Swollen Feet Is Poor Circulation Ruining Your Life Get relief from pain and swelling
89Swollen Feet and Swollen Ankles
Swollen feet or swollen ankles can be caused by poor circulation in the legs, but there can be an underlying health problem that will cause your feet to swell as a side effect. Not only can your feet swell but you may also experience puffy ankles, joint pain and occasionally, numbness.
I have recently discovered how inconvenient and disrupting it is to suffer from swollen feet and painful ankles. My problems started when I went on holiday only to discover that the hotel that we had been booked into, was right on the top of a hill.
This meant either walking down a very long road, or taking a short cut down steps with a very steep descent that involved at least four hundred steps. suffice to say that the going down was not the problem, it was the coming back up. Obviously if you are in your twenties and thirties it would probably have been fine. At first I found that after a few days of this exercise, my legs felt quite solid and the muscle seemed to be bulking up nicely. On returning home I noticed that my feet and ankles had become very swollen.
So what causes our feet to swell? In this article we will take a comprehensive look at why we get swollen feet and swollen ankles. As you will see, the problem can vary between an inconvenient swelling, to a more deeply rooted medical problem.
SO IS POOR CIRCULATION RUINING YOUR LIFE?
First of all we have to take a look at why we get bad circulation and swelling. In my case it was my own fault because I decided to ruin my muscles by thinking and acting like a teenager climbing up four hundred very steep steps. But of course there are many reason why your feet and legs will swell up and your circulation will feel sluggish and painful.
1.Hypertension. Hypertension is common in middle age and elderly people. It is caused by cholesterol plaque deposits building up along the walls of arteries, making them harden and feel much more constricted. The circulation of your blood becomes much more harder to pump around your legs, hence the swelling and pain.
2.Varicose veins. poor circulation can be caused by these very painful and unsightly veins seeming to bulge out to the side of your legs and, if knocked, can bleed quite profusely. This can be very dangerous and if this occurs, must be dealt with straight away at the hospital as it can cause all sorts of problems. Varicose veins are caused by a loss of elasticity in the vein walls, caused by cholesterol plaque again, and eating the right foods and taking enough exercise should help to keep these at bay for as long as possible.
3.Buergers disease. Buergers disease is a common illness caused by smoking. it is a chronic inflammation of the veins and arteries in your legs and feet. So the earlier you stop smoking, the better!
4.Peripheral arterial disease. Known as PAD. This is a very serious problem with blood flow to the arteries caused again, surprise, by plaque getting into your veins. This is a form of Atherosclerosis , which is a leading cause of death and involves all the major arteries of the body. The problem starts when you are involved in any form of exercise or exertion. Because the blood cannot be carried around your body, along with the extra oxygen you need to perform any sort of physical activity, you will become short of breath, and your legs will swell causing pain or aching, sometimes even cramping and tired, but this will be in the legs and not the joints. The most severe form will cause tissue necrosis which means that the oxygen cannot reach the legs or the feet, and the tissue will die.
5. Thrombosis or embolism. I think we are all aware of these, but if you are not, I will give a short explanation. Thrombosis or embolism occurs when a blood clot forms within a blood vessel, obstructing the flow of blood around the Circulatory system. This can be lethal in that if the blood clot travels to the heart or the lungs, death will occur.
So, you can see that there are many forms and reasons why we suffer Poor Circulation. But the question is, what can we do about it?
Herbs for Circulation
There are many herbs, that you can use for circulation. Below is just a few that I found to be familiar names that we can all buy quite easily.
Onions, Garlic, Ginger, and Ginko biloba are just a few that are very good for circulation of your legs and feet. Ginko biloba is in fact sold specifically for that reason. Cayenne itself is also very good, it stimulates the heart, regulates blood flow and and even more importantly strengthens the arteries and capillaries. Great stuff. So along with a daily dose of Ginko Biloba, which is also an anti inflammatory, these herbs all help to improve the blood flow, which in turns supplies more oxygen to the heart and lungs and if this wasn't enough, makes you breath more easily! Also it reduces cramps in the legs and cleans the blood! So when you decide to go for a run, you will be able to breath better, not get cramp, your legs will not swell like a mutant lemon and you won't bruise so easily if you fall over! Can't be bad, can it?
Circulation Boosters and electronic feet massagers
Circulation Booster v3. This is a relatively new machine that is great to boost your circulation while you are sitting at a desk or at home.
How does the Circulation Booster work?
Electrical impulses stimulate the nerve endings in the soles of your feet, and the muscles in your lower legs. This makes your calf muscles visibly contract and release, which improves your circulation. It has specific programmes to treat all conditions. The bonus is that as it is remote controlled, you can just sit back and relax while it does all the work.
There are also a number of feet and legs massage machines to improve your circulation, which come in all shapes and sizes to fit into your lifestyle. See Below.
 | Amazon Price: $49.99 List Price: $59.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $34.59 List Price: $59.99 |
 | Amazon Price: Too low to display List Price: $24.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $159.95 List Price: $299.99 |
Leg massage for your Circulation
 | Amazon Price: $44.99 List Price: $79.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $33.99 List Price: $39.98 |
| Amazon Price: $159.95 List Price: $299.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $79.00 List Price: $99.00 |
Achilles Tendonitis Or Torn Tendon
- What Is Achilles Tendonitis? Prevention And Treatment
A step by step guide on how to treat a damaged Achilles Tendon.
