What Can Cause Swelling On Top Of The Foot?

Swelling on the top of the foot is not an unusual thing to happen, especially if an individual works on the feet all day long such as a greeter. There are various other causes that can cause swelling on the top of the foot. Some of these causes are quite common and minor like standing on the feet all day or traveling on a long flight while some others are signs of an indwelling medical condition which needs to be evaluated and treated.

Some of the potential causes for pain at the top of the foot are:

Air Travel: Air Traveling requires an individual to sit for prolonged periods of time especially if the flight is intercontinental. This results in blood being accumulated on the top of the feet causing it to swell up. Crossing your legs for a long period of time also can cause swelling on the top of the foot for the same reason. It is recommended that if an individual is on a long airplane trip that he or she gets up from the seat every hour or so and moves up and down the aisle and stretches the legs so that there is proper circulation in the legs and the top of the foot does not swell up.

Some of the other things that an individual can do before a long flight is restrict salt intake as it causes fluid buildup which may in turn lead to swelling on the top of the feet due to fluid accumulation. Also, during the flight the individual should make sure to drink enough liquids to keep hydrated as dehydration may lead to swelling on the top of the foot. In case if the swelling does not go down after landing even after a few hours then it may be a sign of a DVT and the individual should go to the healthcare provider for a checkup.

Foot Injury: This is yet another cause for swelling on the top of the feet. Foot injury can result in fluid coming out of blood vessels causing accumulation of fluids in the feet resulting in swelling on the top of the feet. A foot sprain or even a fracture of the foot might result in swelling on the top of the foot.

Swelling on the top of the foot can also occur as a result of increased synovial fluid in the joint. This may occur as a result of irritation of the joint after an injury when the body starts producing more fluid than required for healing purposes.

Underlying Medical Conditions: Certain medical conditions can also at times cause swelling on the top of the foot. Cardiovascular issues are the foremost reason for development of swelling on the top of the foot. The heart may not be able to pump up enough blood resulting in the blood pooling on the feet and ankle causing swelling on the top of the foot.

Renal dysfunctions can also cause swelling on top of the foot. The function of the kidney is to remove toxins and other waste material out of the body through urine. If there is a renal dysfunction there is fluid build up in the body which tends to accumulate in the feet and cause swelling on the top of the foot.

Side Effects of Medication: Certain medications also have a side effect profile of swelling of the lower extremities, including the top of the foot. This is because of the medication causing fluid retention. An antiinflammatory medication is known to cause fluid retention if used chronically. Hypertensive medications, hormone supplements and antidepressants are also known to cause swelling on the top of the foot.

Pregnancy: This is yet another cause for swelling on the top of the foot in females. In fact, swelling on the top of the foot during pregnancy is a part of the pregnancy and is not a cause for concern. The reason behind this is that the added weight of the fetus causes more pressure on the foot resulting in swelling on the top of the foot. Some of the hormones related to pregnancy also lead to fluid retention causing swelling on the top of the foot.

Other than the pertinent causes mentioned above there are also certain other causes which may cause swelling on the top of the foot. These causes are:

Cellulitis: This is a bacterial infection caused as a result of a break in the skin along the foot as a result of a scratch or injury to the foot. As the infection progresses, it results in swelling on the top of the foot. Antibiotics are the best way to clear the infection and resolve the swelling on the top of the foot.

Sedentary Lifestyle: if an individual leads a sedentary lifestyle and stays in one position for an extended period of time then it may also result in accumulation of fluid in the foot causing swelling on the top of the foot. It is highly recommended to walk around the house even if not doing anything and do some household chores like gardening or cleaning the yard to prevent swelling on the top of the feet.

Problems with Veins: If an individual has a problem with the veins of the lower extremities then the circulation to the lower extremities may be affected leading to pooling of blood in the feet causing swelling on the top of the feet.

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