Are Your Calves Swollen? These Could Be The Reasons

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Calves are an important part of our body. However, how many times have you bothered to pay attention to them? It is only when they swell up do we pay attention to them.

Also Read: Causes Of Leg Pain

Today in this article we shall discuss certain things that can leave your calves swollen. Read on to find out about these.

1. Excess Sodium Intake:

The first and most obvious reason why your calves are swollen is because you have been consuming too much sodium. When you eat too much of salt, it causes water retention and you end up bloated. It ends up drawing water from your arteries, veins and capillaries and this water ends up in your tissues.

Water shows up on your stomach, hands, face and your legs and your calves are the most affected as gravity pulls the water downwards. So the next time you head for a packet of chips, think about your calves.

2. Processed Foods:

Also, restaurant food contains a lot of salt. Hence, avoid restaurant food on a regular basis to prevent water retention. This can also be caused if you eat a lot of processed foods and are very fond of ketchup and salad dressings. These contain a lot of salt. Instead try to make your salad dressings and ketchup at home.

3. Sitting Or Standing For Long:

Those people who sit for a long period of time or who end up standing all day long can end up with swollen calves due to poor blood circulation. Hence, in order to improve blood circulation these people should walk around at frequent intervals or wear compression stockings to pull back blood upwards into the body. This can also happen when you are flying. So make sure to walk in the aisle whenever you can.

4. Deep Vein Thrombosis:

You can end up with swollen calves if you suffer from deep vein thrombosis. This results when you end up with blood clots in your veins.

5. Heart Problem:

Heart problems can also lead to swollen calves, when the heart is unable to pump the blood back to the heart properly.