{"id":1794,"date":"2018-05-08T07:06:31","date_gmt":"2018-05-08T07:06:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=1794"},"modified":"2021-05-17T16:16:00","modified_gmt":"2021-05-17T16:16:00","slug":"13-surprising-causes-of-swollen-ankles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/13-surprising-causes-of-swollen-ankles\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Surprising Causes of Swollen Ankles"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Have you been experience swelling in your ankles lately and haven\u2019t been able to find the cause for your discomfort? You might be surprised to find that the cause of your swollen ankles aren\u2019t what you think \u2013 there are a wide range of things that can cause swollen ankles as a symptom, and none of them are as obvious as you might imagine now. This means that even though you think you know what\u2019s wrong with you, you very likely do not. This also means that even your doctor might have no idea what is wrong with you right now, and that leads to a fair amount of misdiagnosis occurring, or even symptoms that are being missed completely. Could you find the cause for your swollen ankles on this list? Take a look at some of these potential causes for swollen ankles and the results might very well surprise you.<\/p>\n

1. A Sprain<\/h3>\n

The most common cause for a swollen ankle also tends to be the most obvious; this one happens to a lot of people during their childhood already at least once, and if it doesn\u2019t then it surely happens to them when they are adults. You can sprain<\/a> your ankle in a variety of ways, from stepping in the wrong way when you cross the street to falling and twisting your ankle \u2013 but what you should know about a sprain is that it stretches the components of the ankle in a way that\u2019s not natural, comfortable or healthy, which leads to an injury.<\/p>\n

This is what most people know as being a sprain, and this will cause immediate swelling in the ankles \u2013 which can be taken down with some pressure, usually with a hot or cold compress, applied to the ankles immediately after the injury occurs to take the swelling down.\"\"<\/p>\n

2. A Ligament Tear<\/h3>\n

Another potential cause for a swollen ankle includes the potential of a ligament tear. To describe this in its most simple terms, a ligament tear<\/a> is what happens when the ankle is sprained and stretched to its full capacity in the process. This is basically a very advanced version of a sprain: The ankle can be twisted or sprained when you put the wrong amount of pressure on it: This can happen when you exercise, this can happen when you walk, this can even commonly happen when you trip and fall.<\/p>\n

There are a wide variety of things that can affect the potential of a torn or injured ligament \u2013 and a tear can even take place after a sprain. If you have torn a ligament instead, you can know that there will be immediate swelling and that you will be unable to move your ankle without pain \u2013 or at all.<\/p>\n

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3. Excess Weight<\/h3>\n

There can be many potential causes for your ankles to start swelling up, and we would advise that you visit your doctor to discuss this as soon as you notice it happening \u2013 there are a huge range of causes that can make your ankles swell, and many of them can point to larger health problems that should be taken care of immediately.<\/p>\n

Swelling<\/a> ankles is almost always a sign of something else in your body, especially when you can\u2019t seem to find the direct cause of your swollen ankles as having been caused because of a sprain. Overall, the ankles don\u2019t like being under too much pressure, and if you are currently overweight then your ankles will be put under much more pressure than if you were currently at your optimal weight \u2013 this in turn can cause your ankles to swell, or it can even lead to some other symptoms.<\/p>\n

\"\"4. Water Retention<\/h3>\n

There are many causes for swollen ankles, some of which we have already gone through earlier in this article \u2013 but then there are also many symptoms that can cause swollen ankles that are in and of themselves symptoms of something else being wrong in your body and you very well might not realize it.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important that you get any sign of swollen ankles checked out immediately so that you doctor can refer you to the relevant specialists, especially if your doctor suspects that there might be other problems that need to be addressed. One of the symptoms<\/a> that can cause your ankles to swell is that of water retention \u2013 but you should really take note if that is the case. You will note that you are feeling puffy, and water retention can also point to other things being wrong, including things like diabetes or existing problems with your heart.\"\"<\/p>\n

5. Diabetes<\/h3>\n

We\u2019ve already mentioned in the last entry on this list that swollen ankles can very well be caused by something else that\u2019s wrong with your health, and many of the symptoms can point to other health issues that urgently need to be addressed right now \u2013 and that you should likely make an immediate appointment with your doctor if this happens to be the case. It\u2019s always safer to get issues with your health checked out immediately rather than to wait and take the risk that something else could be wrong!<\/p>\n

