Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Swelling Of Feet At Night?
Question: My mom in law is 65 years old and is recently facing an issue of swelling in her feet at night. What could be the probable cause and what tests should be done.
Brief Answer:
Can be due to many causes.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for trusting us with your health concern.
Swelling of the feet is called pedal edema and is caused by accumulation of an excessive amount of watery fluid in cells or intercellular tissues. It can be due to cellulitis, congestive heart failure, kidney disease, arthritis, high altitude, high salt intake and any blood clot in the veins causing DVT. Is she taking some medicines like laxatives? Abusing these can also cause bilateral pedal edema.
She needs to get blood tests, kidney function tests, electrolyte levels, ECG and stress ECHO, venous Doppler of the legs and urine tests done.
She should follow these lifestyle measures to alleviate the symptoms:
1) Increase muscle activity with walking, avoid standing in place for long periods of time and avoid sitting with the feet dependent.
2) Limit salt intake and stop taking any laxatives (if you are taking them).
3) Elevate the legs when sitting and wear leg wedges while sleeping, support socks and proper fitting shoes and socks.
4) Keep the fluid intake adequate by taking plenty of fluids.
5) She can take diuretic pills after consulting your doctor to relive the pedal edema.
Please feel free to discuss further. I will be glad to answer the follow up queries that you have.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Rakhi Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Rakhi-Tayal
Can be due to many causes.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for trusting us with your health concern.
Swelling of the feet is called pedal edema and is caused by accumulation of an excessive amount of watery fluid in cells or intercellular tissues. It can be due to cellulitis, congestive heart failure, kidney disease, arthritis, high altitude, high salt intake and any blood clot in the veins causing DVT. Is she taking some medicines like laxatives? Abusing these can also cause bilateral pedal edema.
She needs to get blood tests, kidney function tests, electrolyte levels, ECG and stress ECHO, venous Doppler of the legs and urine tests done.
She should follow these lifestyle measures to alleviate the symptoms:
1) Increase muscle activity with walking, avoid standing in place for long periods of time and avoid sitting with the feet dependent.
2) Limit salt intake and stop taking any laxatives (if you are taking them).
3) Elevate the legs when sitting and wear leg wedges while sleeping, support socks and proper fitting shoes and socks.
4) Keep the fluid intake adequate by taking plenty of fluids.
5) She can take diuretic pills after consulting your doctor to relive the pedal edema.
Please feel free to discuss further. I will be glad to answer the follow up queries that you have.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Rakhi Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Rakhi-Tayal
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
