Why do my calves swell

I believe many people have had the problem of swollen calves. There are many reasons for swollen calves. For example, problems with internal organs such as the lungs, spleen, and kidneys may cause calf swelling. In addition to going to the hospital for appropriate treatment, patients can also relieve the symptoms of swelling by often standing on tiptoe, kicking shuttlecock, lowering the upper body, etc. Below, we will introduce to you the causes, solutions and dietary precautions of calf swelling!

1. Causes of calf edema

There are many factors that cause calf edema. According to traditional Chinese medicine, lung deficiency, spleen deficiency, and kidney deficiency can all lead to edema. From the classification point of view, there are cardiogenic, renal, hepatic, malnutrition, etc. Edema caused by spleen deficiency is particularly manifested in the legs. If the depression does not recover easily when pressed, if you lose appetite, and have a dull complexion, you should strengthen your spleen and eliminate dampness.

Therefore, it is recommended to consider five aspects. The first is to rule out chronic nephritis. Relevant examinations can include urine routine test, 24-hour urine protein quantification, etc. The second is to rule out heart reasons, comprehensively consider whether climbing stairs is strenuous, and do electrocardiogram, cardiac B-ultrasound and other examinations. The third is to rule out liver problems. Poor liver function can also cause hypoproteinemia and edema. Blood can be drawn to check liver function. Fourth, rule out endocrine problems, such as hypothyroidism. This can be done by drawing blood to check T3 and T4. Low T4 and normal T3 can be considered one of the indicators for early diagnosis of hypothyroidism.

2. How to eliminate calf edema

Stand on tiptoe often: This trick can make your calves longer and prevent them from becoming short and ugly due to sitting or standing for long periods of time. Stand with your chest up and abdomen in, and raise your arms to the sides at shoulder height, palms facing outward. Slowly stand on tiptoe and draw circles outward with your palms at the same time. Hold for 5 seconds and then slowly lower your heels. Repeat 15 to 20 times.

Kicking shuttlecock: Open your feet shoulder-width apart and lift one leg up to your waist, just like kicking shuttlecock. The knee of the other leg should be slightly bent at this time. When you lift your left leg, clap it with your right hand and place your left hand naturally on your waist. Vice versa. Repeat 30 times for each leg.

Lower your upper body: Sit on the ground with your legs straight, and bend one leg and place it on top of the thigh of the other leg. Then lower your upper body as far as possible, bringing your chest as close to your legs as possible. At this time, hold the toes of the straightened legs with both hands and hold for 30 seconds. Alternate legs and do 10 times each.

3. Dietary considerations for calf edema

1. Vitamin E helps remove edema

Poor blood circulation can easily lead to swelling of the feet. Foods containing vitamin E can help speed up blood circulation, prevent leg muscle relaxation, etc. Foods rich in vitamin E include almonds, peanuts, wheat germ, etc.

2. Vitamin B group accelerates metabolism

Vitamin B1 can convert sugar into energy, while B2 can accelerate the metabolism of fat. Eat more foods rich in vitamin B, such as mushrooms, sesame seeds, tofu, peanuts, spinach, etc.

3. Eat less salt to reduce edema

Eating salty foods regularly can easily cause excess water to accumulate in the body, leading to edema, which tends to accumulate in the calves. In addition to reducing salt absorption in your diet, you can also eat more foods containing potassium, because potassium helps excrete excess salt from the body. Foods containing potassium include tomatoes, bananas, potatoes, celery, etc.