One of the disorders that might manifest with swollen ankles as a potential symptom is diabetes<\/a>, which is a deficiency in your body\u2019s manner in which it processes insulin \u2013 which is why many diabetics have to inject secondary insulin on a regular basis. If you suspect diabetes, then swollen ankles are a sign to see your doctor right about now.<\/p>\n

\"\"6. Circulation Problems<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019ve ruled out all of the other symptoms on this list without success then you might still be left wondering what the cause of your swollen ankles is. Well, there are still a wide range of things that can be the cause of your swollen ankles that can also point to other things that might be wrong with you.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re experiencing swollen ankles that don\u2019t seem to have another external and obvious cause, then we\u2019d still continuously recommend that you visit your doctor as soon as possible with this list of symptoms so that they can help you diagnose what the problem with your health really is. One potential cause of swelling in your ankles is overall circulation<\/a> problems which causes your ankles to swell up and the accompanying discomfort. If you\u2019re experiencing issues with your circulation, start by raising your ankles above your heart for blood flow.<\/p>\n

\"\"7. Arthritis<\/h3>\n

Have you gone through this entire list of symptoms and been unable to find the cause of your discomfort and pain so far? If your ankles are still swelling and you can\u2019t find an obvious cause for the swelling, then you might have to look at arthritis<\/a> as a potential cause for your discomfort. Arthritis happens to most people when they grow older and you can expect that you\u2019ll have to deal with it at some point.<\/p>\n

We can go ahead and say that arthritis is often affected by the cold and weather changes \u2013 so you will notice that you have more of an urge to warm up your ankles and joints on a regular basis \u2013 and you might also notice that your ankles are swelling up as a result. When you experience arthritis, make some changes to your diet and take anti-inflammatory medication and you\u2019ll most likely feel better.\"\"<\/p>\n

8. The Wrong Diet<\/h3>\n

Have you noticed that your ankles have been swelling? It can affect many other areas or your life, or it can be indicative of other problems that are going on with your health. We\u2019d recommend that the moment that you spot your ankles are swelling that you go to a doctor and go get your symptoms checked out as soon as possible \u2013 just in case an already existing health problem is currently being ignored and misdiagnosed.<\/p>\n

Have you been experiencing swelling in your ankles that can\u2019t be attributed to another cause? Then you might very well be experiencing ankle swelling because you are following the entirely wrong diet<\/a>. Could your health issues be sorted out simply with a couple of changes to what you eat? It\u2019s likely that the answer is yes. Consult with a professional diet expert as soon as you can and you\u2019ll notice your overall health change.<\/p>\n

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9. Gout<\/h3>\n

Just what is gout<\/a>? We can say that gout is the body\u2019s reaction to taking in too many acidic things \u2013 which can, for example, include mayonnaise, tomatoes and wine. Gout manifests usually with swelling, a feeling of extreme hotness and redness in the affected area \u2013 which is usually the feet or legs. This can also spread further to encompass your joints, or it can affect your ankles \u2013 which can cause them to swell, which is why gout is on this list to begin with.<\/p>\n

Some of the things that are known to trigger gout are consuming anything that\u2019s generally considered to be acidic, for example if you were to eat tomatoes or drink wine and experience an attack of gout then we can say that you should be avoiding these foods if you want to stay away from gout. If gout causes your swollen ankles, you should see a doctor.\"\"<\/p>\n

10. Standing Still<\/h3>\n

Staying still for too long can even include conditions which are as severe as blood clots<\/a> forming in the legs, which can lead to a pulmonary embolism: Yes, staying still for too long is a direct cause of developing blood clots in the legs and this is why it often happens to people who work in office jobs or those who spend a lot of time travelling and need to keep still on a bus, plane or train.<\/p>\n

If your ankles start swelling after long periods of inactivity then you can almost be sure that it is the direct cause of your ankle swelling \u2013 your ankles are taking too much pressure, and due to this added pressure and a lack of circulation it manifests in swelling. Remember to relax and lift your ankles up above your heart to avoid the swelling getting worse \u2013 remember to see your doctor too.\"\"<\/p>\n

