How to get rid of leg swelling after a sunburn? Why legs swell At sea, legs are swollen what to do
There is really no need to stand on ceremony with edema. Firstly, they do not decorate: bags under the eyes and a puffy face will turn even a fashion model into an ugly woman. Secondly, they thoroughly spoil life. For example, you were invited to a restaurant, but you are not able to fit into your favorite sandals or put a ring on your finger. And thirdly - and this is much more important than sandals and dinner in a restaurant - swelling can be a symptom of serious ailments. Among them:
kidney problems
If the kidney function is impaired, water and salt are retained in the body, which leads to edema. In addition, with some kidney diseases, the amount of protein in the blood decreases (it is excreted in the urine), which also causes swelling.
Symptoms: renal edema appears in the morning. Usually on the face. Bags under the eyes and swollen eyelids are a "hello" from the kidneys. In the afternoon, puffiness decreases or disappears.
Your actions: do not drink liters of diuretic teas - along with water, valuable micro- and macroelements leave the body. Do not self-medicate, be examined by a urologist.
Heart disease
Another provocateur of edema is heart failure. The heart can't keep up with pumping blood, causing it to pool in the legs, causing swelling.
Symptoms: cardiac edema occurs in the evening and disappears in the morning. Favorite place of "deployment" - ankles. In addition to swollen legs, pain or discomfort in the chest, weakness, shortness of breath, and a feeling of lack of air may disturb.
Your actions: do not even try to treat "cardiac" edema on your own - consult a cardiologist. The doctor will prescribe drugs that normalize the work of the heart.
Varicose veins
Varicose veins affect 80% of women and 30% of men. Standing for a long time, sedentary work, the habit of cross-legging - all this disrupts blood circulation in the lower extremities, causing vein dilation and swelling.
Symptoms: venous edema also appears in the evening - in the form of a trace from the gum of socks or spread to the lower leg and foot. The “heavy legs syndrome” joins the puffiness: they swell, hurt, buzz.
Your actions: wear compression stockings - it will improve blood circulation in the legs. Just don't buy it yourself. For its correct selection, you need to contact a phlebologist. In addition, there are special ointments that reduce the manifestations of varicose veins.
Hormonal disorders
Hormonal failure is another risk factor. For example, if the thyroid gland produces too few hormones, special substances accumulate in the blood, causing the tissues to retain water.
Symptoms:"Hormonal" edema most often appears on the legs. They are dense to the touch: if you press, there is no fingerprint left. In addition to swelling, other symptoms occur - weight gain, constipation, a rare pulse, increased drowsiness.
Your actions: you can’t cope without an endocrinologist: hormones are a delicate matter. Therefore, there can be no talk of any self-treatment.
Allergy
Allergies are often accompanied by swelling. Moreover, edema can be both external, for example, swelling at the site of a bee or wasp sting, and internal. For example, if a person with a nut allergy eats peanuts, he may develop laryngeal edema - a dangerous condition that requires immediate medical attention.
Symptoms: the bite site turns red, swells and itches. With Quincke's edema, the tongue, lips, tonsils, and larynx often swell. If help is not provided in time, a person may suffocate.
Your actions: if the swelling is small, antihistamines (tablets and ointments) will help. No improvement? Consult an allergist: you may need corticosteroids. If you suspect Quincke's edema, call an ambulance immediately. Before she arrives, take an antihistamine and apply ice to the swollen area.
Something about prevention
Despite the fact that the causes of edema are different and the ways to deal with them are also different, prevention in many cases is the same:
Walk more, play sports, walk - physical activity will help to “squeeze out” excess fluid from the body.
Include in your diet "anti-edematous" products: apples, cottage cheese, tea with lemon; diet for food allergies.
Limit your salt intake to 2-5 grams per day. It is better to salt food not during cooking, but when it is already on the table, or use soy sauce. And if healthy people are recommended to drink 1.5-2 liters of fluid per day, then the "cores" and "renal" drinking regimen should be agreed with the doctor.
