Answered by SecondMedic Expert
General Physician · General Physician
The swelling of the ankles is a common problem among adults and can have many causes. Most people experience mild ankle swelling due to gravity, standing or sitting for long periods of time. This type of swelling is called “dependent edema” and usually goes away when you rest with your feet elevated above your heart.
However, if the swelling persists even after elevating your feet, it could indicate a more serious condition such as kidney or heart disease. Kidney disease can cause fluid retention in the body which eventually builds up in the ankles and other lower parts of our bodies like the legs and feet due to gravity’s influence. In addition, illnesses such as congestive heart failure can lead to an accumulation of fluid around our extremities including our ankles because not enough oxygenated blood is being circulated throughout our body properly.
If you are experiencing persistent ankle swelling that does not resolve with elevation, seek medical attention right away. The doctor will likely give you various tests to check for possible underlying conditions related to kidney or heart problems such as blood tests, urine tests, echocardiograms (ultrasound images of your heart), MRI scans etc., depending on what they suspect may be causing it based on their evaluation of your symptoms and medical history. By doing so they will be able to determine whether there are any abnormalities happening inside that could be behind this issue—and prescribing treatments accordingly once a diagnosis has been made if necessary