So there you have it. If you feel that you need to boost Circulation in your legs because of pain or swelling, there are so many ways to help you overcome this problem. The trouble is, when you have so much pain in your legs, you don't actually want to go out walking to alleviate the problem because it just causes more pain. So Hopefully I have pointed you in the right direction to getting some relief. I have actually started to take Ginko Biloba because for me this sounds like a very special plant. I will be adding to the list of magical properties on another hub, because I believe it is worthy of lot more attention.
Swollen feet can be a symptom of more serious conditions, so if you are not sure what is causing your feet to swell please go and see a Doctor, as this can be a sympton of Kidney disease or Heart Problems.
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Hi, Melinda, thank you for being so quick! it's amazing how you do that! lol I think that is a great idea, using weights to exercise, I remember reading somewhere that the olympic runners tie weights to their feet so that when they take them off, they can run really fast. I think I should try that! ha ha thanks again, take care nell
Oh, I forgot, Nell, the fastest way to increase overall circulation is to take a bath as hot as one can stand and stay there as long as they can stand. This I do every day,
The other thing I recommend is lathering your foot with Vicks at night and putting socks on.
This you can only do when you are alone.:-D
Hi, Melinda, I do the bath one everyday, but I had never heard of putting Vicks on at night!, I love the way that you said 'Only when you are alone' ha ha I do see you point, but it's a great idea, thanks I will try it, cheers nell
I had heard of Vicks on the feet too but not circulation, can't remember what though, I even told my husband at the time, his memory is no better than mine but anyway he has been having the circulation problems, I will see if he will try that. I always have had strong legs and rock solid calves and have kept up with exercise for them going up on my toes a few times daily,tightens the calf, just whenever you think of it and that helped Mom with restless leg. I have one of those machines but it has the bumpy things in it and heats the water,I just cant sit still long enough for that!
I have heard the cayenne is good for so many things and I usually remember to put in homemade soup but I need to put that out in sight and use on salads and anything else I can think of. Getting ready to go make my Kale smoothie, it lasts about three days I may put a dash in it, wouldn't even know it I bet.
How have you been? Come on over some time I think I mentioned you in my last hub. I have an idea for a poem this evening, maybe get the idea formed anyway. Husband's day off and guess I should be helping and learn something about getting a site up.
Polly
It is good to know that help is available for this type of disease. I imagine that many people suffered from this malady before the cause was discovered and cures found. Thanks for the information.
Hi, Polly, thanks for reading it, I hadn't thought about the vicks before, but i am trying out the Ghinko biloba, hopefully it will work, I will be over there as soon as my coffee is in front of me! ha ha thanks again nell
Hi, World-Traveler, thanks for stopping by, I am definetely going to be trying some of these things because my legs are killing me! lol thanks again nell
This is great. Really well put together. Try this, go to a drug store and get compression knee highs that are at least 30 mmhg compression. You should feel a difference almost immediately. I see a lot of people trying to treat poor circulation with compression hose that amount to glorified tights. Better compression. They will run you close to 20 bucks if you're in the US. Try this!
Well done Nell, filled with many tips. Paprika pulls have always been a great help for me especially in the winter months, but thats a Quill thing maybe.
Hugs and Blessings
I believe that L-Arginine, alone, has lowered my blood pressure from around 140 and above to 113 for the high number. Just can't remember the lows bet they were proportionate. Everybody has an idea. Thanks Nell.
morning Nell and everyone else :D
This is a great hub with just about everything needed, you did such a great job Nell. I really can not add anything to this, all of you covered it pretty well. if any of you make smoothies you can add all that to the smoothie and use black cherry juice as your base liquid. super concoction for great circulation and good health. Love you all, have a great day! Aloha
I thought of something else, Nell, to relieve the ankle and foot pains. Epsom salt in a basin of warm water. Soak for at least 10 minutes. 3 liters of water and one half cup of Epsom salt dissolved in it.
Hi, ahostage, that's a good idea, I think it will help until my legs stop hurting, I think with me it is the fact that I have pulled my muscles in my legs as well! so I will give them a go, thanks for the help, cheers nell
Hey, those are some slick things! I need massagers for every part of my body it seems and thankfully I have Bob! He gives me a massage every day while I'm working which is so nice. Sitting I think is the worst thing possible for circulation and I do that way too much with my job and my 'other' job hubbing!
Great info and will have to look at some of those gadgets. Bob takes care of my neck and back but I could probably use some leg work!
Hi, Quill, lovely to see you, I went on holiday and came back with really sore legs! lol I think I must remember to look at my birth certificate occasionally! I walk and walk and climb, and forget that my legs are getting older, I have never driven so I am used to walking, but maybe I need to slow down somewhat! thanks for reading it, cheers nell
Hi, Micky, any ideas would be good at this moment! lol I feel that my legs don't belong to my body! I will have to wrap them up in cotton wool and put a size ten shoe on! ha ha thanks again nell
Hi, Sa'ge, black cherry juice? I will get on it right away! anything that will help is a bonus for my poor feet! thanks again, and good evening now! lol cheers nell
Hi, Melinda, thanks for coming back, I will definitely try it, thanks for the info, cheers nell
Hi, Audrey, can i borrow Bob? ha ha I think I need a portable massage person! but seriously my feet definitely need some serious sorting out! I will have to use a walking frame soon! hee hee thanks as always nell
I also have problems with my legs and thank you for your great help. I will try these.