For the prevention of varicose veins, do the “bicycle” exercise daily - it perfectly accelerates the blood. Avoid high heels. Place a small roll or pillow under your feet at night.
To avoid facial puffiness, sleep on your back: sleeping on your stomach often results in bags under your eyes.
Swelling of the legs is not such a rare phenomenon. There are many reasons why swelling may appear in the lower extremities. This is the first sign, or there are problems with. But besides this, swelling can be triggered by excessive fluid intake, kidney problems, pregnancy, vascular problems, fatigue in the legs, and, of course, heat. We will talk about the last reason - the heat.
Why do feet swell in heat?
To understand how high air temperature can affect the condition of the legs, let's recall the anatomical structure of a person. All tissues of the human body are supplied with oxygen through blood circulation. Blood enters the lower extremities due to the increased work of the heart, and blood returns back due to the special structure of the veins of the legs: the veins have valves that push blood to the heart. This is called peripheral circulation. When the air temperature becomes high, the circulatory system begins to work in a mode that does not allow the body to overheat.
Overheating of the legs is not allowed due to the ability of blood vessels to expand. But the expanded veins cannot fully carry out the outflow of blood. This causes swelling of the legs.
In addition, sweating always increases in the heat, and along with sweat, the salts that the veins need leave the body. After all, it is salts that are able to “pull” blood out of the tissues, and therefore, the lack of a sufficient amount of salts leads to swelling of the legs.
Danger of swelling in hot weather
According to many medical experts, swelling in the heat is a natural phenomenon to some extent. After all, edema of the lower extremities, which appeared precisely from high air temperature, does not require the intervention of doctors, and disappears on its own. But, nevertheless, you can not ignore the swelling of the legs in the heat. After all, their presence indicates a violation of water-salt metabolism in the body, as well as disorders in blood circulation. It happens that there is more swelling on one leg than on the other. This is due to problems with the veins on the leg where the edema has a larger volume. You should not sound the alarm. But if the swelling does not go away after a series of measures taken - massages, compresses, long rest - you should seek help from a specialist. You may need to consult such specialists as a nephrologist, cardiologist, urologist.
What to do to avoid swelling
With the onset of hot summer, people suffering from swelling of the legs in the heat begin to worry about questions: how to make your life comfortable at this time and, if possible, avoid the appearance of edema. As a preventive measure, you can do the following:
At the end of a hot day, you need to lie down with your legs up, remaining in this position for at least 15 minutes
Twice a day - in the morning and in the evening - you should take a contrast shower; special attention should be paid to the legs. It is a contrast shower that can improve blood circulation and harden blood vessels.
Completely exclude salty, spicy, smoked foods from your diet during the hot period; it increases thirst and does not allow fluid to be excreted from the body in a timely manner
It is necessary to establish a drinking regime; drink at least three liters of water on a hot day; natural juices, fruit drinks, compotes are allowed. Excluded drinks such as lemonade, soda. This will improve the electrolyte balance in your body.
The ideal way to avoid the appearance of edema is water aerobics in sea water; it does not put pressure on the veins, and they do not dilate.
Get rid of leg swelling without drugs
Before you come to the decision to relieve swelling with medication, you should try to deal with this problem in gentle ways. You can do the following exercises:
Press your heel to the floor, and try to raise your toes as high as possible. You can perform the exercise both from a standing position and from a lying position. A few minutes are enough and you will feel relief in your legs.
Tiptoe for a couple of minutes
Put a pencil on the floor and try to grab it with your toes.
Spread your toes as far as you can
Rotate your feet in both directions alternately.
Medicines for swelling of the legs in the heat
If it was not possible to remove the swelling of the legs by all available methods, except for medicinal ones, it becomes necessary to use traditional medicine. There are many ointments and gels that are great for leg swelling, but before using them, check with your doctor. After all, the legs can swell not only because of the heat, but also because of serious, or. And the fact that edema appeared in the heat may be a mere coincidence. The main thing is to know the exact cause so that the treatment is effective, and does not worsen the situation.
