Are swollen feet always a sign of Heart Failure?

We often associate heart failure with only symptoms that are too obvious, like chest pain and shortness of breath. But heart failure is not always easy to detect. Ever heard about swelling in the feet associated with heart failure?

Swelling in your feet, which is also known as edema, is one of the major signs that your heart is not working properly. But does this swelling in your feet always indicate heart failure? Or there can be other reasons too? Let’s find out.

What causes swelling in your feet?

Swelling in your feet could be a sign that your heart fails to pump blood according to the body’s need. But there can be some other reasons, too. Let’s discuss them one by one:

Congestive Heart Failure: When heart failure occurs, the blood circulation becomes compromised, and blood starts to accumulate in your body tissues, which we term as edema. This is the phenomenon that causes swelling in your body, including your legs, feet & hands.

Kidney Failure: Your kidneys in normal conditions, remove excess sodium and water from the body. And you may experience swelling when the kidneys fail to perform this function.

Travelling Long Routes: When you travel long routes, mostly sitting or standing, then your heart may need to work extra against this gravitational pull towards your feet. If you stay like this for a long time, you may experience prominent swelling in your feet.

Pregnancy: During pregnancy, as the baby grows, it exerts pressure on the lower half of your body. The swelling due to this reason will be resolved after delivery.

Medications: Some medications have a side effect of fluid retention in the body, which causes swelling in your legs and feet.

Salt Intake: High intake of salt increases solutes in your body, and to compensate for this, your body undergoes water retention that leads to swelling.

How to tell if your feet are swollen due to Heart Failure?

Now comes the concern of how you can identify whether the swelling you are noticing in your feet is due to heart failure or not. Well, it may be difficult to diagnose heart failure on your own without any professional help, so it is better to consult with your doctor. However, look for the signs below that can be a sign of heart failure, other than foot swelling:

Fatigue
Chest pain
Shortness of Breath
Increased swelling in your feet and legs
Unable to perform even the simplest daily activities like walking.
Dizziness
Irritation

At what stage of heart failure are swollen legs?

At what stage of heart failure are swollen legs

Now we know that heart failure causes swollen legs, but at what stage of heart failure you may notice it is not a question that can be answered with a simple yes or no. If your observation is good, you can notice even in the early stage of heart failure, where others barely notice anything.

Although swelling may occur at any stage in your feet, it may increase and become more noticeable as the stage of heart failure progresses. For instance, in stage IV heart disease, swelling is more prominent than it might be in stage I.

How can swollen feet be managed with Heart Failure Treatment?

How can swollen feet be managed with Heart Failure Treatment

Just like your symptoms may vary according to your specific stage of heart failure or how severe your condition is, treatments also vary, and symptoms are managed accordingly. Your doctor will plan an individualized treatment only after assessing your condition because each patient is unique and may need to be treated differently for a better response. Let’s talk about some of the treatments so that

Lifestyle Modifications:

Earlier, we discussed different causes that may cause swelling in your feet, and some of them are related to lifestyle. So, when you modify and improve your lifestyle, swelling in your feet will be resolved. Here are some suggestions:

Reduce the salt intake in your diet and limit foods like fried items, processed foods, and packaged food items. These products have a high amount of sodium that can increase swelling in your feet.
Exercising and living an active lifestyle help improve heart health. Blood circulation also improves with movement, which reduces fluid retention and swelling in your body.
When you are travelling, try to move your legs every other hour and perform ankle pumping movements. If possible, take frequent breaks in between your drives to avoid swelling in your feet.
Quit smoking and limit your alcohol intake.
Wear special compression stockings if you need to prevent swelling or fluid retention.

Treatment with Medications:

Medications that are used to treat heart failure can also help in reducing swelling in your feet, only if it is associated with heart failure. Treat the cause, and the swelling will improve. Some medications that are used for heart failure treatment may include the following:

Diuretics
Beta-Blockers
Digoxin
ACE Inhibitors
Calcium Channel Blockers

Surgical Treatments:

In severe conditions where you cannot get help from medications, heart failure treatment may involve surgical treatments or devices that should be implanted in your heart.

Pacemaker: A Pacemaker is implanted in your heart through surgery, which stabilizes the abnormal heartbeat. When the natural heartbeat generated in your body is disrupted and leads to heart failure, a pacemaker device is used.
Heart Valve Surgery: When the valves in your heart become incompetent and cannot regulate the blood flow, your doctor repairs the valve or totally replaces it with a mechanical valve.
Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD): An LVAD is a device attached to the lower left chamber of your heart or left ventricle, to help the heart pump blood and improve circulation throughout the body. LVAD has its internal and external components. While the internal LVAD pump is attached to your heart, external components stay outside the body, which may include the controller that controls the whole device, the driveline connecting the internal pump with the controller, and batteries that are the power source.
Biventricular Assist Device (BiVAD): When both ventricles of your heart are unable to pump blood, you may receive a device that will be attached to your heart to support its function.
Heart Transplant: A heart transplant is usually performed when your heart is severely affected and needs to be replaced with a new, healthy heart from a deceased donor.

Surgical treatments often come with lifestyle modifications, too. For example, with a heart transplant, you may need to take care of your heart and take medicines for the rest of your life to avoid organ rejection. On the other hand, you may need a proper LVAD gear, like an LVAD shirt or LVAD tank top, to carry the external components of the LVAD device 24/7.

Are swollen feet dangerous?

Swollen feet can be a sign of a serious underlying disease. Observe other symptoms other than swelling in the feet, and also try to observe when it happens and how it relieves. For early detection in case of heart failure, consult your doctor so that you can better understand and manage it with an informed decision.

FAQs

What does it mean when your feet are swollen?

Feet & hands swelling may indicate many things, which may include heart failure, pregnancy, long sitting & standing, and kidney failure. If you notice swollen feet, consult your doctor.

When should I worry about my leg swelling?

You should be worried about your leg swelling if you notice a sudden increase in the swelling alongside other symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain, or fatigue.

Does high blood pressure cause swelling?

High blood pressure and swollen feet are not directly linked. But high blood pressure may damage the kidneys or disrupt the heart's function, which can impair normal circulation. This may cause swelling in your feet and legs.

How to get rid of swollen ankles fast?

Raising your legs above your heart level, wearing compression socks, and performing ankle pumping exercise may help get rid of swelling in your ankles. However, if the condition is severe, it might need critical medical care.