What reduces swelling of the feet and legs? It turns out that many things can cause foot and leg pain and swelling – and many things can successfully reduce systems. Keep reading to learn about how to get swelling down so you can get on with the things in life that matter to you. You’ll see that everything from managing salt intake to using detox foot patches may be effective at making your swollen, aching feet and legs feel better and do their jobs without complaining.
Swelling of the legs and feet doesn’t just happen with age or certain medical conditions. These problems impact us all. For many people, symptoms are common and sometimes even debilitating. Whether you experience swelling of the lower extremities only occasionally or nearly every day, there are things you can do at home that will make a huge difference.
Manage Salt Intake
One of the most important things you can do when you’re trying to find ways for how to get swelling down on your hands and feet is to limit your salt intake. Leg swelling can be associated with many causes, including too much salt. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends no more than about a teaspoon of salt a day – including all the salt found as preservatives and flavor enhancers in processed foods. When you combine too much salt with overactivity, swelling is often the result. Any reduction in your salt intake could make a significant difference in extremity swelling plus lower high blood pressure risks and help you feel better in other ways as well.
Try Massage
No matter the cause of pain, edema or muscle aches in your feet and legs, massage may be what reduces swelling best for you. It is especially useful for those with poor circulation that causes lymph to pool up instead of moving away from the extremities as it should. Gravity combined with circulatory difficulties means that swelling from pooled lymph – which is called edema – is most prominent in the feet and legs. You can do the massage yourself or have a friend, relative or professional do it. Electric or battery massagers can help as well. The goal is to move from the feet upward, paying special attention to the area around the knees.
Resolve Magnesium Deficiency
Edema – that swelling from pooled lymph – can sometimes be the result of a dietary magnesium deficiency, a problem that is especially prominent in pregnant women. While women who are pregnant should speak with a doctor before taking any dietary supplement, anyone looking to get swelling down may benefit from a magnesium supplement. The cheapest is magnesium oxide, but other forms are available that may provide better results. This essential nutrient can also reduce muscle spasms and promote an overall sense of calm and wellbeing which can help with pain management and improve sleep. Food sources of magnesium include greens, whole grains, nuts, seeds, beans and more.
Elevate Your Legs
Among the simplest and easiest ways to reduce swelling is to elevate your legs and allow gravity to help with fluid buildup. Whenever possible, consider ways to elevate your feet and legs when sitting. The ideal positioning is with your legs higher than your heart, but you should choose a comfortable position that allows you to elevate your lower extremities as much as possible while maintaining good posture. During times of rest or exercise, you may find that lying on your back, raising your legs in the air and moving them around helps in the same way. You can’t underestimate the value that gravity can play in getting swelling down so you can get on with your life.
Use A Footbath
Perhaps soaking your feet in Epsom salt or a product made specifically for foot soaks sounds a bit old-fashioned, but the reason people did it in the past was that it works. Footbaths are an effective way to reduce swelling. Epsom salt is even made of magnesium, which can be absorbed through the skin to help you feel better. The heat of a foot soak helps lymph to flow better and relaxes muscles too. Just be careful not to scald yourself, especially if you have reduced sensation in your feet. If you have broken skin on your feet, consider the risk of infection before using trying a foot bath.
Try Detox Foot Patches
Detox foot patches are designed to adhere to one or both feet during sleep and pull toxins out of your body. Many people find that foot pads based on Chinese reflexology are a smart, useful way to get swelling down. What reduces swelling for one person may not work for another, but these inexpensive patches contain bamboo vinegar and other ingredients designed to help pull toxins from nerve endings for reduced pain, better sleep, less swelling and perhaps improvement of other symptoms as well. You can use detox foot patches nightly or only when symptoms are particularly bothersome.
Aching of the feet and legs caused by swelling, perhaps related to too much standing at work or circulatory issues, is a common problem. But there are many home treatments you can try. Some or all of the suggestions above may work for you.
If you want to try detox foot patches, consider BodyPure’s line of foot pads designed with your symptoms in mind. You can sleep better, feel better and experience less swelling and other problems when you take control of your health. BodyPure is here to help.