Gels and ointments offered by pharmacies contain mainly rutin and heparin. Among the many names, the following can be distinguished:
Troxevasin
Essaven-gel
Heparin ointment
Lyoton-gel
In addition to the analgesic effect, they have a cooling effect, which improves blood circulation, eliminates microclots, strengthens blood vessels, and even treats inflammation. But not always edema can be dealt with with ointments and gels. They usually produce a temporary effect.
In the arsenal of traditional medicine, there are many ways to treat swelling of the legs that appear in hot weather. But before using them, you need to get the approval of a doctor to make sure that there are no contraindications to the use of such methods of treatment. Traditional medicine offers us:
Baths with different composition, for example:
sea salt
salt
needle extract
dry mustard
Diuretics. They help to remove all excess fluid from the body, but it is the excess, without dehydrating the body.
Rubbing. You can rub with the prepared mixture: chop one head, pour it with a glass of water and let it brew for an hour. Strain the resulting infusion, and rub the swelling sites with the resulting mixture.
Massage is one of the most effective methods. It is made, as a rule, with ice cubes from decoctions of herbs.
With the appearance of swelling in the legs during the heat, one should not hope that everything will go away on its own. Help your body gently get rid of leg swelling by choosing from all the proposed methods the most suitable for you.
Education: A diploma in the specialty "Medicine" and "Therapy" received at the University named after N. I. Pirogov (2005 and 2006). Advanced training at the Department of Phytotherapy at the Moscow University of Peoples' Friendship (2008).
Modern travel agencies offer clients a variety of travel options: flying by plane to hot countries, sea travel, as well as bus tours in Europe. Despite the advantage, which is the opportunity to get acquainted with European culture, the bus tour has a drawback: tourists note that during a long trip by bus, the lower limbs begin to swell, which is due to stiffness of movements.
To feel comfortable on the road, a person needs to know what to do if his legs are swollen after a trip by bus or car.
The reasons
Swelling of the legs is a common occurrence, since the lower limbs are under the influence of constant stress - excess weight, exhausting walking, as well as prolonged stay in a static position.
Patients suffering from pathologies of the heart, liver and kidneys are most susceptible to the development of edema.
Common causes that contribute to the formation of edema in the lower extremities include:
- phlebeurysm;
- pathology of the endocrine system;
- allergic reaction;
- lymph flow disorder.
How to get rid of swelling while traveling
In order to feel as comfortable as possible on the road, you need to perform the following steps.
- It is necessary to go on a trip in loose clothes, which do not have tight belts and squeezing elastic bands: the driver is advised to give preference to soft jersey suits.
- If the body is prone to stagnation of the interstitial fluid, compression stockings will help prevent the formation of edema: compression stockings and underwear will restore muscle tone and normalize blood flow.
- If there is no opportunity to get out of the car, it is necessary to massage the lower limbs with light movements and lightly pat them to normalize the outflow of fluid.
- Take a comfortable position. If possible, you can throw your legs on a nearby chair or lift them with a special bench - this will help restore blood flow.
- Consume plenty of purified water and green tea, as dehydration contributes to the stagnation of interstitial fluid.
- If stops are provided during the road, you need to use your free time to good use and perform special gymnastics. To do this, recommend getting out of the car, moving your legs, sitting down several times, and then doing a slow jog.
- So that the legs do not swell on the bus, it is recommended to consume light food, mainly fresh fruits and vegetables: pickles, smoked meats and marinades are shown to be excluded from the diet.
Decongestant gels are effective in combating swollen limbs.
The most popular remedy in this category is Troxevasin, the main action of which is aimed at increasing the density of blood vessels. Despite the fact that the therapeutic gel is absorbed into the skin for a long time, it provides a favorable result.
