Do your shoes feel tighter by the end of the day? Or do your socks leave impressions around your ankles when you take them off? While occasional leg swelling after travel or a long day on your feet is common, persistent or worsening swelling shouldn’t be ignored.
Although swollen legs can have many different causes, they can sometimes be an early warning sign of an underlying heart condition. In other words, your body may be trying to tell you that something isn’t working quite as it should.
This month, Dr. Henock Saint-Jacques and his team of experts explain the connection between leg swelling and heart health, when it’s time to seek medical care, and what you can expect during your evaluation at Harlem Cardiology in East Harlem, New York.
Your heart works like a pump to circulate blood throughout your body. When your heart isn’t pumping as efficiently as it should, blood can begin to back up in your veins. The increased pressure pushes fluid out of your blood vessels and into the surrounding tissues.
Fun fact: The fluid shift even has its own name. It’s governed by the Starling equation (named after physiologist Ernest Starling). In simple terms, when the pressure inside your blood vessels rises, it pushes fluid out into the surrounding tissue faster than your body can reabsorb it, and that imbalance is what shows up as swelling.
To compound matters, gravity then causes this excess fluid to collect in the feet, ankles, and lower legs, especially after you’ve been standing or sitting for long periods.
Leg swelling doesn’t automatically mean you have heart disease. However, it may be associated with conditions such as:
When your heart can’t pump blood effectively, fluid may build up in your legs, ankles, feet, and sometimes even your abdomen.
Other symptoms may include:
Heart failure can cause different symptoms depending on which side of your heart is affected. For example, left-sided heart failure may instead cause fatigue, blue lips, cough, and trouble sleeping.
Heart valve disorders can make it harder for blood to move efficiently through your heart. This may contribute to fluid buildup and swelling in your lower extremities.
High blood pressure affecting the arteries of your lungs can place extra strain on the right side of your heart and increase your risk of swelling in the legs and feet.
Although heart disease is one possible cause of leg swelling, it’s far from the only one. Swollen legs and ankles can also result from chronic venous insufficiency, kidney disease, liver disease, lymphedema, certain medications, pregnancy, or blood clots. Even a broken bone can cause swelling!
That’s why it’s important not to jump to conclusions. At Harlem Cardiology, Dr. Saint-Jacques takes a comprehensive approach to identifying the source of your symptoms.
Your evaluation begins with a discussion of your medical history and symptoms, followed by a physical exam and blood pressure check. Depending on what we find, we may recommend tests such as an electrocardiogram (EKG) to check your heart’s rhythm and function.
The bottom line is that Dr. Saint-Jacque determines whether your swelling is related to your heart or another underlying condition so you receive the right treatment as quickly as possible.
Schedule an appointment in our East Harlem, New York City, location if your leg swelling:
If you develop sudden swelling along with chest pain, severe shortness of breath, or fainting, seek emergency medical care immediately.
Your body often gives you clues when something isn’t right. While swollen legs don’t always point to heart disease, they shouldn’t be dismissed as “just getting older” or “normal.”
To schedule an appointment call us at 646-381-2181 or use our Request an Appointment button.
