Do Your Swollen Feet Call for A Visit to A Podiatrist?

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Do Your Swollen Feet Call for A Visit to A Podiatrist?

If you are like most people, you likely do not pay much attention to your feet until they are in pain. Though your feet bear the weight of your body, they are not typically prone to injury since they can stay functional even in the most strenuous of circumstances. But this does not mean that they are invulnerable to injury. If any of the bones, tendons, joints and ligaments that make up your feet are in jeopardy, you will develop symptoms that will affect their overall condition.

Although swelling is one of the more common symptoms that people will develop from time to time, you should never take this for granted since it could be indicative of an underlying foot problem that is yet to be diagnosed. So how do you discern if your swollen feet call for a visit to a podiatrist?

Are your feet visibly injured?

Undoubtedly, one of the most common reasons why people develop swelling in their feet is due to an injury to the aforementioned ligaments, muscles and so on. If the injury is localised, the swelling will be limited to a specific part of the foot. Minor injuries will typically resolve on their own in a couple of days, as long as you do not overexert the affected foot.

It is advisable to keep the foot elevated while icing it on occasion since these measures can soothe the symptoms. However, if you find that the swelling has not gone down once a couple of days have elapsed, it is mandatory to visit a podiatrist, whether you are in pain or not.

Are you expecting?

Expectant women are highly susceptible to swollen feet since the volume of blood in their body increases exponentially. In addition to this, some pregnancy hormones promote enhanced fluid retention that collects at the extremities. Couple this with the downward pressure exerted by the growing baby, you may even find that your feet will grow a size or more! With that in mind, it is recommended for pregnant women to try and keep their feet elevated at all times to assist with drainage of the fluids that are collecting in their lower limbs.

You may also want to visit a podiatrist who can prescribe orthotics that will help ease the discomfort by providing much-needed support. Additionally, depending on how at-risk you are of blood clots, the podiatrist may also prescribe compression stockings that facilitate blood flow while mitigating the onset of the swelling in the first place.

Other reasons why you may begin to suffer from swollen feet include some types of medication and underlying health conditions. Hence, whether you can identify a cause or not, it is best to see a podiatrist to be on the safe side. Contact a podiatrist for more information. 



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How To Fix Heel Pain When you spend all day on your feet, you quickly notice heel pain as each step becomes more difficult than the last. A podiatrist should always be the first stop for any foot pain, but when you want to know more about the causes and treatments of heel pain then you come and read posts right here. Heel pain can be caused by several different factors such as bone spurs or bad shoes. Learning about heel pain, its causes and its treatments helps you to identify the questions you want to be answered before you head to your first podiatry appointment.

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