What great suggestions Nell. You even had me going over to Amazon to have a closer look. I like the foot massager because it doubles as a foot rest for my computer station. Thanks!
Excellent hub, Nell.
At age 25, when pregnant with my second child and tangling with a spoiled first one, less than 2 years old and thoroughly spoiled by a family of in-laws from birth through his first six or more months so that I had to constantly carry him around or rock him in his bassinet (usually with my foot since I had many chores to do) - I delevope what the doctors described as the worst varicose veins they'd ever seen on anyone of any age. I had to lose weight during the last several months of the pregnancy to relieve some of the problem, had to put on heavy medical elastic support stockings before I got out of bed (held up by suspenders over my very pregnant body!) and had to sit to do my work, including cooking, washing dishes, ironing, etc. - and tending to the spoiled baby.
Immediately after delivering my daughter, I was given the then-treatment for the veins - stripping, a process by which they made incisions in my groin (where there were seriously hanging veins) and in my ankles, inserted a hooked probe through the veins, latched on to the severed ends at the ankles and pulled them out wrong-side out - both legs. Then they had to make 35 incisions on my right foot to get the small ones there. The veins they pulled out told the story. The "valves" inside veins which slope up so that as the blood rises to go back to the heart to be reoxidized - will "close" to hold it as far as that valve and so on - were all floppy - when the blood passed by them - or tried to - it didn't stay that far so that it could proceed on to the next one, but lingered - to gather and swell the veins and perhaps eventually to move on by sheer volume collected. I didn't see the veins but my ex-husband did. He described them as looking like pieces of wet spaghetti with floppy pieces hanging from them.
I went on to care for my children and, in fact, it was right then when he decided not to stay in the Air Force but to return to school in his bailiwick to try to become a doctor. He even had to take a remedial English course to get into college. So I had to go to work in addition to my other full-time job of caring for my home and family (he believed it was all women's work & wouldn't even pour himself a cup of coffee during the entire 18 years of the marriage - in fact it was my finally telling him to pour it himself the day before the 'END' which percipitated the end), nursing my new baby, helping him study, looking nice as he expected me to & generally stretching my endurance almost beyond endurance. I didn't drive, I might add - only learned to @ age 40 after the marriage finally blew up.
I'd always eaten right, was never overweight, and the only explanation other than the added pressure of carrying around the first baby while carrying the second was that I inherited the tendency - and not from my mother - but from my father! My father, brother & I were the only ones in my natal family, including Mother and two sisters - who ever had the vein problem.
Anyway - that treatment of veins is not as effective as the newer treatments with lasers, I understand. But I wore support hose for years, stayed active (aerobic exercise is excellent for many things), along with good diet and the natural foods & herbs you mention, which I use except for the ginko, which I may try now! I also began to wear better supporting shoes for everyday activities (it was before today's athletic shoes were around so I wore nurses' shoes!) In my teens I wore ballet shoes a lot and other non-supportive kinds which surely didn't help & my work demanded high heels.
But I've been able to almost recover from it by intelligent compensating & choices, so that 53 years later, I can boastg thqt I'm quite fit & fine, and take no meds but premarin and my only complaint is chronic numbness in my feet - still a symptom of poor circulation, probably because I'm sitting at the computer too much - LOL. I take B vitamins for it because it's partly neurological, said my doctor when he recommended them.
For me, staying slim has always been a health essential. And, contrary to what the doctors who did the operation said, - I've been able to wear a bathing suit successfully & look just fine in bikini panties, even now. ;-) Also I intend to continue doing so for another 20 or 30 years!
Now - if I can just find me one of those Circulation Boosters like the one in the illustration of the gal using it - and get onto the Ginko - I'll be all set!
Thanks, Nell. This is truly a good article you've published. I rated it up and useful!!
Hi, Hello Hello, I think it is an age thing, I can't try and get away with being so young anymore! glad it was some help, and thanks as always nell
Hi, Green Lotus, thanks for reading it, I am glad it was helpful as I feel that sometimes we all have some trouble with our legs, I tend to ignore my feet a lot and now they are getting their own back on me! i had trouble with Amazon trying to do this so I am glad you managed it, thanks so much as always nell
Hi, Nellieanna, Oh my goodness, what a nasty thing to happen at such a young age, and the description of the veins that were taken out, well, all I can say is that I am glad that you didn't look! lol I noticed that once again kids are wearing ballet style pumps and I cringe whenever I see them walk over pebbles and stones. I gave up wearing high heels about ten years ago as my ankles had virtually no support in them as they are so tiny! my son calls them sparrows ankles! cheek. lol I heard about Ghinko biloba a while ago on TV when the scientists were choosing the herbs that definitely worked and this was one of them, so I have it on good authority that these are the genuine article, I am sorry that I couldn't do the Amazon because for some reason the link wouldn't work,I think the one that I have put up is more or less the same, but I hope you get some really good use out of it if you do buy one, I have already sent of for mine. Oh well I suppose I had better just acknowedge the fact that my legs are older than the rest of me! I also don't drive but I think I will definitely learn now as I can't walk as far as I used to! thanks again nell
A nice foot rub'll make it all feel much better !!!
Interesting Hub on poor circulation and swollen ankles, Nell. And there is nothing better than a nice relaxing foot spa!
Is Buergers disease the same as varicose veins? I haven't heard about this before and its description in this hub seemed like they're same.
