Get emergency help now if…
- Get emergency help if swelling comes with breathlessness, chest pain/heaviness, coughing blood, faintness, confusion or clammy skin.
Contact a clinician today if…
- Contact a clinician today for unexplained swelling in one leg, sudden/painful swelling, warmth/redness, fever, or new foot swelling with diabetes.
Arrange a visit / follow-up
- Arrange a visit for mild swelling in both legs that persists; contact your team sooner with heart or kidney disease.
If symptoms worsen, your care plan gives an earlier deadline, or you are unsure, contact a clinician sooner. If you cannot reach your team, use urgent care; use emergency care for severe symptoms. Many conditions share symptoms. Possible causes are examples, not a diagnosis. Missing a listed warning sign does not mean it is safe to wait.
What could be behind this symptom?
Several conditions can cause the same symptom. These examples cannot confirm or rule out a diagnosis. A clinician may need your history, an examination, or tests.
Possible causes include vein problems, medicines, fluid build-up, infection or a blood clot.
What to tell your care team
Use paper or your own notebook. Do not send personal medical details through this website.
- Note one/both legs, onset, recent travel or surgery, weight changes and medicines.
Do not delay urgent care to fill in notes. Avoid changing prescription medicines based on this guide.
Adults, with extra care for some situations
For adults 18 and older. Children need advice from a pediatric care team. These pages do not assess your individual symptoms.
These guides are written for adults. Children need age-specific advice. Contact a clinician earlier if you are pregnant, gave birth in the last year, have weakened immunity, or have a serious ongoing condition. Tell them about recent surgery and any new medicines.
Pregnant or gave birth within the past year? Get medical care immediately for a severe or lasting headache, vision change, fainting, fever, chest pain, trouble breathing, severe belly pain, heavy bleeding, or a painful swollen leg. Tell the team about the pregnancy. For other new symptoms, contact your maternity team for tailored advice.
Pregnant or gave birth in the past year?Sources behind this original guide
Official references support this educational guide. Sources may open an external site in another language; the full English, Spanish, and Hindi guide is on this website.
- NHS: Swollen ankles, feet and legs
- NHS: Deep vein thrombosis
- MedlinePlus: Foot, leg and ankle swelling
Sources checked: · Medical and language review confirmed by the foundation · v1.0