Edema (or swelling) of the lower limbs is common in older adults. The most common cause (about 70%) of leg edema is due to Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI). Other serious causes of edema include congestive heart failure, kidney disease, and liver disease.

What causes legs to swell and turn purple?

Discoloration and edema (swelling) can involve problems with blood circulation in your legs which may include venous disease and/or lymphedema. The drainage of blood back to the heart is provided by the lymphatic systems and the veins in the legs.

When should you go to the hospital for swollen feet?

If you have a fever, if the swelling is red and warm to the touch, or if the swelling is on just one side, call your doctor. When swelling lasts for more than a few days and home remedies aren’t working, seek your doctor’s advice. If you have chest pain or shortness of breath along with the swelling, call 911.

What does pain and swelling in feet mean?

Swollen feet may be caused by infections and the accompanying inflammation. People with diabetic neuropathy or other nerve conditions of the feet are more prone to foot infections. Infections can be caused by wounds such as blisters, burns, and insect bites. You may also experience pain, redness, and irritation.

Does edema cause discoloration?

It is common to develop some discoloration of the skin as a result of the edema swelling, most commonly a slight pink or red discoloration of the skin or even a dark brown discoloration of the involved skin.

What causes purple skin discoloration?

Purple skin results from bleeding and bruising, broken blood vessels (hemorrhage), and low levels of blood oxygen (hypoxemia). Purple skin may occur in conditions affecting the skin itself or along with a more generalized disorder resulting from conditions such as drowning or chronic heart and lung diseases.

What does swollen purple feet mean?

Purple feet are a sign of a circulation problem that can be potentially serious. When circulation in your feet is healthy, cuts heal quickly and your skin retains its natural color. Blood reaches your feet through a network of arteries, which are the blood vessels that carry blood from your heart.

What happens if edema is left untreated?

If left untreated, edema can lead to increasingly painful swelling, stiffness, difficulty walking, stretched or itchy skin, skin ulcers, scarring, and decreased blood circulation.

Is swollen feet an emergency?

Seek medical care right away if your legs swell for no apparent reason, especially if you have unexplained leg pain, difficulty breathing, chest pain or other warning signs of a blood clot in your lungs or a heart condition. Many factors — varying greatly in severity — can cause leg swelling.

Can High BP cause swollen feet?

If your legs and feet are frequently swelling, then your high blood pressure may have already started contributing to heart disease. Take these symptoms seriously and have your legs and feet checked by a podiatrist.

What causes swollen feet in the elderly?

Legs, ankles, and feet swell when excess fluid is pulled down by gravity and builds up in the lower body. This is called edema and it’s common in older adults and usually happens on both sides of the body. It can be caused by a variety of health conditions including heart failure, kidney disease, gout, and arthritis.

What helps swollen feet in elderly?

Some tips that may help reduce swelling:

1. Put your legs on pillows to raise them above your heart while lying down.
2. Exercise your legs.
3. Follow a low-salt diet, which may reduce fluid buildup and swelling.
4. Wear support stockings (sold at most drugstores and medical supply stores).

What medications cause swollen feet?

Medications that may cause the feet to swell include:

• hormones, such as estrogen and testosterone.
• calcium-channel blockers that help control blood pressure.
• steroids, both androgenic and anabolic, and corticosteroids.
• antidepressants.
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
• medication to help manage diabetes.

What does discoloration on your feet mean?

A foot can appear discolored because of poor blood circulation, bruising, or disease. The common causes of foot discoloration are: Injury. If something injures your foot, it can cause bruising with a range of color from purple through yellow and green as the bruising heals.

What is venous stasis?

Venous stasis involves an inflammation of the skin in the lower legs as a result of chronic venous insufficiency. If the valves or walls of the veins in the legs are not working properly, it is difficult for blood to circulate from the legs back to the heart.

How do you get rid of venous stasis discoloration?

Exercise- Walking regularly can help to circulate blood instead of allowing it to pool in the lower legs, causing redness. Elevating legs at rest- putting your legs up to at least the level of your heart eliminates the strain of gravity on the veins and allows it to leave the legs more easily, reducing some redness.