Sorry about your swollen feet, I guess it happens to a lot of people. You've made a great hub out of it anyway. Thanks for this information. :)
Hi, carolina muscle, I know it would, any idea where I can find someone to do it?! lol thanks as always nell
Hi, CMHypno, I definitely need a new foot spa, so I am going to get myself one soon and just relax, at the moment I am using a bowl! lol thanks again nell
Hi, BeatsMe, Buergers is an inflammation of the veins and arteries that can also cause clotting, if it gets really bad it can cause gangrene! not very nice, it does tend to start like varicose veins but then gets worse, it takes a lot to diagnose it and there are a lot of tests involved, evidently it is worse in smokers! I had better throw them away then! lol thanks nell
Thank you Neil Rose, this is one that I have, but with Yoga, it is helping!
Hi, sherry, that's a great idea, maybe I will try it, thanks for reading my hub, cheers nell
Wow, I think I have all forms of this. The swelling goes down almost instantly (within 20-30 minutes) when I raise my feet and usually doesn't swell until the evening time after all day of activity. It can become painful. I attribute it to my constant mental lapses that I am in my 50's and not 20's. Don't tell my brain that (but my body sure feels is) or I will become a couch bum before I know it. Nice to see that your brain works like mine, yes we can, yes we can do it. The body is no we can', no we can't..
Hi, ehern, it's so nice to see you back, how are you now? I hope your eyes are fine now? I wrote this as I am feeling my age now! lol I think it started because I have a verruca on my pad of my foot and I have been favouring it by leaning on the other leg! so now both of them have swollen up! great stuff, I am falling to pieces! ha ha Oh well never mind, thanks for reading it, and great to have you back, cheers nell
Thanks Nell, they are fine now. Actually it was a not as bad as I thought but I have been very busy lately with sicknesses in the family and so on. Things are starting to settle down a little now. Don't know for how long though but I do need a break.. Funny you saif you were falling to pieces, my doctor recently made that same comment to me " You are falling apart on me, but I will put Humptey Dumpty back together again! I looked at him and said, thanks Doc, I come to you for encouragement and I feel like a jig saw puzzle.
Good information. I learn much from you. I found some terrible disease like you mention above. And it will getting worst without good medication. I hope we always healthy. Vote this up.
Prasetio
My restless legs are bothering me, poor circulation, chronic pain. I rub polar bear and wear socks at night. It helps. At day time I do brisk walking, 1,000 quick steps make me satisfied. But that's less than the 30 minute minimum of foot exercise I must do daily. I'll consider your herbal alternates like Ginko bilova. Thank you,Nell.
Hi, Humptey Dumpty! sorry ehern! lol I love that, a jigsaw puzzle! I think I know where you are coming from on that one! if it's not my feet it's my legs etc I am glad that you are better and it wasn't as bad as you thought, and I hope to see you back in full swing on here! thanks again nell
Hi, prasetio, I hope you are okay? there is nothing worse than having something that hurts your legs, I hope you get the right medication and take care of yourself, thank you for reading my hub, cheers nell
Hi, Lita, I am sorry that you are suffering with your legs, I never knew that it could be so painful, I am trying everything now, and hopefully it will work, I do walk a lot everyday and it isn't so bad then but it is at night and first thing in the morning, I tend to walk like someone twenty years older than me! better start exercising! lol thanks for commenting, cheers nell
Great Job. It is really nice to have all that valuable information in one place!
Hi, raisingme, I would never have wrote it but for my aching feet! ha ha what a way to write a hub! thanks again nell
Hello and great job by the writer and all contributors!! I am only 28 and already suffer from quite large veins in my calfs (despite being a healthy eater and active person) and one thing idea I would add that I practice daily is inversion:
-putting both legs and feet up a wall
-doing yoga poses such as shoulder stand
Ten minutes of this a day makes a big difference in my world :)
I will also try the GIngko and appreciate the article!
Hi, Ballance Tree, thank you for reading it, that's a great idea, I do need to start exercising again, and any info will be greatly appreciated, thanks so much nell
Thanks so much Nell Rose for this piece. One of my late husbands health problems was Hypertension.
I never fully understood what is was about until now, your description was clear and concise. Thank you so much for this informative hub, voted up, marked useful, shared and bookmarked.
Hi, pmccray, thank you for your rating up, I really appreciate it, this is something that I had not even thought about until I started to suffer with the swollen legs and ankles so I am glad that you found it so helpful, thankfully my ankles seem to be looking a bit more normal now! and I can walk! lol thanks again nell
Thanks for a good informative Hub Nell.I'm only 35 but from 1.6 million miles sitting in the seat of a semi truck I already suffer from this condition chronically. I have found that sleeping with my feet elevated seems to keep the major swelling from occurring.
Hi, Benjamin, thanks for reading this, wow that's a lot of driving! no wonder your legs hurt. They always say that you shouldn't stay sitting down for more than two or three hours, as it can cause thrombosis, or blood clots, I remember reading that if you go in an aeroplane for a long journey you should always take aspirin as it thins the blood, maybe you should try it? as it is the same principal, but obviously check with your Doctor first in case you are on any other tablets, I am glad you found this helpful, cheers nell
There are some serious causes of foot swelling that should be looked into by your doctor before you decide you have poor circulation. Blood and urine tests will make sure swelling is not caused by dysfunction of your kidneys or liver. A chest X-ray will make sure swelling is not due to heart failure.