Another popular decongestant gel is Essaven. This drug not only stops inflammation and strengthens blood vessels: having a slight cooling effect, the gel relieves pain. In order for the product to be quickly absorbed and act qualitatively, it must be applied to clean skin.
What Not to Do
A tourist traveling by bus is not recommended:
- drink alcohol: alcohol slows down the natural outflow of fluid, and in combination with limited movements provokes the development of edema;
- sits on his feet: crossing the lower extremities precedes the slowdown of the lymphatic and blood flow, therefore, in addition to swelling of the legs, the tourist feels an unpleasant tingling sensation;
- wear tight shoes or high heels. Often there is no opportunity to get rid of shoes on the road, which is why the traveler begins to experience discomfort: to make your feet comfortable, you need to wear fabric sneakers or shoes with rubber soles.
Compliance with these simple rules will provide a person with comfortable movement on bus transport.
Getting rid of swelling after the road
If your legs are swollen after a long trip, the following steps should be taken upon arrival at your destination.
- Rinse the lower limbs under a contrast shower, which will help speed up local blood flow.
- Make a treatment based on burdock and rosehip leaves. In addition to medicinal herbs, it is allowed to add apple cider vinegar or sea salt to the water: these components not only relieve swelling, but also remove dangerous toxins from the body.
- Perform a massage: with light circular movements, you need to stretch your toes, then your feet and lower leg, and then your thighs. It is not recommended to massage the areas where the lymph nodes are located - under the knee and in the groin area.
- Take a supine position and put a special roller under your feet to stabilize blood flow.
Prolonged swelling of the legs is an indication for therapeutic exercises, which consists of simple exercises:
- In an upright position, you need to slowly rise on your toes and lower yourself to the foot for two minutes. Such manipulations will relieve tension in the muscles and restore lymphatic flow.
- In a sitting position, it is necessary to alternately straighten the lower limbs and raise them perpendicular to the floor. You can also simulate walking.
- Pull the sock as much as possible, first towards you, and then in the opposite direction. The number of repetitions is 6 times.
It is allowed to perform therapeutic exercises of the lower extremities not only for edema, but also for preventive purposes.
When exposed to the sun for a long time on the skin burns may occur. In addition to redness, itching and burning, swelling of the tissues is noted at the site of the burn. The article will talk about What do we have to do if your leg is swollen after sunburn and how to prevent this unpleasant symptom.
Causes of leg swelling after sun exposure
The occurrence of edema is associated with impaired fluid permeability in human organs and soft tissues. If the passage of small vessels and capillaries is difficult, the degree of their permeability increases, and the fluid may appear in the intercellular space, forming edema.
Exposure to direct sunlight is a common factor that provokes the occurrence of this phenomenon. Due to the intense heat, the body temperature rises, the blood vessels dilate, and the circulation system fails. Liquid does not come out naturally and edema occurs at the site of its accumulation. That is why after a sunburn, swelling and swelling of the legs is so common.
Edema can appear not only under the influence of the sun, but also after visiting the solarium and other places where there is equipment that emits ultraviolet rays.
Symptoms
Sunburn can be identified by the following signs:
itching and burning of the skin;
redness;
peeling;
the appearance of a rash;
the appearance of blisters filled with liquid;
increase in body temperature;
puffiness.
Edema can be self-diagnosed as follows: press your fingers to the lower leg, hold for 3-4 seconds, release and look at the result. In a normal state, the skin should regain its elasticity in a few seconds. If there is swelling, noticeable depressions will remain on the skin. Symptoms may also include heaviness in the legs, tingling, and discomfort with movement.
Treatment
If, after being outdoors, a burn occurs, one leg or both limbs are swollen, treatment should be started immediately. Ignoring the symptoms can lead to various complications: leg cramps, discoloration of the skin, the occurrence of trophic ulcers due to compression of soft tissues. The methods of therapy will depend on the degree of skin damage and the individual characteristics of the human body.
