Leg, ankle and foot swelling is often considered common and dismissed as nothing serious, citing its causes to be sitting too long, standing too long, eating a salty dinner, etc. However, persistent or increasingly serious swelling, which doctors refer to as ‘edema’, may warn of a serious issue such as kidney disease.

Dr Manas Ranjan Pradhan, Senior Consultant, Urologist, Manipal Hospital, Bhubaneshwar, explains, “The kidneys are essential to maintain the fluid balance in the body through filtration of waste and excess fluid from the blood. As kidney function falls, the body is unable to expel this excess fluid, and it accumulates in tissues—most commonly in the lower limbs. This causes evident swelling, which is most prominent around the ankles and feet.”