What are the causes of calf swelling?

Edema in certain parts of the body often occurs. When there is edema in the calves, mild cases may cause discomfort in movement, while severe cases may cause restricted movement and inability to walk. There are many reasons for calf edema, such as kidney disease, high venous pressure, etc.

Renal edema

In patients with acute nephritis, chronic nephritis or kidney disease, due to reduced renal blood flow, sodium and water retention, increased capillary permeability, and excessive protein loss in the urine, the plasma colloidal osmotic pressure will be reduced, causing fluid accumulation in the tissue spaces and causing edema.

Cardiac edema. When right heart failure occurs in various heart diseases, venous blood cannot return smoothly, causing increased pressure in the veins, and body fluids leak into the tissue spaces, causing edema.

Hepatic edema. Factors such as liver damage in cirrhosis, obstruction of portal vein return, increased portal vein pressure, and low plasma albumin in liver failure can cause edema.

Localized lower extremity edema

It is mostly caused by obstruction of the veins and lymphatic vessels in the lower limbs, resulting in the entry of body fluids into the tissue spaces. It may be caused by thrombophlebitis of the lower limbs, lymphangitis, filariasis, or compression of the veins by pelvic or lower limb tumors.

Idiopathic edema is more common in women, the cause is unknown, and it may be related to hormone metabolism in the body.

It can be seen that there are many reasons for leg swelling. It may be a symptom of systemic disease or one of the symptoms of local disease in the lower limbs. Therefore, you must go to the hospital for a comprehensive examination to find out the cause before you can carry out reasonable treatment.