In honor of February as American Heart Month, in this week’s blog, we are raising awareness that foot problems can often be harbingers of systemic health issues like heart disease. Swelling in the feet and ankles can be caused by many things, including circulation abnormalities or from just sitting in one place for too long (such as during a long train, plane, or bus ride).

See your foot doctor for recurring or severe swelling in your feet and ankles, as it could be the sign of a serious illness.

Swelling in your feet and ankles may be caused or exacerbated by the following:

• Circulation abnormalities—Arterial and venous diseases can cause fluid to build up in the feet and ankles.
• Being obese—Carrying a lot of extra weight puts excessive side pressure on your feet and can cause them to swell up inside your shoes.
• Diseases of major organs—Serious diseases of the kidney, liver, heart, and lungs are all capable of causing severe swelling in the feet and ankles.
• Side effects of certain medicines—Medication taken to control blood pressure, antidepressant medications, steroid injections, and hormone replacement therapy may cause swelling in the feet and ankles.
• Foot or ankle injury—Spraining an ankle or fracturing a foot or toe can cause considerable swelling. Stress fractures can be hard to trace, so be sure to see your podiatrist for the proper care.
• Pregnancy can cause foot and ankle swelling—It’s normal to have some swelling in your feet and ankles during pregnancy (and during menopause as well). For swelling that doesn’t go down after a few days, see your foot doctor for help.

If your feet and ankles are swelling up, we highly recommend that you consult our board-certified foot doctor Call Syracuse Podiatry, located in East Syracuse, New York. Dr. Ryan L. D’Amico, and Dr. Donal M. Erickson and their staff will help you diagnose and treat your foot or ankle condition. Call 315-446-3668 or make an appointment online today.