18/03/2024
How to get rid of bruises and what helps with swelling of the feet and ankles?
It's probably happened to you at some point: You bumped into the corner of a piece of furniture, felt pain, and after a while noticed that your skin was bruised or swollen. In most cases, bruising is not a problem, but sometimes it can indicate a more serious condition. How to fight bruising and what are the causes of swelling of the feet and ankles?
What causes bruising?
By far the most common cause of bruising is bumping into something. In this case, bruises most commonly appear on legs. Besides bruised knees, shins, and feet, you can also notice bruised toes or heels.
Bruises can also occur in people who exercise intensively. In athletes and weightlifters, bruises tend to be the result of microscopic tears in the blood vessels under the skin. Bruises are more likely to occur in people who take blood thinners and in older people whose skin thins with age.
What are the symptoms of bruising?
Initially, fresh bruises tend to be coloured red. Within a few hours, the colour changes to blue or dark purple, and after a few days the bruise turns yellow or green. The characteristic colour of bruises is caused by haemoglobin. The bruise is usually sensitive to touch and may be painful. However, once the bruise disappears, so does the pain.
When to pay extra attention to bruises?
Almost all of us get bruises from time to time, but you should pay attention when bruises form very often and easily. In this case, they can indicate a vitamin deficiency, but also serious diseases, such as congenital bleeding disorders or liver disease. So, if you develop bruises without a clear cause, consult your doctor.
Want to get rid of bruises fast?
There are several ways to speed up the healing of bruises. Immediately after the injury, apply ice to the affected area to reduce blood flow to the area. Ideally, ice the bruise for 10 minutes and wait 20 minutes before reapplying. Special bruise gels like Mobilat® Gel is also effective and accelerates regression of bruises.
You can also wrap the bruised area in an elastic bandage; compression can reduce the severity of the bruise and help reduce pain and swelling. Another way to speed healing is to raise the bruised area above the level of the heart. Application of aloe vera and Arnica are also effective.
What causes swollen ankles?
Bruising may also occur in the ankle area. As a rule, an ankle sprain is to blame, which is one of the most common injuries in general. It is relatively easy to tell that an ankle sprain has occurred because the injury itself is painful, the affected area is sensitive to touch, and the ankle is unstable. In addition to swelling, bruising may also occur.
Other possible causes of swollen legs from the knee down
However, ankle sprains are far from the only cause of swollen and painful ankles. Blood clots, chronic venous insufficiency, pregnancy, lymphoedema, taking certain types of medication, eating too much salty food, or standing or sitting in the same position for too long can also be to blame.
How to get rid of swollen ankles fast?
Want to get rid of swollen ankles as quickly as possible? Most of the time the swelling will go away on its own, but there are a few things you can do to improve the condition. Swollen ankle treatment includes lifting your leg to an elevated position, getting light exercise, and avoiding tight clothing, socks, or shoes.
If the swelling is caused by an ankle sprain, it will help if you ice and compress the ankle, and raise the foot above the level of the heart. You can relieve the pain by taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications.
What are the causes of swollen feet?
As with swollen ankles, swollen feet can have several possible causes. Some of the most common are heat, standing or sitting for long periods of time, too much salt in the diet, taking certain medications, or wearing clothes that are too tight.
More serious causes of leg swelling include liver, kidney and lung diseases, venous insufficiency, or insufficient thyroid function.
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