Swollen ankles

Do you sleep with your feet higher than your heart (eg on pillows)?

My mother-in-law likes her freezer slippers in the daytime when resting.

Check with your GP or surgery clinical pharmacist as it could be drug related.

My ankles are very swollen a combination of heart problems and the heat.
I have been advised to keep them elevated as much as possible, to keep the pressure off my heart.
I have found that using the hand held part of the shower on my feet helps.

NotSpaghetti

Do you sleep with your feet higher than your heart (eg on pillows)?

My mother-in-law likes her freezer slippers in the daytime when resting.

Never heard of freezer slippers ,sound a great idea ! Will look online for them. Thanks x

Don’t ignore your breathlessness especially if you have swollen ankles. I ended up in hospital two years ago with heart related problems because I put my symptoms down to the heat and hay fever.

See your GP. Better to be safe than sorry.

I have had breathlessness and swollen feet and was advised to use finger to press around the swollen areas. If dents remain make an appointment (if you can get through ) with your doctor to check. Take the advice about bathing feet on cool water and to raise legs above heart.
It’s much more common when weather is hot as it is now.

A lot of high blood pressure meds can cause very swollen ankles.

My right ankle tends to swell in the heat, though my left one remains normal. I have wondered if it's something to do with having a prosthetic right hip. Would that have had some effect on the circulation ?

I echo merlotgran and a medical check is advisable if your ankles are very swollen and you are experiencing breathlessness. You might require a diuretic to help your circulation. If you’re already on one the dosage might need adjusted.

Keep your feet up on cushions for comfort as much as physically possible. You should see a difference after a couple of days. If you sit for long periods reading knitting whatever keep your feet raised. Also take note of the good advice given here if this is a recent problem seek medical advice.
I have swollen ankles it’s related to my kidneys and blood pressure. Personally it’s more problematic in the summer months than winter months.

I'm on Meds for high blood pressure, many of which list swollen ankles as a side effect. Mine aren't too bad, but are definitely worse at the end of the day, especially in this hot weather. Try elevating your feet when you're resting.

I only take tablets for osteopenia, for the last week of so I’ve had swollen ankles and feet, my left ankle is also slightly painful to touch as though bruised, I have done nothing to injure it.

I always sit in a reclining chair when relaxing.

Another thing to remember is Don’t sit with crossed legs especially if you have varicose veins, as this can obstruct blood flow and cause venous pooling in the lower legs and feet

Rotate your feet to the left and then to the right.
Use ice packs in a cloth.
Treat yourself to Revitive machine. It was advertised on TV not too long ago by Eamon Holmes and the cricketer. It's working for me.

Yes, it is a heart and circulation problem. Go see your Doctor.

All these home remedies sound great and easy to do - but you need a diagnosis first to rule out anything “serious.” Prolonged non-treatment could lead to worse health consequences.
Do yourself a favor!
USA Gundy

A hot bath will help your blood pressure drop and keeping your ankles higher than your heart will reduce the pressure and enable your blood to flow more freely, so it can repair any damage as the skin stretches. If there is any sign of darkening / bruising see your GP. Walking helps to circulate blood but you need to drain the excess away from your ankles, so there is room for the fresh oxygen to get to them.

Good luck, I hope things improve in the near future.

A couple of months ago I was put on a new tablet for blood pressure, after a month I returned to GP to check it was working ok. It was but I have been suffering dizziness and swollen feet she told me it was a side effect of the tablets.
She said I have to put up with it as it was controlling my BP.
But suggested raise feet higher than heart and soaking feet in cool water with a cup of Epsom salts (I use Westlab Epsom salts). Seems to work and very relaxing in this warm weather.

I could be wrong on both these things, but I would check your posture is good.
And not wear anything restricting.

Thank you all for replying. I had tests for my heart and lungs 2 months ago and told its probably due to post covid which I had in January this year. Still feel very tired, breathless and swollen ankles but have been told heart and lungs ok. Also need a nap straight after eating. Hopefully will gradually get better.

I went to my GP for exactly this problem and was prescribed two tablets to be taken daily, one a diuretic and the other specifically for the ankles. I was already on Bisoprlol (I have AF) the dose being reduced to 1.25 mg, and Bendroflumethiazide (try saying that after a few drinks!) 2.5 mg. was added. So far there has been a considerable improvement and I am very pleased. Hope that might help.

Some blood pressure tablets can cause swollen ankles.

Nellietheelephant

I went to my GP for exactly this problem and was prescribed two tablets to be taken daily, one a diuretic and the other specifically for the ankles. I was already on Bisoprlol (I have AF) the dose being reduced to 1.25 mg, and Bendroflumethiazide (try saying that after a few drinks!) 2.5 mg. was added. So far there has been a considerable improvement and I am very pleased. Hope that might help.

I'm on blood pressure meds and was put on a diuretic (Bendroflumethiazide) as well as all my other meds for diabetes. I'm guessing that was the thing that helped the most with reducing the swelling in my legs. I've always had to keep my legs up when sitting, so having recliner chairs at home has been a necessity, and I've always suffered if I've been away where I couldn't easily put my feet up. Since the swelling got better I was able to walk more and keeping moving also helped. I lost a lot of weight, partly because of losing the fluid and partly because of increasing exercise. My feet and ankles still swell a bit if I'm on my feet for too long but the problem is vastly improved.

Talk to your doctor about maybe taking a diuretic, but meanwhile keep your feet up as much as possible and keep your legs moving, including while sitting. I find a good exercise for my legs is pushing the manual recliner up and down a few times at regular intervals. As I got fitter I could do more repeats before I was too tired. If you don't have recliner chairs use a footstool of some sort and keep lifting your legs up and down frequently and circling your ankles while sitting. I found that helped too.

Good luck.

Maybe check with your Dr if you should wear good support stockings