Recently my sister had foot swelling. I told her to get checked, but that it was probably nothing to worry about. She turned out to have kidney failure and is on dialysis, awaiting a kidney transplant. A dose of Motrin killed her kidneys.
Hi, cathylynn, thanks for commenting. You are right of course, there are so many reasons why feet and legs swell, you should always get a check from the Doctor, a few years ago i had swollen feet, but mainly I kept getting really dizzy, eventually I was really ill just before Christmas, and was rushed into hospital, it turned out that I had been born with an upside down kidney! I had to have it removed then turned up the right way and now it seems to be okay, they did ask me if I wanted it removed but I said no way! but I totally understand what you mean, thanks for writing cheers nell
P.s. I have added a warning at the bottom of my hub now about kidney and heart problems, thank you.
Good job Nell, I think you've just helped a lot of people who read this hub. I found it very useful.
Hi, Youvle, thanks for reading it, I started off with swollen ankles and the rest just flowed onto the screen! lol if it helps anybody else then thats great, thank you so much, cheers nell
Hi, relativ, thanks for commenting, cheers nell
good job
Hi Nell, i'm new here on Hubs, and i just want to let you know that i always had sore legs and feet, i for one am going to make good use of your site. I really suffered the most when i was pregnant. I am going to take a better look at the foot massager from Amazon
A Great Hub, I have been suffering with the same problem and learned of a great cure that has helped me a lot, Drink 2 glasses of Blueberry Juice a day and in-between drink Green tea . It has turned out to help my feet a lot.
Hi Nell, great hub! I'd like to add just one thing. I've been having problems with my feet and ankles swelling and my feet going numb when I'm standing. The doctor had just recently put me on Celebrex for my arthritis and she said it could be the cause of my swelling. Her suggestions were raising my feet every two to three hours and wearing the support stockings. I love how the stockings make my legs feel for the first hour or two, but they slide down slightly and that causes them to get too tight around my ankles so I can't wear them for a long time.
Hi, maziz, thanks for commenting, cheers nell
Hi, revrave, welcome to hubpages, and I am glad my hub has helped you, I totally understand about being pregnant! my legs were terrible! I think that at this time it could also be the hot weather where I am, everybody seems to have swollen feet! thanks nell
Hi, vietnamvet, thanks for commenting, that's a great idea, I will certainly give it a try, thanks for stopping by, cheers nell
Foot Swelling may also occur due to increase of S. Creatinine of blood causing kidney problems and due increase of S. Ige of blood causing allergy or oedema. Patients of these type of health problems may avail good treatment through homeopathy with out side effects.
Dr. M. Ahmed
www.doctorsofbangladesh.com/drmahmed
Hi, Selah, I think I will get myself some of those! I am beginning to walk around with a limp! lol anything that will help will be a bonus, thank you so much for commenting, cheers nell
Hi, Dr. M. Ahmed, thank you for your additional information, I am sure homeopothy is another great way to help this annoying affliction, thanks so much nell
I had always though my feet problems were from too much pressure on my feet, or from standing too much. Turns out it was circulation! Thanks so much for this, I've been feeling better becaus of this hub.
Hi, MrCTMP, great that it has helped, I started writing this for the same reason! Oh well at least I got a hub out of it even if my feet do hurt! lol thanks again nell
Recently, I began awakening with sore feet. I have begun to rub a gel infused with "arnaka" - a holistic approach. This herb is fantastic in the prevention and treatment of swelling, pain, and bruising. Just thought I'd share. I will try to incorporate more of your mentioned herbs in my diet. Again, another great hub!
Hello, I'm new to hub pages,thought your article was great. But a little concerning, if your still having these problems,please consider having your sugar levels tested. Four members of my family are diabetic and they all have these problems with there legs and feet!
Hi, I'm new to HubPages and I've just read you Hub on swelling legs. My wife has a huge problem with her swelling legs. She has even the doctors comfounded. Her legs are black and swollen, for the last ten years. They have passed her through two Dopplers, one for veins and one for arteries and circulation is good in her legs. Being diabetic doesn't help the cause. But a couple of your suggestions might.Beginning with Ginko Biloba, now to find a way to convince her to try it.I will be following you and let you know if it helps.
Hi, breathe2travel, sorry it took so long to get back to you, that sounds like a great idea, I will have to try some of that, a lot of my trouble is a stupid verruca! it is making my legs ache on top of all the swollen ankle thing! so anything that will help is great, thank you nell
Hi, E. Welch, thank you for your info, luckily for me, I have a blood test frequently for thyroid so it has been covered by that as well, but that's great info, thanks and welcome to hubpages! cheers nell
Hi, Jean, thanks for commenting and welcome to hubpages, sorry it took a while to get back to you. I am so sorry about your wifes troubles, and I hope this hub will help you, but obviously make sure that your wife asks her doctor before she starts to take ginko biloba as I have no idea of her medical condition and it might be detremental to her other tablets, but thank you so much nell
As a paramedic, i see swollen feet everyday. Lasix is always prescribed for it, however i believe rehab is the most effective way to treat. You have to get up and use your feet. People that are in wheelchairs, bed bound, or not active seem to get it the most. If more people with swollen feet would get up more and use them, more blood would flow through giving more circulation.
Good article great points
This is a common problem face by many people. Thanks for writing a wonderful hub with useful information.
