Have you ever stepped off an airplane or arrived at home after a long day of walking or standing and noticed your ankles had doubled in size? Ankle swelling, also known as peripheral edema, refers to the accumulation of fluid in the ankles and can happen for a number of reasons. While ankle swelling doesn’t usually pose a significant health risk, it’s important to know when to see your doctor since swelling can be indicative of a more serious underlying problem.

Causes of ankle swelling

In addition to injury, ankle swelling can occur due to certain lifestyle conditions or medications including being overweight, standing for a long period of time, sitting in a car or airplane for an extended period of time, as well as taking certain antidepressants, blood pressure medications and steroids. Medical conditions or changes in your body can also cause ankle swelling. A woman’s menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and a blood clot or infection in the leg can result in fluid accumulation in the lower extremities.

How to treat and prevent ankle swelling

If you find that your ankles regularly swell up while you’re at home, try putting a pillow under your legs and keeping them elevated above your heart whenever you are lying down. To prevent ankle swelling in the future, implement a regular exercise regimen that keeps your legs moving and your heart pumping. Reducing your salt intake, maintaining a healthy body weight, and wearing compression socks can also help keep ankle swelling at bay. If you fly frequently for work or pleasure, make an effort to stand up and move around at regular intervals.

When you should see a doctor for ankle swelling

While ankle swelling can simply be the result of sitting on an airplane for too long or eating a lot of salty snacks, it can also be a sign of something more serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms along with ankle swelling it’s important to contact your doctor right away.

The swollen area feels warm to the touch or is red in color

• Your body temperature is higher than usual
• You are pregnant and the swelling is severe or sudden
• You have tried tips for at-home care without success
• The swelling is getting worse over time

Because the causes of ankle swelling are so varied, it can be a difficult condition to self-diagnose. If you’ve tried our tips for at-home care without success, we recommend making an appointment with your healthcare professional to identify and treat the underlying issue before the problem gets worse.