What Could be Causing Swollen Feet?

What Causes Swollen Feet?

Swollen feet can have various causes, ranging in severity from 'troubling' to 'generally fatal'. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.

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Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose swollen feet, we could:

Research the topic
Find a doctor with the time
Use a diagnostic computer system.

The process is the same, whichever method is used.

Step 1: List all Possible Causes

We begin by identifying the disease conditions which have "swollen feet" as a symptom. Here are eight of many possibilities (more below):

Edema
Hormone Imbalance
Liver Congestion
Excess Water Consumption
PMS H
Nephrotic Syndrome
Thrombophlebitis
Eclampsia / Preeclampsia

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

We then identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:

strong-smelling urine

severe abdominal pain

occasional bad dreams

mild right lumbar discomfort

edema of the knees

pain between shoulder blades

poor mental clarity

significant bitter taste in mouth

positive results from coffee enemas

breast soreness during cycle

specific muscle weakness

negative reaction to coffee

... and more than 60 others

Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause

A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of swollen feet:

Cause	Probability	Status
Eclampsia / Preeclampsia	91%	Confirm
Hormone Imbalance	25%	Unlikely
Excess Water Consumption	13%	Unlikely
Nephrotic Syndrome	1%	Ruled out
Thrombophlebitis	0%	Ruled out
PMS H	0%	Ruled out
Liver Congestion	0%	Ruled out
Edema	0%	Ruled out

* This is a simple example to illustrate the process

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

If you indicate edema, The Analyst™ will ask further questions including this one:

Do you have edema of the feet? To rate its severity, press firmly with a finger for 5 seconds and note the approximate depth of the indentation or length of time to return to normal.

Possible responses:

→ No / don't know
→ Slight: 5mm (1/4 inch) depth, immediate return
→ Minor: 8-10mm (1/2 inch) depth, 10-15 seconds
→ Moderate: 11-20mm (3/4 inch) depth, 15-30 seconds
→ Severe: Over 20mm (1 inch) depth, over 30 seconds

Based on your response to this question, which may indicate edema of the feet, The Analyst™ will consider possibilities such as:

Congestive Heart Failure

Due to weakened heart muscles, blood supply to the kidneys may be reduced, which in turn impairs their ability to excrete salt and water. As a result the body retains more fluid, some of which may accumulate in the extremities, resulting in edema of the ankles and/or feet.

Alcohol-related Problems

Excessive alcohol intake can cause edema.

Anorexia / Starvation Tendency

Semi-starvation can cause edema. People with eating disorders may interpret the puffiness of edema or any changes on the scale as weight gain or getting "fat" and may panic and purge or take laxatives even more.

Aspartame/Neotame Side-Effects

Angioedema or swelling of the eyelids, lips, hands or feet are listed as possible reactions to aspartame.

Atrophic Gastritis

Edema may be due to low levels of circulating proteins from poor protein digestion.

Eclampsia / Preeclampsia

Excess Water Consumption

Hormone Imbalance

Hormones regulate the amount of interstitial fluid surrounding our body's cells. A hormone imbalance can result in too much interstitial fluid, and thus edema.

Hypothyroidism

Kidney Disease

Liver Detoxification / Support Requirement

Premenstrual Syndrome PMS H (Headache)

Progesterone Low or Estrogen Dominance

Progesterone has been used in the treatment of idiopathic edema under the premise that some women with idiopathic edema either do not ovulate or have a luteal phase deficiency.

Ovarian function was investigated in 30 women with postural idiopathic edema by measuring plasma estradiol and progesterone levels between the 21st and 23rd days of the menstrual cycle. Plasma progesterone concentrations were found to be lower than 5ng/ml in 53% of the cases and lower than 10ng/ml in 83%. The ovarian dysfunction most frequently observed was inadequate corpus luteum, i.e. progesterone deficiency with normal plasma estradiol levels. In virtually all patients the initial disorder in capillary permeability, as evaluated by Landis' test, was fully corrected by progesterone administered orally. However, clinical improvement was less marked with treatments of short duration (2-3 consecutive cycles). In view of the complex cause of the disease, combined treatments in which progesterone might well play the major role are usually required. [Presse Med 1983 Dec 10;12(45): pp.2859-62 (translated)]

Protein Deficiency

When protein (especially albumin) levels in your blood go too low, the colloidal osmotic pressure will decrease and allow fluid to escape from blood vessels into your tissues, resulting in edema or swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, knees and/or belly.

Nephrotic Syndrome

Nutritional Deficiency

Phlebitis / Thrombophlebitis

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