Swelling: Prevention
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Prevention
The following tips may help prevent swelling.
- Do not sit with your feet hanging down for long periods of time. Elevate your feet whenever possible. If you take a car trip, stop and walk around every 1 to 2 hours. If you are traveling in an airplane, be sure to get up and walk around every 1 to 2 hours.
- Limit the amount of salt in your diet.
- Exercise regularly. Warm up and stretch before exercising.
- Drink plenty of fluids, and keep your skin cool in hot environments.
- Avoid repetitive motions, or take frequent breaks often to rest a body area.
- Take medicines as instructed. If swelling occurs often, discuss with your doctor whether taking your medicine at another time of day would decrease the swelling.
- Do not smoke cigarettes or use other tobacco products. They increase circulation problems.
If you have a chronic medical condition or are pregnant, follow your doctor's instructions on how to prevent swelling and when to call to report your symptoms.
| Last updated: | October 03, 2008 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS |
| Reviewed By: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer |
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