Hi, Patdmania, thanks for reading it, I quite agree with you, I don't drive so I walk everywhere, down the street every day, and to work, and it does seem to help after walking for a while, thanks again nell
Hi, valerie thank you for reading it, and commenting, cheers nell
Hi, sid, thank you so much for reading it and your kind words I really appreciate it, cheers nell
I would just like to say that I will be over to read your hubs and comment but there seems to be a glitch with the comment boxes at the moment, apart from our own, I think that Maddie is on to it, okay? thanks again nell
Thank you, I suffer from small veins thanks to genetics add on top of that a car accident that damaged both legs. I am always looking for ways to keep the sweeling down. vitamin B12, leg elevation, Granny Panty hose from yuck land that are 30/40 compression, Now on Tuesday I am having to go visit the hospital for an Imblasion (sp) where they cut off a shallow vein due to the issues that it has caused. So as you can see I am always looking for ways to help the sweeling. You have given me some to try.
Melissa
Hi, Melissa, thank you so much for commenting, You certainly seem to have held on to your sense of humour though, the granny panty hose from yuck land! lol I am so sorry for your troubles and good luck with the hospital I hope it gives you a bit more relief from your pain, and if anything here does help you then it has been worthwhile writing it, thanks again nell
Hi Nell - thanks for a very informative hub! That machine up there looks like a great idea! So many people I know suffer from it - and as Nellieanna says, pregnancy is one time when a lot of women seem to have this problem.
Hi, Shalini, I know, I remember my legs swelling badly when I was pregnant, I felt like a waddling duck! lol thanks so much, cheers nell
Great article. Ginko Biloba is great. I had never heard of a circulation booster. Your articleis easy to read and understand.
I should know Ginko Biloba has great affect on foot circulation, since it help on memorizing as well (better blood circulation for brain).
Every once in, I usually do foot massage using those U comfy foot massager, very relaxing.
Hi, events, thanks for reading it, and I am glad that I wrote it in a way that was okay to understand, I know what you mean, sometimes it is quite difficult to get past the technical terms when someone writes something, so I do it just like I would talk it! lol thanks so much nell
Hi, Ign Andy, I am glad to know that Ginko Biloba works, of course they use it for the brain, I forgot that, thanks for the reminder, and I am glad you like the foot massager I have used one and they are great, cheers nell
Great health tips. Thanks for sharing
Hi, PR_am, thanks for reading it, cheers nell
Hi Nell,
Wow this is really informative.
I just question something though. I am an overweight person (without diabetes) and I do walk about 15 mins to and back from work. I usually feel really good and some days I do a power walk (because I'm motivated then)
I find I get swollen legs in the morning. I don't understand it but I will say this I had surgery in my more prodominant swollen leg (left) for bunionectomy (sp?) and currently still have tendinitis (heard it will take awhile before that goes away) grr. But is there anything else I could or should be doing to motivate my leg to reduce swelling at night or mornings?
Friendly advice is welcomed. If you know of good meal plan ideas for losing weight I'm totally game.(interested)
Thanks a million :)
Hi, stormigrl, thanks for reading it, I don't really have any medical qualifications so always check with your doctor before doing anything new or taking something, but I do have an idea for your legs in the morning, when you are still in bed, lay on your back and raise your legs, and try a few gently exercises, twisting your ankles around and pointing your toes. Do this for about 5 minutes, and when you get up after your bath or shower, maybe get a bowl of cold water and place your feet in it for a few moments. I find this is great, I usually do it when I am putting on my makeup! perfect timing! hope it helps. I don't really know about a good meal plan but I am sure that someone else on here will have the answer, just google your question in the search box and add the word hubpages at the end, that's what I always do when I want to find out something and read it from hubpages, good luck! and take care nell
Hi Nell, My legs swell when I sit at the computer too long. There are a lot of good tips here will try. Thanks
Tina
Hi, Tina, my legs always swell in the summer! I was in agony this year, because of the amount of heat! not that I am complaining! lol thanks again nell
Wonderful article. I used to have swollen feet and noticed it got worse during the winter. I knew it had to do with poor circulation but didn't know it could be related to the heart.
Hi, sureal, thanks for reading it, I always found that mine got worse in the summer. swollen feet have many causes, so it is best to check with a Doctor, but I would imagine that it is probably something to do with the weather, I know that mine was, it was the heat causing them to itch and swell. But it is best to be careful. Thanks again nell
"obviously if you are in your twenties and thirties it would probably have been fine. " isn't that the truth LOL!
Great article. My brother has one of those electronic feet massagers you mentioned and he loves it. He has some varicose vein issues.
I recently had swollen legs and had a hard time getting up but I attributed it to eating a couple of bags of salty potato chips and the like. It went away after a few days and I stopped the salt intake.
Hi, Millenium, that's the trouble with me, I shake salt over everything! I only get swollen feet in the summer, so maybe that is something to do with it? I will have to learn to cut it out a bit! I love salt! lol thanks nell
very well thought article and well written. Lots of helpful information. Nice how you always respond by commenting. Nice writing style also.
Hi, kim, thank you so much, I am glad you liked it, I hope the info is helpful to you, cheers nell
Very informative post! I really liked it. I never knew that herbs can actually improve circulation. It's good that they're actually are easy to find.
Citra
Hi, Citra, thanks for reading it, herbs are really useful but of course always see a Dr. first to make sure it is safe for you to take them, okay? cheers nell
Thanks Nell for sharing that information oh how poor circulation can cause health related problems. I am in my late twenties but I still found the information you have shared to be very useful. Voted UP and rated USEFUL
Great info that enlighten me more to know when poor circulation is ruining anybody around me life.
