Swollen feet and legs, referred to medically as edema, occur when fluid is retained in the spaces between body cells. Edema typically affects the feet, ankles and lower legs, but can also impact any area of the body, causing systemic symptoms. Causes:
Ankleâbrachial pressure index - Interpretation of results. 1  In a normal subject the pressure at the ankle is slightly higher than at the elbow (there is reflection of the pulse pressure from the vascular bed of the feet, whereas at the elbow the artery continues on some distance to the wrist).
Try this at home. At your next doctorâs visit, ask to have your blood pressure checked in both arms. If thereâs a difference greater than 10 point, another test called the ankle-brachial index might be in order to check for peripheral artery disease. It might also be a good time to get serious about taking care of your heart and arteries. If you take your blood pressure at home, you can do it yourself. There are many good reasons to check your blood pressure at home. The result might be closer to your usual blood pressure than the result in a doctorâs office, and you might do a better job of measuring your blood pressure. Thatâs why the Harvard Heart Letter urges people to check their own. All it takes is a home blood pressure monitor, a few simple instructions, and a few minutes.