What Does This Swelling Mean?

All of us will have something swell up at one point or another. There are a lot of reasons for it. Some are minor, others are not. The following reasons may help you decide whether you need to see your doctor, dentist or a good shoe salesman.

Cardiovascular Disease: Swelling in the ankles that lasts all day can be a sign of several forms of cardiovascular disease. This may mean that the problem is nearing a life threatening stage. Get to your doctor immediately.

Illness: Mumps, mononucleosis, and other illnesses can cause swelling. These two will have the glands under your jaw and (in the case of mono) your armpits swell up. Any illness that causes glandular swelling is a good reason for a doctor’s visit. If you think it might be contagious, like mumps, tell the office in advance so they can keep you away from other patients.

Injuries: These are usually easy to recognize. Most of us remember what we did to injure a body part, whether it’s stepping on a bee or spraining an ankle. The severity of the swelling and the intensity of the pain may be enough to decide whether or not you need a doctor. Minor problems can be taken care of at home, but some stings and sprains need professional care.

Medications: Some medications may increase your chances for swelling. Most of the time, these medications worsen an existing condition rather than act as the sole cause. If you think inflammation is related to a medication, talk to your doctor about it.

Pregnancy: During the last few weeks of pregnancy, it is not abnormal for a little ankle swelling. However, if it occurs prior to that, or the swelling is great, you may have a life threatening condition. Pre-eclampsia and toxemia in pregnancy often present with swollen ankles and a rise in blood pressure. Go to your doctor, urgent care or the emergency room as soon as possible.

Standing: If you stand all day, particularly on concrete, your feet and ankles will swell. Part of it is gravity and part of it is the flooring. Although you should rule out other causes, if this is your problem you may benefit from a knowledgeable shoe salesman.

He or she can look at your feet and tell if there is a problem, such as fallen arches, that are contributing to the problem. I was amazed at the difference a change in shoes made, and you may be as well.

Toothache: An infected tooth or gum can cause facial swelling. Under some circumstances, this could be life threatening. Your doctor may not be as much help as a good dentist. You may need a course of antibiotics before anything can be done about the underlying problem, but you definitely need the dentist.

Like pain, swelling is your body’s way of saying that something is wrong. Only you can decide if it’s serious enough to see an expert, but perhaps the above will give you some guidelines. Please remember that no article can replace the care of the appropriate professional.