First aid
First aid for swelling after a sunburn is to cool the skin, prevent blistering and dehydration. The first thing to do - leavein a closed roomaway from the sun . Cool water bath will help to cool and soothe the skin.
If redness and the appearance of a small rash are noticeable at the site of the burn, the symptoms indicate the presence of an allergic skin reaction to ultraviolet light. To eliminate irritation, it is possible to use antihistamines of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation. Modern doctors prefer drugs of the 2nd and 3rd generation - they do not cause drowsiness and addiction, and also retain a longer effect.
The most popular and effective antihistamines are:
For 1st and 2nd degree burns (non-liquid blistering), apply an after-sun cream or lotion. In its absence, a regular fat baby cream will do. You can also use traditional medicines that promote the regeneration of skin cells: creams and ointments Bepanten plus, D-Panthenol, Baneocin.
There is a popular misconception that to alleviate the condition, the burn area must be lubricated with sunflower oil. This is not true! The use of such a remedy will not alleviate the pain, but, on the contrary, will reduce the effectiveness of the treatment and slow down the recovery of the skin.
When bubbles filled with liquid appear on the skin, they should not be opened and lubricated with something. You must immediately call an ambulance or go to a medical institution yourself. Self-medication can lead to serious harm to health.
If swelling occurs on the skin, do not limit yourself to fluids. On the contrary, in order to prevent dehydration of the body, it is necessary to drink as much clean cool water as possible. The threat of dehydration is due to the fact that with edema there is an increase in free radicals (waste products of the body). Drinking plenty of fluids will help flush out the toxins.
Help reduce swelling the following actions:
taking a contrast shower - alternately dousing your legs with cool and warm water;
tilting the legs up, leaning them on a wall or a high pillow;
light massage in circular motions in places of swollen areas;
exclusion from your diet of fatty, spicy and salty foods - it can aggravate the situation;
temporary refusal of narrow shoes and shoes with high heels;
the use of folk remedies to combat puffiness.
Folk methods
Before proceeding with the treatment of edema, it is first necessary to eliminate the burn of the skin. Consider the most effective methods:
grated potatoes- the tool will help to cool the skin, reduce pain and speed up the process of tissue regeneration. Application: Grate raw peeled potatoes and fix with gauze to the burn site for 10-15 minutes.
Dairy products- help soften and cool damaged skin, relieve burning and itching. Application: take sour cream, kefir or any other fermented milk drink out of the refrigerator, gently apply to the skin and leave to absorb.
Potato starch- helps to cool the skin, prevents the appearance of blisters. Application: Pour starch on damaged areas in an even thin layer. It can also be used as a compress. To do this, potato starch should be diluted in warm water to a mushy state.
After removing the symptoms of a burn, you can begin to treat edema. Folk remedies that eliminate swelling of the legs after sunburn:
Baths with herbs. Several types of herbs are suitable for the method: chamomile flowers, mint, birch buds, sage, lemon balm. Application: in 2 liters of hot water, add 5 tbsp. tablespoons of the selected herb, leave to infuse for 30 minutes. Pour the infusion into a bath with prepared warm water. Procedure time: 15-20 minutes.
Salt baths. If the leg is swollen, and there are no visible lesions on the skin, sea or steamed salt will help remove the puffiness. Application: pour 5 liters of warm water into a basin, add 300 g of salt and stir until it disappears completely. Lower your legs into the resulting solution and hold for 10-15 minutes.
Diuretic herbs. In nature, there are many plants that have diuretic (diuretic) properties. They will help to remove stagnant fluid from the body and improve blood circulation.
The most popular diuretic herbs are:
parsley;
juniper;
hibiscus;
dandelion;
rosehip berries;
hawthorn berries.
Application: add 20-30 g of the selected herb to a glass of boiling water, leave to infuse and drink during the day. The course of treatment should be 5-7 days.