Thanks good article very informative post really beautifull
Hi, guys, thanks for reading it, sorry it took so long to answer I was away for a few days, thanks nell
Extensive information, what a wonderful hub! I have recently been dealing with one swollen ankle and blood clots etc. I am on Warfaren and not happy about this. I have had two excellent physicians and I do have a family history of blood disorders. You have covered every area and have offered solutions in such a positive manner. Great hub.
Hi, fetty, I had a friend on Warfaren it is good for the disorder but it does put me off a bit knowing it is used for rat poison! lol she also used it for blood clots too, I am glad it was helpful, thanks nell
wow useful i must suggest to my friend thanks nell!!
Hi, spsingh, thanks for reading, cheers nell
Good information. thanks
Thanks Susie, nell
My ankles and feet started to swell last summer, but only when there was a heat wave. When I talked to my doctor about this he told me to start wearing elastic stockings. Since they only swell in the summer I did not pay any heed to purchasing the stockings since I wear flip flops and sandals all summer. I found your article very interesting and useful as I did not realize all the problems that poor circulation can be caused from.
I have neuropathy in my feet. I have to take a medication for that.
My husband had poor circulation in his feet and legs and had to have stents put in.
When I was 37 I had swollen feet so bad that when I went on a trip with friends I could barely walk. Doctor said here take these water pills never looked for why my feet were swollen. When I had a heart attack a year later they knew then why I had swollen feet. To bad they thought I was young and stupid and wouldn't listen to me. They could have saved me from having the heart attack.
Great Hub.
Hi, Susan, that's exactly when my feet swelled up too! something about the heat, I had never had it before, but taking warm baths and then soaking my legs in freezing water did help a bit, thanks for reading, cheers nell
Hi, moonlake, that's awful! it seems that doctors take no notice of anybody these days! I hope you are well now, take care nell
i am 25 years old and i am getting to much swelling in my whole body, just becoz of swelling i am looking fat also, kindly tell me something so that i may look better
Hi, Madiha, you could have water retention, if you see your GP he may suggest water tablets, but you can buy them at a health store, these will have cucumber as an ingredient as they are really good for water retention, but dandelion is also very good, if you go into a health shop they will be able to point out the best remedy, but remember to see your GP first as you could have an underlying infection or another problem, even a bad thyroid can cause swelling, okay? good luck! cheers nell
This is great info Nell and well worth a vote up. I have bad pains in my feet and they remain swollen. I have had all kinds of issues with them for as long as I can remember. Im just 28, but I have broke them multiple times because of football, ankles that is. They constantly hurt, but no insurance, no dr visit. :(
Will try this tonight. Any relief would be worth it. Sure do appreciate the advice Nell. Great hub that is well written. Take care dear.
Hi, lyric, that sounds like a nightmare, I wish that America would do the National Health Service like we Brits do, we have had it since the 40s, and never have to pay anything! apart from prescriptions of course, but even that has gone in Scotland Wales and Ireland, apart from good old England where we subsidise everybody! lol thanks for reading, cheers nell
This is my first time here , but very informative and I am definitely going to try this . Thank you very much .
Hi, michelle, thanks very much, I am glad you found it helpful, stop by any time, thanks nell
I work from home and as a result do not get much exercise. I'm starting to notice this is becoming a problem. Thanks for the helpful information! Hope that the Ginko works for you.
Hi, Jlava, glad it could help, I find that the hotter the summer the more my feet swell, luckily they seem to be fine now, but there are loads of different reasons why they do swell, maybe you should do an exercise routine in the house? I do every day, I use the kitchen worktop to do press ups, and high kicks etc, great for the circulation! lol thanks again nell
Hi, Nell--
Very well-done article. I must say, you did your research! My husband is a heart patient who underwent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery back in 2001 (they did a QUINTUPLE bypass at that time!!) But, he now has quite severe foot/ankle/leg problems just in the left leg--which is the leg from which they 'stole' the veins to repair the heart.
Unfortunately, that resulted in very poor circulation to that leg and foot, and not much can be done about it. In fact, it caused his already flat feet to totally collapse on that side, and he is in near constant pain. Elastic support socks do help, but they are no substitute for not having such a problem in the first place. :-(
He cannot take herbals, particularly the Ginko, because of potential drug interactions with the medications for his heart.
So, before taking anything, you should consult with your doctor....(not that many of them know much about holistic/herbal/alternative remedies--they are too busy pocketing kickbacks from the major drug companies!)
Voted up, interesting and useful!
Hi, DzyM, I am so sorry that your husband was ill, it must be terrible for him. I didn't realise that it would cause so much trouble for his legs, of course I understand that they had to take the veins to repare his heart, but its such a shame that it has taken such a toll on his legs, thank you for reading, and thanks for the votes, cheers nell
I always used to get swollen feet when on a plane. To stop it happening I take my shoes off and do ankle circling, walk about on long flights as much as possible and put my feet up when I can. Massaging the feet and ankles also helps.
Hi, Sue, that's a great idea! I remember when I went on a plane I was so restless all the time I kept walking about too! Another good idea for a long plane journey is to take an Aspirin before boarding, this thins the blood out and prevents blood clots. Obviously only take one if you are not on other medication that will interfere with it, thanks!
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All are interesting comments.
