the clot breaks free, it could enter your lungs and cause a pulmonary embolism. If you think you have DVT, see us.
If you have varicose veins, that’s a sign that your blood vessels are weak and aren’t pushing the blood back up to your heart as efficiently as they should. You can reduce swelling by making lifestyle changes, such as losing weight and being more active.
However, long-term venous insufficiencies may need medical intervention. You could benefit from medications or surgery. When we remove your varicose veins, your circulation improves and swelling decreases.
Lymphedema is a condition in which your lymph nodes can’t do their job, which allows lymph and other fluids to build up in bodily tissues. You may develop lymphedema if you have had your lymph nodes removed for cancer treatment or other causes. You may benefit from lymphatic massage and compression stockings. You might also need surgery.
Your kidneys and liver help to remove toxins and fluids from your body. If they’re compromised, they may be unable to do their job, and fluid buildup can occur in your legs.
In addition to leg edema, several other signs may indicate that your heart is struggling. Do you have:
Regular leg swelling is never normal. You owe it to yourself to get it checked out to find out if you have cardiac issues. If you have symptoms other than swelling, don’t delay an appointment with a cardiologist.
Call our expert team at 718-208-4816 or use our online outreach form to schedule an appointment to find out what’s causing your leg swelling today.
