What Causes Your Feet To Swell When You Sit For Prolonged Time?

A lot of people experience swelling in their feet when they sit for prolonged periods of time. It happens when excess fluid accumulates in the cells and tissues of the feet which causes discomfort, pain and also difficulty in walking. This could happen due to various reasons. If you’re someone who suffers from the issue, it is important that you seek medical advice since this could also be a sign of major health issues like diabetes or heart disease. Therefore, you shouldn’t ignore if you have swollen feet.

Here, take a look at the different reasons that might cause your feet to swell when sitting for a prolonged period of time.

Gravity
When you sit for prolonged periods of time, gravity can cause your blood to flow to your lower extremities, especially in your feet and legs. This can cause pressure within the blood vessels, pushing out fluids into the surrounding cells and tissues. This eventually causes swelling or oedema.
Poor Circulation
When you sit for a long time, especially in constricted positions, it can affect the way the blood returns to the heart. This poor circulation can cause blood to accumulate in the veins of your feet and legs, thereby, increasing pressure within the veins and causing. This eventually causes the swelling.
Excess Salt
Consuming foods that are high in sodium can lead to water retention, which can aggravate swelling in the body. When you sit for a prolonged period of time, it affects your body’s ability to manage fluid balance, thereby, causing swelling in the body. This is also called salt-induced water retention.
Heart Conditions
Heart diseases, such as congestive heart failure, can affect the heart’s ability to circulate blood. When the heart doesn’t pump blood, fluid can back up in the legs and feet, causing swelling.
Kidney Disease
The kidneys play an important role in balancing fluid and electrolytes in the body. Kidney diseases can affect this balance, leading to fluid retention, which causes swelling in the feet and ankles, which becomes worse when you sit for a long time.
Liver Disease
Liver diseases like cirrhosis can lead to a decrease in the production of albumin, which is important for maintaining blood pressure and keeping fluid in the vessels. Low albumin levels can lead to fluid leakage into the surrounding cells and tissue, causing swelling.
Blood Clots
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a serious condition in which blood clots form in the deep veins of the legs. This blocks the flow of blood and causes swelling in the legs. Sitting for prolonged periods can increase the risk of DVT, thereby causing swelling.
Pregnancy
During pregnancy, there are hormonal changes and the increased size of the uterus can add pressure on veins in the pelvis, affecting blood flow from the lower limbs. This effect increases when you’re sitting for extended periods, causing swelling in the feet and ankles.
Medications
Certain medications, such as steroids and NSAIDs can cause swelling in the feet and legs. These medicines can affect kidney function and fluid balance or directly cause vascular leakage.