The human body relies on forces in nature to move, function, and develop properly; one such force is gravity. Our bodies need gravity for bone mass, balance, and blood flow. While gravity does act positively on our bodies, it can also result in swelling in our feet and ankles. How can it be essential for our health but at the same time cause undesired swelling in the body’s tissues? In this blog, we will learn how and why gravity can cause swelling in our feet and ankles. We will begin by learning about blood flow within the body.
Arterial and venous blood flow
There are two types of blood flow in the body, arterial and venous. It is the venous blood in our veins flow that can lead to swelling in the feet, ankles, and ankles.
There are little to no muscles in the walls of the veins. Veins rely solely on the surrounding muscles in the legs to pump the blood back up to the heart to be reoxygenated in the lungs. Walking and moving around actively contract and release these muscles and facilitate blood flow upwards. Sitting or standing still for long periods does not trigger the muscles to squeeze the veins. Therefore, making us more susceptible to swelling in our feet and ankles.
Understanding conditions
Gravity’s pull can cause fluid and blood to pool in our feet and around our ankles.
When this happens, it is similar to a stagnant pool of water. Aging, pregnancy, increased body weight and a sedentary lifestyle, for instance, contribute to how well the body resists a force like gravity when it comes to blood flow.
Swelling in the feet and ankles can also be caused by more serious conditions. For example, congestive heart failure, heart disease and blood clots are serious and potentially life-threatening conditions if not diagnosed and treated promptly.
When it comes to blood flow, conditions affecting the heart can cause an imbalance in supply and demand. If the heart is not functioning as it should, it may not be able to keep up with pumping blood through the body. Blood clots or blockages in the veins, known in the medical world as thrombus, will prevent blood flow altogether.
Depending on your health and personal circumstances, compression therapy can be beneficial. It works by mimicking the action of the leg muscles to squeeze the blood back up the leg to the heart. Staying active, exercising, and taking breaks from sitting while at work or at home can help blood flow. Compression Therapy is available as knee and thigh-high socks as well as a full pantyhose style.
