What causes Swelling of Legs?

If you’re living with the discomfort of leg swelling in Fort Collins and Northern Colorado, Dr. Steven Kaufman and the team at Total Vein Care can help you find relief and treat the root causes.
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Swelling of the legs can be caused by many factors, many of which fall into 2 categories:

SYSTEMIC CAUSES
These include problems such as heart failure, liver disease, or kidney disease. Fluid retention includes the above causes, but sometimes the cause is not known. The swelling is usually equal in both legs.

VEIN AND LYMPHATIC CAUSES
Causes of swelling in this group often include thrombosis (blood clots such as DVT), venous insufficiency caused by a failure of the valves in the veins, and lymphedema from obstruction of the lymphatic vessels. Lymphedema can be hereditary or the result of vein disease, injury, or surgery for cancer, where lymph nodes are often removed. In this group, the swelling is usually present in only one leg or worse in one leg than the other.

Fluid Retention
The second reason legs swell is because of edema or fluid retention in bodily tissue. In addition to the swelling, edema can cause your legs to change color, feel tight or heavy, itch, or feel numb.
There are several things that cause fluid retention in the legs, some of which include:

• Lymphedema- This is a condition that comes from issues with the lymphatic system. It causes swelling in the feet and legs, aches, and heavy limbs.
• DVT- DVT or Deep vein thrombosis is caused by a blood clot, usually in the legs or pelvis. This can be dangerous as the blood clot could travel to the heart and requires medical attention.

If you’re experiencing leg swelling in Northern Colorado and Fort Collins, CO, it’s time to seek help. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Kaufman at Total Vein Care by calling (970) 387-4762 today.