POLOKWANE – Here are a few common explanations for your swollen legs.

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Inflammation: It happens when the tissues in your leg get irritated and swollen. It’s a natural response if you break a bone or tear a tendon or ligament, but it also may be a sign of more serious inflammatory illness, like arthritis.

Varicose veins: You get these when the valves inside your leg veins don’t keep the blood flowing up toward your heart. Instead, it backs up and collects in pools, causing blue-ish clusters of varicose veins on your skin. Sometimes, they can make your legs swell. Some other symptoms include: pain after sitting or standing for a long time, changes in your skin colour, dry, irritated, cracked skin, sores.

Long-term kidney disease: This happens when your kidneys don’t work the way they should. Instead of filtering water and waste material from your blood, fluid gathers in your body, which causes swelling in your arms and legs. You may also notice symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, excessive thirst, bruising and bleeding.

Sprain or broken bone: If you twist your ankle or break a bone, you’ll likely get some swelling. It’s your body’s natural reaction to the injury. It moves fluid and white blood cells into the area and releases chemicals that help in the healing process.

You can try these home remedies to reduce the swelling: cut back on salty foods, wear compression stockings, get exercise every day, on long car rides switch positions and stop for breaks as often as you can. When you fly, get up from your seat and move around as much as possible. Raise your legs above your heart level for half an hour, several times a day.

Since leg swelling can be a sign of something serious, don’t ignore it.

If you notice other symptoms, especially leg pain, shortness of breath, or extreme fatigue, call your doctor right away.

Lizel Britz 072 243 7707.