What Causes Swollen Legs and Ankles?
There are a number of potential causes of leg, foot, and ankle swelling, including lifestyle factors, medications, and medical conditions.
Lifestyle Factors
Some of the causes of are related to lifestyle factors, such as:
- Having a job that requires long periods of time standing or sitting. When your calf muscles remain inactive for significant periods of time, it hinders their ability to pump fluid back upwards toward your heart, which leads to retention of blood and lymphatic fluid.
- Being overweight or obese. Excess body weight can lead to poor blood circulation, resulting in fluid buildup.
Medications
Ankle and leg swelling can also be the result of certain medications, including:
- antidepressants, like MAO inhibitors
- testosterone or estrogen
- steroids
- anti-inflammatory, non-steroidal medications such as aspirin and ibuprofen
Other Potential Causes of Swelling in the Legs
Certain medical conditions can also cause leg swelling. These include:
- deep vein blood clot
- chronic kidney disease
- lymphedema
- preeclampsia
- pregnancy
- heart failure
- infection or injury
- pericarditis
- hormonal changes
- cirrhosis
- venous insufficiency/varicose veins