Liver disease

When you develop liver disease you may experience excess fluid buildup in your legs and feet. It causes swelling at your ankles, feet and legs because your liver is malfunctioning. According to NHS, “If cirrhosis of the liver (at the most advanced stage) develops, you can get more severe symptoms such as swelling in the legs, ankles, feet or tummy.”

Then if you notice that the swelling occurs at your feet when you drink alcohol, it is a clear indication you have a liver problem.

Congestive heart failure

During congestive heart failure, one or both of the lower chambers of your heart lose their ability to pump blood properly. This results in a backup of blood in your legs, ankles and feet. It causes your body to retain extra fluid outside of the arteries (or veins); leading to swelling in your feet.

Kidney disease/failure

A sign a person has kidney failure is by the swelling of their legs, ankles, and feet. This is due to the retention of fluids; which results from the failure of their kidneys to eliminate water waste.

Also a reduced kidney function could result in sodium retention. This would cause your feet and ankles to swell.

Gout

Gout is the medical term used to describe conditions caused by an accumulation of uric acid. This accumulation usually affects the feet. It causes pain and swelling in the joints of your feet and ankles; most especially your big toe.

Lymphedema

This is a medical condition that causes swelling in your legs after your lymph nodes were injured or removed. Lymph nodes help drain lymph fluid out of various areas of your body. But when the fluid is not drained out, there is fluid buildup which leads to swelling at the feet and ankles.

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Blood clots

Blood clots can be either superficial (meaning that the blood clots occur in the veins beneath the skin); or they can be deep (known as deep vein thrombosis).

When blood clots occur in the veins of your legs; they hinder the return of blood flow from your legs back to your heart. It causes swelling in both your feet and ankles.

One sure remedy to reduce swelling of your feet and ankles is by elevating them over some pillows. This promotes blood and fluid circulation from the joints and back to the heart.