A lot of us have sedentary jobs that involve extended periods of sitting and standing throughout the day. People with desk jobs, people with retail jobs and people with jobs that require a lot of moving usually have extremely tired and swollen ankles and feet. This is due to staying in the same position for prolonged periods of time. Do not let your job take away your best from you since recovering from lost health can involve a lot of pain and difficulty which is not worth it.

Swollen ankles treatment is a lengthy process, and like every other such process, the swelling might reoccur if not given adequate attention.

Swelling of ankles is medically known as Peripheral Edema which means the accumulation of fluid in the ankles. This swelling may or may not be painful depending on the cause of the swelling. It may be painful if swelling is due to an injury. Swelling due to fluid accumulation can happen anywhere in the body, but it is more visible in the lower parts of the body because of the pull of gravity.

Before discussing, at length, the various swollen ankles treatment, let’s look at its many causes:

Weight
Being overweight can cause severe damage to the entire body. Body weight causes blood circulation to slow down and eventually cause swelling in the ankles due to the excess pressure.

Posture
Being in a particular posture for longer periods of time can severely impair muscle movement causing muscle damage by retaining blood and water and swelling in the feet and ankles.

Medication side effects
Certain medication like hormonal supplements, steroids, NSAID’s and anti-depressants can cause swelling in feet and ankles by thickening blood.

Injury or infection
Injuries like sprains or accidents, infections in blood that are usually symptoms of causes like diabetes can also cause swelling in ankles due to excess or irregular blood flow in the ankles.

Hormonal changes
Fluctuating levels of estrogen and progesterone during periods or pregnancy can lead to reduced blood circulation in legs for women, causing swelling in ankles.

Blockages due to diseases
Blood clots, preeclampsia, venous insufficiencies begin at a small level but take over to the point of leaving those who suffer from it in debilitating pain and unable to function with ease in daily life.

There are several modes by which swollen ankles treatment is undertaken which may help suppress and eliminate causes of swelling or at least aid other treatments in doing the same. Some of them are,

Elevation
Swelling of the ankles is usually a sign of edema and gravity can become a problem in treating this condition. Resting with feet suspended higher than the heart with the help of pillows underneath the feet can help reverse the flow of blood to the rest of the leg. It is one of the easiest forms of swollen ankles treatment.

Exercise
Getting adequate exercise is extremely essential. Move at regular intervals at work where you may be sitting or standing for long intervals. Adults require at least 150 minutes of exercise per week and exercise will help keep your body supple, energetic and reduce complications arising from inactivity.

Clothing
Try and avoid wearing clothes like garters or corsets that restrict your blood flow to and fro from your legs. They may make you look pretty, but they are extremely harmful to your ankles in the long run. Support hose, compression socks or compression stockings can help swelling if you have to be constantly on your feet. This does not only comprises a crucial step in swollen ankles treatment but also its prevention.

Salt intake
A maintained salt intake is essential so that edema doesn’t build up in the legs. Excess salt intake can lead to some health issues apart from swelling of feet and ankles, including hypertension which is a nightmare to manage eventually.

Natural remedies
Natural remedies like soaking in Epsom bath salts, massage or bath with essential oils, etc. are proven to work very well with swollen ankles treatment. All of the above with slightly warm water usually works wonders both on the body and mind, thus creating a holistic experience for the patient.

Fluid intake
There is a reason we are advised to drink 7-8 glasses of water every day. Water helps flush out all toxins from the body. Since a leading cause of edema is built up salt in the system, water helps dilute it and flush it out over a period to make you swelling free as quickly as possible.

Swollen ankles treatment comes in various forms, and it is essential you see a doctor and confirm the reasons for swollen ankles before self-medication. Swelling is a symptom of many underlying causes.