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Other causes of swollen legs
Diabetes and fat legs
Among the possible other causes of swollen legs are in the first place to call diabetes diseases, with the occurring in the course of diabetes vascular damage are considered relevant triggers. For example, in diabetes patients, so-called ischemic edema (fluid deposits due to circulatory disorders), which usually occurs as swelling on both legs, is sometimes shown. In principle, diabetes can lead to swelling in the area of the legs in different ways, but in most cases damage to the blood vessels due to high blood sugar levels plays an essential role. For example, diabetics tend to develop atherosclerosis because of the usually high blood pressure associated with them. High blood sugar is also a risk of developing thrombosis. Many diabetics also suffer from impaired kidney function, which can also lead to fluid deposits in the legs. Furthermore, swelling of the legs may also be complications of diabetes related damage to the nerves, skin ulcers, and infections. Also, the swelling may be part of the so-called diabetic foot syndrome, a serious sequelae of diabetes, which often requires amputation of the foot.
Edema due to metabolic disorders
General disorders of the metabolism are another possible cause of the fat legs. The metabolic disorders prevent impairment of the protein, water and mineral balance the orderly fluid exchange in the body, which can lead to fluid retention in the legs. However, the metabolic disorder may also manifest as a fat distribution disorder, which, for example, excessive fat deposits on the hips, the so-called lipoedema, the result. Here, the legs are often particularly sensitive to pain or pressure and are prone to hematomas. The altered fatty tissue tends in the further course of the disease due to impaired capillary function also to increased fluid retention. In addition, due to the increased susceptibility to inflammation over time, the lymphatic system may be compromised, which further favors the development of edema on the legs.
Thick legs due to arthritis
Swelling of the leg around the joints (usually knees or ankles) can sometimes be attributed to joint inflammation. The best known form of inflammatory joint disease is arthritis. The affected joints appear reddened, show overheating and swell (so-called joint effusion). Most arthritis is also associated with pain in the joints, which increase under exercise. Also, the general ability to move and load the joints is limited. The affected persons are prone to a protective posture in which the affected joint is loaded or moved as little as possible. Although the arthritis-related swellings on the joints of the legs remain rather unremarkable, they are relatively easy to palpate on the knee or ankle. The arthritis can be due to rheumatic diseases, past infectious diseases (eg Lyme disease) or metabolic diseases. Also, an acute symptomatology is possible by bacteria in the joints, this so-called purulent, bacterial arthritis due to the significant health risk immediately requires medical care.
In addition, chronic inflammation of the joints can lead to the formation of cysts, which are called baker cysts in the region of the knee joint. The inflammatory processes in this case have an increased production of synovial fluid, which causes an increase in pressure in the knee joint, which in turn can lead to protuberances of the joint capsule, which appear as a Baker cyst. While the symptoms of Baker's cyst usually focus on the area of the knee, bursting or tearing the cyst can cause swelling of the lower leg or the entire leg. In the case of a ruptured Baker's cyst, the so-called compartment syndrome also threatens. The increase in pressure associated with the swelling leads to circulatory disorders and damage to the blood vessels, muscles and nerves. At worst, the consequences can be significant neuromuscular damage and death of the tissue.
Swollen legs due to allergic reactions
Sudden leg swelling may also be due to an allergic reaction, which can be triggered by a variety of causes such as insect bites, certain foods or the ingredients of shower gel, creams and shampoo. Redness, swelling and itching of the skin are typical signs of an allergic reaction. Most common are so-called contact allergies, which are due to contact of the skin with substances such as nickel, perfume, cobalt, formaldehyde, chromium. Contact allergies often affect people who come into contact with the corresponding substances in their everyday work. Contact dermatitis is often the result of contact allergy. However, more severe allergic reactions are more often the result of insect bites, food allergies or so-called inhalant allergens (respiratory allergens). In allergic edema of the legs, the swelling is usually caused by the release of the messenger histamine, which affects the permeability of the blood vessels and thus causes the water retention in the tissue.
Side effects of drugs and alcohol
Fat legs may also be the result of improper or long-term drug use, such as certain anti-inflammatory drugs, high blood pressure, or cortisone-containing medicines. Above all, medicines that have an effect on the vessels and the metabolism may bring the pressure ratio of the body fluids out of balance and thus cause fluid retention in the legs. The swellings occur here more often in the area of the feet and ankles, but also the whole leg can be affected at times. Hormone supplements (such as hormone therapies during menopause, contraceptives), hair restorers, laxatives and diuretics are also mentioned in the drugs that are taken in conjunction with edema on the legs. The sometimes negative effect of diuretics and laxatives is based on an intervention in the water-salt budget. The prolonged, uncontrolled use or incorrect dosage of the remedies entails significant impairments of the water-salt balance, as a result of which the pressure conditions of the body fluids get mixed up and fluid retention in the legs can form. Also, the potential effects of the drugs on the protein and mineral concentrations in the body, may affect the removal of fluid from the tissues and thus promotes the formation of edema.
While in the drugs, especially the long-term consequences can cause swollen legs, in alcohol immediately after admission, an expansion of the blood vessels is noted, which can cause swelling of the feet and ankles. At the same time urinary excretion is increased and more fluid is released via the sweat glands. In addition, increased consumption of alcohol causes long-term damage to the liver (alcohol is a cytotoxin), which in turn can cause swelling in the legs.
Unhealthy lifestyle
Unhealthy habits, which can be the cause of fat legs, are primarily related to diet and physical activity. For example, exercise and nutritional deficiencies can promote or even cause the formation of edema. A typical consequence of lack of exercise is the impaired function of the cardiovascular system, which in turn adversely affects the circulation and thus can lead to swelling of the legs. Also, a lack of physical exercise in conjunction with unhealthy eating habits favors the development of obesity. The increased fat deposits and the associated vascular damage can subsequently also result in swollen legs.
With regard to the fat legs, a possible lack of protein in the diet plays a special role. Special proteins such as albumin have a significant influence on the regulation of the pressure ratios of body fluids. In the absence of the required proteins, the balance of body fluids gets out of balance and between the cells fluid accumulates in the tissue. This phenomenon, also referred to as protein deficiency edema, may also be due to a lack of protein intake via the diet. Chronic malnutrition, eating disorders (such as anorexia) and disturbed uptake of proteins via the intestine (for example, chronic inflammatory bowel disease) are thus sometimes triggers the swollen legs. These are often accompanied by a fluid-related protein deficiency of fluid retention in the abdomen (hunger edema) and on the eyelid. However, the protein deficiency can not only point to nutritional deficiencies, but may also be due to the increased protein consumption of a cancer or chronic inflammation. Therefore, a medical examination should be urgently followed to exclude more serious health risks.
Tumors and paralysis after a stroke
In general, cancer must be considered as a possible trigger of the swollen legs, but in the rarest cases a tumor is actually the cause of the fat legs. In tumors, the swelling of the legs is initially localized in the area of the actual cancer. The swelling is usually accompanied by pain and can subsequently lead to significant damage to the surrounding tissue. Since the veins and vessels are affected in this way, threatens a backwater of the blood and the increased formation of edema in the further course of the disease. One of the most common cancers in the leg area is the development of bone cancer in the knee. In addition to the tumors, paralyzes such as after a stroke are among the rather rare causes of swollen legs. Due to the persistent muscle paralysis, edema develops over time, which can spread from the foot over the ankle and lower leg to the whole leg.
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Diagnosis of swollen legs
Treatment of fat legs