Swollen Feet Can Signal Heart Failure, Liver Disease, or Blood Clots

Persistent swelling in the feet and ankles, often dismissed as a minor inconvenience, can be an early warning sign of severe health conditions, according to Harvard Medical School experts. This swelling, known as edema, may signal heart failure, kidney disease, liver disease, or dangerous blood clots.

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If the swelling does not subside, it is important to find out the cause because it can be a sign of a more serious health problem.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a primary concern, occurring when a blood clot forms in a leg vein, impeding blood flow back to the heart. Symptoms include swelling, pain, and redness in the affected leg. The most critical risk is a clot breaking loose and traveling to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism, a life-threatening condition. Doctors stress that new swelling in just one leg always warrants a medical examination.

Heart failure can lead to fluid buildup in the legs because the heart cannot pump blood efficiently. Other symptoms to watch for include shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, and irregular heartbeats. Liver disease, such as cirrhosis, can reduce albumin levels in the blood, causing fluid to leak into tissues and result in swelling in the legs, arms, and even face. Jaundice, persistent itching, and loss of appetite can accompany this.

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New swelling in just one leg always requires a doctor's examination.

Kidney disease, where the kidneys fail to remove excess fluid, also causes swelling. Patients may experience frequent urination, blood in the urine, fatigue, and muscle cramps. Medical professionals urge immediate consultation if swelling lasts more than a few days, affects only one leg, leaves an indentation when pressed, or is accompanied by pain or skin color changes. They emphasize that self-diagnosis is risky, as swollen feet can be the first indicator of serious underlying illness.

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Do not self-diagnose. Sometimes swelling is the first sign of serious heart, kidney or liver disease.