Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Doctors Explain Common Causes of Leg and Foot Swelling
Legs and feet can swell for many different reasons.
Sometimes it happens after sitting or standing for a long time.
Eating a lot of salt, being inactive, heat, an injury, or obesity can also contribute.
Swelling may sometimes be linked to problems with the veins, heart, kidneys, or liver.
Some women notice fluid retention before their periods.
Certain hormone medicines can also cause swelling.
If swelling keeps happening or has no clear explanation, a doctor should check it.
It should not automatically be dismissed as a hormone issue.
Leg and foot swelling, also called peripheral oedema, can have harmless or serious causes.
Prolonged standing or sitting, high salt intake, obesity, heat, injury, and inactivity can cause swelling.
Swelling can also be associated with problems involving the veins, heart, kidneys, or liver.
Some women experience fluid retention before their periods; oestrogen-containing contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy can also cause swelling.
Doctors advise medical evaluation for persistent or unexplained swelling and caution against assuming it is hormonal.
- Who
- Doctors Dr. Chobdar, Dr. Bhandari, and Dr. Palshetkar discuss leg and foot swelling.
- What
- The discussion explains possible causes of swelling and advises evaluation when it is persistent or unexplained.
- Why
- Swelling can result from everyday factors, hormonal factors, or problems involving the veins, heart, kidneys, or liver.
- Medical term
- Peripheral oedema
- Everyday causes mentioned
- Prolonged standing or sitting, excess salt, obesity, heat, injury, and inactivity
- Possible associated conditions
- Problems involving the veins, heart, kidneys, or liver
- Hormonal factors mentioned
- Fluid retention before periods, oestrogen-containing contraceptives, and hormone replacement therapy
- When to seek evaluation
- When swelling is persistent or unexplained