11. Heart Failure<\/h3>\n

Okay, so if you have gone through the rest of the list without being able to find a cause for your swollen ankles then it might be time to think of the fact that it could be something much more severe that is causing your problem: This can vary in terms of severity, but we can say with safety that if you\u2019ve managed to eliminate everything on this list and still haven\u2019t found what\u2019s causing it then you need to look at some of the more drastic symptoms that could be causing your illness.<\/p>\n

One of these potentially drastic symptoms that could point to a larger illness includes heart failure: If your ankles have been swelling and you can\u2019t figure out why, then it could point to potential heart failure<\/a>, according to sources especially if this happens more during the night. Get your heart checked out if this describes you.\"\"<\/p>\n

12. Kidney Disease<\/h3>\n

We know that you have very likely experienced repeated swelling in your ankles<\/a> and been unable to find the relevant cause for it up until now, and that is most likely why you have started to read this article.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve gone through the entire list and been so far unable to find a cause for your illness \u2013 even if you read through the part with heart disease and had your heart checked out, then we can safely assume that it might be something else slightly more severe that has been causing your ankles to swell up \u2013 and last of all, though certainly one of the more serious causes, is kidney disease. One of the first signs of kidney disease is the fact that your ankles will start swelling up and your body will retain water \u2013 so a sign of swelling ankles means that you should go to a doctor.<\/p>\n

\"\"13. Tendonitis<\/h3>\n

Tendonitis<\/a> describes a condition where the tendons or ligaments that attach to bones and muscle experience inflammation. This inflammation limits the range of motion of the affected body part, producing symptoms of pain when the affected individual tries to move their limb. One of the more common forms of tendonitis affecting the feet is, \u201cextensor tendonitis.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

People with extensor tendonitis experience pain when moving their toes, and they typically find that the toes take a curled position, with pain symptoms occurring when they try to stretch out the toes. This form of tendonitis occurs for many reasons, but one of the more common reasons is due to footwear that doesn\u2019t fit properly, causing stress on the tendons as they squash into a small space \u2013 such as with some women\u2019s shoes that narrow in the front of the shoe.<\/span><\/p>\n

The tendonitis affects the entire function of the foot, and you may experience swelling around the upper part of your foot and the ankle, where the tendons attach.<\/span><\/p>\n

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14. Rheumatoid Arthritis<\/h3>\n

More than 1,3-million Americans live with rheumatoid arthritis<\/a>. This degenerative bone disease can affect any joint in the body, but its most common in the fingers, wrists, and ankles. The condition creates inflammation in the joint, due to the wearing of the cartilage that protects the bone from impact and stress during movement. <\/span><\/p>\n

When rheumatoid arthritis affects the ankles and toes, it typically results in swelling around the ankle and the top part of the foot. Doctors treat pain symptoms with strong anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers to relieve symptoms of pain and swelling.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rheumatoid arthritis is a degenerative, chronic condition with no cure \u2013 but there are steps you can take to reduce the pain symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis and slow the spread of the disease. Make sure you never lift any weight you can\u2019t handle and ensure that you stretch your ankle joints before you go for a walk or decide to exercise.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"15. High Blood Glucose Levels<\/h3>\n

People living with the blood sugar disorder, diabetes, may experience swelling in their extremities when they eat too many carbohydrates<\/a>. Eating foods high in refined carbohydrates, such as candy, sparks inflammation in the digestive system that spreads to every other area of the body, including the extremities like the wrists and ankles.<\/span><\/p>\n

Raised blood sugar levels are a marker of inflammatory disease, and as a result, eating these foods can exacerbate symptoms of inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. Visit your physician and have them assess your bloodwork to determine if your fasting glucose level is higher than average. <\/span><\/p>\n

If the bloodwork tests show that you have an elevated fasted glucose level, your doctor may recommend that you remove all carbohydrates from your diet to improve your insulin sensitivity, and reduce your fasted glucose reading. Trying a ketogenic diet is an excellent way to rapidly reduce your blood sugar levels and improve insulin release from your pancreas.<\/span><\/p>\n

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