Prevention
In order to prevent leg swelling from overshadowing your summer vacation, you should adhere to the following recommendations:
Do not go out to sunbathe during the peak hours of solar activity - from 11:00 to 16:00.
Be in the shade (this will not prevent tanning).
Before going out into the sun, apply sunscreen to your body. The degree of protection will depend on the type of skin and the geography of the place of rest. The most suitable remedy is a sunscreen or emulsion with an SPF level of 50.
During rest, exclude fatty, smoked and salty foods from your diet, as they retain fluid in the body. It is also recommended to refrain from alcoholic beverages, which can increase the effect of ultraviolet radiation on the skin.
When taking antibiotics, you should refrain from resting in the open air. This group of medicines can increase the sensitivity of the skin to ultraviolet radiation and provoke the appearance of burns.
In clothes, give preference to clothes made from natural materials (silk, chintz, linen, cotton).
After bathing, wet skin should be blotted with a towel. Water droplets have the ability to attract the sun's rays, thereby contributing to the occurrence of tissue edema and burns.
Subject to the above measures, outdoor recreation will not be overshadowed by unpleasant consequences and will be remembered by you for a long time.
Under swelling in the legs implies an increase in the volume of the lower extremities, especially pronounced with excessive fluid intake, aggravated in the evening, after prolonged standing or walking. Edema is fluid accumulated in tissue (intercellular) crevices, which leads to an increase in tissue volume.
The cause of edema can be either in violation of the removal of fluid (blood and lymph) from the lower extremities or in its increased formation.
The most common causes are from the group of mechanical obstacles. Compression of the venous vessels by tumors or the pregnant uterus is detected, with blockage of the veins by blood clots, with a violation of the outflow of lymph through the lymphatic vessels. In this case, there is an increase in pressure in the smallest capillaries and an increase in the leakage of fluid from their blood plasma into the surrounding tissues.
Taking certain medications, including those recommended by your doctor, can contribute to fluid retention in the body. First of all (due to the frequency of administration), this applies to the group of glucocorticoids prescribed for allergies, inflammatory joint diseases, bronchial asthma, and oncological diseases.
Diseases with swelling of the legs
Diseases that are accompanied by edema of the lower extremities are quite diverse.- One of the most common causes of edema is varicose veins of the lower extremities.
- Severe edema may indicate advanced heart failure. Insufficient work of the heart also slows down the removal of blood from the lower extremities. Therefore, edema appears primarily on the legs. For cardiac pathology, symmetrical edema is characteristic, more in the evening, leaving a hole when pressed, an increase in the liver.
- Swelling in the legs can also be a sign of kidney disease. In this case, they develop quickly, against the background of lower back pain, temperature, changes in the color and amount of urine, swelling on the face in the eye area. Edema in this case develops due to a violation of the excretion of salt and water by the affected kidneys.
- In hypothyroidism (decreased production of thyroid hormones), swelling is noted that does not leave a hole when pressed, combined with a general weight gain, lethargy, lethargy, a tendency to constipation and depression.
- Local swelling on the leg may appear with inflammatory diseases of the joints of the legs. In this case, edema is detected only above the affected joint, this area has an elevated temperature to the touch, movements in the joint are painful, and its function is impaired. This may be a sign of arthritis or arthrosis of the joint. In this case, you may need to consult a rheumatologist.
Leg swelling should not be underestimated. It's best to see a doctor to make sure it's just fatigue and a fever, not a serious illness. Indeed, a heart disease detected in time makes it possible to prevent a heart attack and stroke, and kidney diseases treated in time will not lead to chronic renal failure.
One of the most formidable complications of damage to the venous bed of the lower extremities is a violation of the integrity of the skin, up to the development of ulcers and gangrene, in which amputation of the lower extremity is indicated.
With untreated deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism may develop.
The help of which doctors may be required for swelling in the legs
- General practitioner or general practitioner (family doctor).
- Cardiologist
- Vascular surgeon.
- Endocrinologist
- Rheumatologist
- Dermatologist
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