Answers for heart patientsతెలుగులో చదవండి
Swollen legs and heart failure: why it happens and what helps
In heart failure, the heart cannot pump blood around the body well. Blood backs up in the veins of the legs, and fluid leaks out. So the feet, ankles and legs swell. Too much salt and sitting still make it worse.
Salt makes the body hold on to water. Sitting still lets fluid pool in the legs. Both make swelling worse. From the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
Why salt matters
Salt makes the body hold on to water. Then there is more fluid in the body, and more of it can leak into the legs.
Adults should have no more than 6 g of salt a day. That is about one level teaspoon. It counts the salt already in pickles, bread and ready food. See Food after angioplasty for ways to cut salt.
Weigh yourself
The NHS says people with heart failure should weigh themselves often. Fast weight gain can mean water is building up in the body. Tell your doctor if it happens.
Your doctor may also ask you to watch the swelling. It shows how well your heart is pumping, and how well your medicines work.
Water tablets (diuretics)
Water tablets help the kidneys get rid of extra water in your pee. Ask your doctor what time of day to take them, so you do not have to get up often at night.
If a medicine makes you feel dizzy or unwell, do not just stop it. Talk to your doctor. Your doctor may also tell you how much to drink each day. If so, follow it.
Five things that help
- Raise your legs above the level of your heart, on pillows, when you lie down.
- Rub your legs gently, upwards from the ankles.
- Walk gently. Moving the calf muscles pumps fluid back up. Read where cardiac rehab fits in heart failure treatment.
- Wear loose clothes and soft, low shoes.
- Ask your doctor about compression socks. Medical ones need to be fitted.
Get help fast if
- one leg is suddenly swollen, painful, red or warm. This can be a blood clot.
- both legs swell and you are also breathless, tired, or have chest pain.
- your weight goes up fast, or the swelling gets worse within days.
- you are breathless when you lie down, or you cough up frothy pink phlegm.
It is not always the heart
Swollen ankles are common. Salty food, sitting or standing for a long time, long journeys and hot weather can all cause it. So can some medicines, including some blood pressure medicines. Kidney and liver problems can cause it too. If the swelling does not go away, see your doctor to find the cause.
What happens at Cardiac Rehab
- A doctor checks you first.
- You get an exercise plan made for you.
- You exercise for 90 minutes, 3 times a week, for 6 months, under physician supervision.
- Step by step, the exercise gets harder as you get stronger.
Why it helps with this
Gentle walking moves the calf muscles, and they pump fluid back up toward the heart. In rehab, the team builds this up step by step, at a safe level for your heart.
A 2024 review of 60 trials found that people with heart failure who exercised went to hospital less. About 16 in 100 went, against about 24 in 100 who did not exercise.
For stable heart failure, US (AHA and ACC) and European (ESC) guidelines give exercise training their highest grade: Class I, Level A.
Cardiac Rehab, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad runs these sessions.
Frequently asked questions
Is leg swelling a sign of heart failure?
It can be. It can even be one of the first signs. But it has other causes too, like salty food, sitting for a long time, some medicines, and kidney or liver problems. See your doctor to find the cause.
Why do my legs swell more in the evening?
When you sit or stand for a long time, fluid sinks into the legs. The calf muscles are not working to pump it back up.
Should I drink less water?
Only if your medical team tells you to. Some people with heart failure are asked to watch how much they drink each day.
Can walking reduce leg swelling?
Yes, gentle walking helps move fluid out of the legs. If you have heart failure, ask your doctor how much is safe for you.
This page is general advice. Your own doctor knows your heart. If your doctor has told you something different, follow your doctor.
Written by Dr. Muralidar Babi, MBBS, MD (CMC Vellore), Cardiac Rehab Physician. TGMCI Reg. No. 59309.