Most of it is manageable. I also experience swollen feet about 2 years ago. Since then I have managed the problem. This is what I do.
Take a blood thinner (Cartia) at least 5 days before I start travelling. Continue to take it while travelling and 5 days after arriving home. The day before and even the day you get on the plane for a long flight just do some exercised (cycling or jogging works for me). If the hotels have a gym I use it otherwise I take a small stretch machine with me. Take of my shoes as soon as I settle down on my flight. I have just done a European trip from Sydney via Kuala Lumpur and Colombo. No problems other than a mild cold. Investing time and effort on good food and exercise brings a very high return. It's worth it.
Hi, Sam, thank you for your great ideas, I always take Aspirin when I fly, and try to walk around the airplane quite a lot, saying that I have only been on my longest flight for five hours, but that still should help. its a good idea to do exercise, anything to get the blood circulating, definitely worth investing in the food and exercise, thanks so much nell
hi im sizwe , a student at U.C.T and i would like to ask how does your feel after driving a car with your normal shoes on because my feet get painful and swollen ,sometimes i get blister
Hi, sizwe, I don't drive, but my friend always swears by a pair of slip on shoes, maybe the ballet type? she always keeps them in the car, so whenever she gets out she can change them back, it could be the fact that because you are sitting down and exerting pressure on your feet your ankles become swollen with water, try the soft shoe idea, its a sure way of keeping your feet more flexible and with the ballet shoes your feet have more room to move, okay? thanks for reading, cheers nell
Im worried about my wife,she is 33,she has been having swelling in her lower leggs,ankles and feet,also she has been in pain all over her body for the last two days and has been very restless and says she feels like she is having a panic attack.We have been married for 12yrs and she never complains about anything ever,she had cervical cancer removed 11yrs ago,she hasnt been to a doctor since,any ideas what could be wrong,she is very scared and this is very unlike her,I am also very stressed over this1 thank you for any advice!
Hi, doug, sorry to have taken so long to answer, the best thing to do is get your wife to the doctor or even straight to the hospital. the point is it could be anything from a virus, DVT or a number of other problems, I am not a Dr. so I really shouldn't give advice about anything that could be serious. Saying that, don't panic, it may just be something simple, but with your wife's history it is best to go straight to the experts, and please make sure your wife does go, I know it can be frightening to have anything like this, but she will feel much better when the doctor has seen her, okay? good luc, and if you have time, come back and let me know so I can add it to my article, every bit of information helps, thanks nell
Vicks is good for coughs. Put it on ur feet and put socks on at night.
Im so out of shape im 27 and my legs always hurt...im making an appoiment with dr because om scared...I loved every single word u put out here.. I notice I havericose gains that could be the reason ... thanks
This was more helpful and realistic than MANY articles I've read about the subject of swelling.
A word from the wise - don't do too much research on the internet about this. Just go see a doctor... Yes, exercise helps a good bit... but self-diagnosis can be terrifying, especially when the internet tells you that you probably have congestive heart failure or liver cirrhosis. Terrifying.
I ended up in the emergency room recently, thinking I was going to literally die... turns out I just have high blood salt - which isn't fantastic, but it is at least mostly reversible.
I've been having swelling over my entire body, and I'm only 25 years old... but I'm a software student... so I don't have a lot of time to walk or cook healthy meals. Gonna have to find the time, though. Software does you no good if you're dead!
Hi, Jess yes I agree, never read anything from the internet unless its from a Doctor, or someone who is actually going through it themselves. As I mentioned always see a Doctor, I wrote about what happened to me, and I do research everything I write too, from medical books in the library to tablets and treatment that I have, my answer to reading stuff on the internet is, always read at least two or three different versions, and only doctors or nurses guides, and of course hubs, because we have to make sure that what we write is true, or as near as we can get, sorry to hear about your high blood salt, it may sound like a small thing, but believe me, when you suffer from a very high thyroid caused by a tiny hormone, small salts and hormones are not to be dismissed, good luck and don't forget to drink lots of water and eat healthy, thanks for reading, nell
Hi there one of my foot has been swelln for some yrs nw what can I do its hard for me to wear certain shoes nd im a teenager
Hi, Nicol, if its just one of your feet that keeps swelling, you should go and see your Doctor. There are many other reasons why your feet swell apart from bad circulation, for example you may have a trapped nerve, or an underlying illness, so the best idea is to get a blood test and check out your overall health, okay? thanks for reading, cheers nell
How much Ginkgo Biloba a day to take. Also, what about taking magnesium for feet and leg swelling?
Hi Whom, if you buy Ginko Biloba it should say either on the packet or on the box, if you take medication always ask the Doctor before you take it, okay? Magnesium is good for swollen feet, but must be taken properly, too much may be dangerous, just ask your doctor or pharmacist okay? thanks for reading, cheers nell
msorensson Level 3 Commenter 22 months ago
I had no idea there are so many causes of poor circulation, Nell :-). Thanks. I love that you added the herbal medication. Cool.
I walk and do stretching exercises. I used to dance..ha ha ha..that was in a previous lifetime.
Anyway, when I was pregnant, I must have been the healthiest since I drank milk whether I wanted to or not, lol, six glasses a day, and then I walked for two miles with five pounds of extra weight on each foot all of 8 months!!.
I still do that not as often as I like, putting the extra weights on legs.
I do have one of those electronic foot massagers. They are wonderful for tired feet.
I enjoyed the hub.
Much love always,
Melinda