Always investigate bodily swelling! When you have swelling in your body, it is usually a natural response to injury, medical conditions or discomfort. However, even if suspected to be from natural causes and will soon pass, it is best not to leave the swelling unchecked.
It may require a massage with some healing balm or essential oils, elevation, cold therapy or compression to ensure a quick recovery.
Water retention
Fluid retention or oedema usually appears around the ankles or feet. Many people experience this type of swelling after they have been standing for too long a period of time in one place, or they get puffiness and swelling around the eyes after lying down for a while. Sometimes fluid collects in the lungs or the abdomen, but these usually disappear with some simple home remedies.
If it doesn’t disappear in a short period of time, there may be underlying conditions such as a liver condition or anaemia, which your doctor has to investigate further. Doctors usually prescribe a diuretic.
Swollen ankles and feet are the most common forms of swelling. Causes include standing too long, shoes that don’t fit, being affected by summer heat, pregnancy, lifestyle factors such as travelling long distances, and various medical conditions.
Home remedies
There are a handful of remedies that one can try to bring comfort and a reduction in swelling.
These are:
- Moving around: if you are standing for long periods, perhaps behind a counter in a shop or a bank, flex your knees and ankles, walk around the shop or office and at lunchtime, walk around outside.
- Massage: Use essential oils or some cooling balm-like lavender and massage your feet with firm hand movements toward your heart, thereby moving the fluid out of the swollen area.
- Elevation: Get off your feet several times a day and elevate your feet on a chair or an ottoman. And when you go to sleep at night, prop your feet on cushions or a foam, ensuring that it is higher than your heart. You can try all of these if you experience swelling during your pregnancy.
Some more solutions:
- Compression socks: Keeping a pair of compression socks weighted with mercury of between 12 -15 mm or 15 or 20 mm comes in handy to reduce swelling. At first, start with the socks with the lightest weight.
- Soaking the feet: Soak your feet in a cool Epsom salt bath as this helps relieve muscle pain, increases relaxation, draws out toxins and reduces swelling and inflammation.
- Hydrate: Often, the body retains fluid because you are dehydrated. So drinking 8 – 10 glasses of water helps ease swelling.
- Cold therapy: You can use an ice pack or a bag of frozen veg from your freezer to bring some relief to the swollen area.
Sport Injuries
When you injure your shoulder playing sports or twist your ankle in your yard, or you over-exert yourself lifting weights at the gym, your immune system kicks in with inflammation and swelling. The excess fluid which the body produces is there to protect the damaged tissue from further injury, says Game Ready.
Healing may be slow if you are too swollen. You have to treat the swelling because it will increase, bringing more discomfort and limiting your movement if you leave it untreated.
You need complete rest for a few days, elevate the injured part of your body and use the prescription medication from your doctor. At the same time, static and elastic bandages or guards apply pressure to reduce swelling.
Lifestyle changes
If you are prone to swelling, the chances are that you need a dietary and lifestyle change. This requires reducing your salt, sugar, oil, alcohol and refined foods intake and finding the proper diet that isn’t just about losing weight but about implementing healthy lifestyle choices that includes exercise and stress management.
Sometimes swelling can either be a result of potassium deficiency or magnesium deficiency. If you don’t have kidney, heart or food allergy conditions, you can add potassium or magnesium-rich foods to your diet.
Potassium
For potassium deficiency, the following foods are a good source: sweet potatoes, bananas, white beans, salmon, chicken and pistachios. While adding almonds, tofu, cashews, spinach, dark chocolate, broccoli, and avocados can help reduce swelling usually caused by magnesium deficiency.
When it comes to health matters, it pays to be proactive in the long run, as healing usually begins by implementing healthy choices.
Swollen Gums
Gums are susceptible to inflammation and swelling. Our gums are the pinkish, red fleshy parts inside of our mouths through which our teeth protrude. Gums are essential when it comes to oral health, reports Affinity Dental. Gums are firm tissue filled with blood vessels and cover your jaw bone. When gum tissue feels loose or soft, and tender, it is time to see a dentist or oral health expert.
As mentioned above, our gums are full of blood vessels that carry oxygen and food to the roots of the teeth, explains Personal Care.
A gum infection can lead to a selection of other diseases and painful conditions of the mouth and throat.
Swelling in any part of the body is cause for concern, and swollen gums are not an exception. Treating the condition early on is the best way to prevent the advancement of other severe diseases like periodontitis (gum disease), a condition that causes tooth loss.
Rinse your sore gums with a saline solution to remove any bacteria and odours. Salt also tightens the loose gums, as it removes inflammation pretty quickly.
See a professional
Medical Society is passionate about proper health and nutrition for both children and adults. The Medical Society covers you and your family for whatever unforeseen illnesses may come your way, offering affordable healthcare for adults.
