Swollen ankles, feet and legs (oedema)

Swelling in the ankles, feet or legs often goes away on its own. See a GP if it does not get better in a few days.

Common causes of swollen ankles, feet and legs

Swelling in the ankles, feet and legs is often caused by a build-up of fluid in these areas, called oedema.

Oedema is usually caused by:

• standing or sitting in the same position for too long
• eating too much salty food
• being overweight
• being pregnant – read about swollen ankles, feet and fingers in pregnancy
• taking certain medicines – such as some blood pressure medicines, contraceptive pills, antidepressants or steroids

Oedema can also be caused by:

• an injury – such as a strain or sprain
• an insect bite or sting
• problems with your kidneys, liver or heart
• a blood clot
• an infection

Check if you have oedema

Symptoms of oedema include:

How to ease swelling yourself

Swelling should go away on its own, but there are some things you can try to help.

See a GP if your ankle, foot or leg is swollen and:

• it has not improved after treating it at home for a few days
• it gets worse

Call 999 if:

• you feel short of breath or are struggling to breathe
• your chest feels tight, heavy or painful

You could have a blood clot in your lungs, which needs immediate treatment in hospital.

Treatment for swelling and oedema

Treatment for swelling or oedema that does not go away on its own will depend on the cause.

It may include lifestyle changes, such as losing weight or going on a low-salt diet.