What makes ankles swell

This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Edema is swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in your body's tissues. Edema in foot and ankle Open pop-up dialog box Close.

Edema in foot and ankle Swelling of the foot, ankle and leg can be severe enough to leave an indentation pit when you press on the area. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Longo DL, et al. In: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. New York, N. Accessed Aug. McKean SC, et al, eds. In: Principles and Practice of Hospital Medicine. Trayes KP, et al. Edema: Diagnosis and management. In some cases, minimally invasive surgery is helpful.

Ankle swelling can be extremely serious, but the prognosis is excellent for reducing the swelling and improving your quality of life. At the Center for Vascular Medicine, our mission is to help patients with their vascular diseases in a cost-effective and compassionate manner.

We specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of venous and arterial diseases in the legs, feet, and pelvis. Our world-class providers are the most experienced in the specialty and work with patients to develop a treatment plan that is custom tailored to their unique situation. Typically, this process involves an initial consultation and ultrasound scan at one of our accredited facilities.

After reviewing the results of your scan and obtaining a thorough medical history, our providers will discuss the results with you and help you decide on next steps.

Our health care providers use several diagnostic tests to help determine what vascular diseases may be causing your symptoms. Our initial evaluations utilize ultrasound because this non-invasive imaging modality helps us verify our suspicions on whether your symptoms are caused by underlying vascular disease. Vascular diseases of the feet.

Let's talk about your vascular health. Call us: Ankle Swelling Treatment and Causes. Cause of ankle swelling The medical term for swelling in the ankles, feet, or legs is edema. Some common causes of a build-up of fluid in the ankles relate to your lifestyle: Excess weight. Restricted movement. Too much salt in your diet. More severe ankle swelling may also result from Strains or sprains.

Insect stings or bites. Vascular disease Infection. Ankle Swelling Warning Sign In some cases, ankle swelling is the result of a more serious underlying vascular condition. Ankle Swelling Due to Vascular Disease One potential cause of ankle swelling accompanied by swelling of the feet and legs is a venous condition like: Deep venous disease DVD Superficial venous insufficiency SVI Deep vein thrombosis DVT Damaged veins result in complications and can lead to pooling of blood in the leg area owing to compression and obstruction of the veins.

Dealing with Vascular Disease The first step in dealing with swollen ankles is to determine the cause of the swelling because there are many potential causes of edema in the lower leg. Diagnosis Your doctor will begin with a conversation about the swelling, and this conversation will cover: Medical history - treatment for cancer, kidney disease, and other conditions can be a factor in the cause of your swollen ankles.

Current medication. How the swelling behaves throughout the day. Good and bad responses to changes. Any other symptoms. A study suggests that there may be a link between thyroid disorders and rheumatoid arthritis , which can also cause painful swelling in the joints.

There are many explanations for why a person may have swollen feet. Some causes, such as a twisted or sprained ankle, are obvious.

Others might be…. An itchy ankle is a complaint with a wide variety of causes. We discuss possible causes, means of prevention, and when to see a doctor. Edema, or water retention, occurs when fluid builds up in the tissues of the body. Learn about edema here. Vibration white finger VWF is a long-term condition that develops due to prolonged use of vibrating tools.

Learn more here about VWF here. Keith Fisher, M. Foot or ankle injury Cellulitis Medication side effect Chronic venous insufficiency Blood clots Pregnancy Preeclampsia Lymphedema Heart failure Chronic kidney disease Liver disease Hypothyroidism When to see a doctor There are many different causes of swollen ankles.

Foot or ankle injury. Share on Pinterest A person may experience inflammation due to an injury on the ankle or foot. Medication side effect. Chronic venous insufficiency. Blood clots. Share on Pinterest Swollen ankles are a common side effect of pregnancy. Heart failure. Chronic kidney disease. Share on Pinterest Regular exercise can help maintain kidney function. Liver disease. When to see a doctor. Medically reviewed by J. Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals.

Costs associated with obesity may account for 3. Related Coverage. Why are my feet swollen? Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph.

Why is my ankle itchy? Everything you need to know about edema. What to know about vibration white finger. Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M.