Why You Should Never Ignore Leg Swelling

If you’ve ever sat for a long period of time — like a lengthy flight or drive — and then looked down at your legs, you might have noticed something. After such inactivity, your legs might look bigger than usual. 

You might dismiss the swelling. Keep an eye on your legs, though. While some of the signs of leg swelling are no big deal and will pass, swelling in your legs could also be a symptom of a serious health condition. 

Fortunately, our expert providers at Vascular & Interventional Associates in Crestview Hills, Kentucky, specialize in figuring out what’s behind the swelling in your legs. If you live anywhere throughout northern Kentucky and the Cincinnati, Ohio, area, don’t hesitate to visit us so we can diagnose the cause of your swollen legs and provide prompt treatment if needed. 

Causes of leg swelling

Some leg swelling comes from innocuous causes. Your legs might swell because you’ve been inactive for a while or if you’re wearing pants that are too tight. 

In other cases, however, the swelling indicates that something is going wrong in your body. It could signal that one of the veins in your pelvis is blocked, for example. Additional causes of leg swelling include kidney problems, heart problems, and certain medications. 

If the swelling comes on suddenly, visit us as soon as possible. Rapid leg swelling could be caused by deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot deep in a vein in your leg. Clots can break loose and travel to your lungs, causing a potentially life-threatening pulmonary embolism. 

Finding out what’s causing your swelling

All told, if you notice swelling on your legs — especially if it persists after a few hours or comes on suddenly — it’s worth a visit to a doctor. 

Our board-certified team of vein and vascular specialists starts by examining your legs and asking you questions. Be prepared to tell us about when you first noticed the swelling and anything that makes it better or worse. 

To get the clearest idea of what’s going on in your legs, we may recommend diagnostic tests like a vascular ultrasound or bloodwork. We work to find the root cause of your leg swelling so we can personalize treatment to not just alleviate the swelling, but also to address anything else affecting your health. 

If the swelling comes from a blood clot, for example, we may recommend a stent or clot-busting medication. Ultimately, we tailor a plan to protect your leg and your overall health. 

Leg swelling isn’t something you should ignore. To make sure it’s not happening due to something serious, make an appointment by calling the Vascular & Interventional Associates office or requesting your visit online today.