Introduction
Water in the feet is a multifaceted phenomenon that can be triggered by a variety of causes. Harmless processes can cause water in the feet, but not infrequently a serious illness can also be behind it. The medical term for water in tissue is edema.
In order to understand how oedemas occur, one must briefly consider the transport routes of body water. In adults, water accounts for about 65% of body weight and is found mainly in the cells of the body and in the blood, which is about 50% water. Through the vascular system, the water is transported to all places in the body and is pressed out of the capillaries to a certain extent to supply the cells.
Excess water is in turn transported away via the veins or lymphatic vessels. If the pressure in the vessel is too high or if the transport is disturbed, water will enter the tissue. Water in the feet can be caused on the one hand by local processes that take place on the foot, on the other hand there are also general phenomena that lead to water in the feet.
Causes
The cause for the formation of water in the feet is always either too high pressure in the blood vessel, so that more water is pressed into the tissue, or a disturbed removal via the veins or lymph. A right ventricle that pumps too weakly impedes the return of blood to the heart, which then accumulates on the arms and legs. Together with gravity, which pulls the water down while standing, this causes water in the feet.
Diseases of the leg veins, in which the veins are overloaded or blocked (leg vein thrombosis), are also the cause of foot edema. Restricted kidney function can also lead to water in the legs, as the body cannot excrete excess water. It is also not uncommon for pregnant women to complain about water in their feet. A number of drugs (cortisone, calcium antagonists) can be responsible for swelling of the feet as a side effect. Furthermore, malignant diseases such as cancer can damage the lymphatic vessels, which also results in water in the feet.
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