What Are Cankles: Cause, Treatment And Prevention
One of the most common questions on the internet nowadays is, what are cankles. It is a term used to describe feet that have no distinction between the calves and the ankle. The lack of definition between the calf and the ankle is known as Cankles. Having cankles doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s a bad thing or a medical condition. Some people have natural cankles, while in most cases, the reason for cankles is an underlying health condition. In this blog, we will have a look into the factors that cause cankles, their treatment and how you can prevent them. So let’s get started.
Causes Of Canckles
After knowing what are cankles, we should have a look at the factors that cause cankles. There are many things that can cause cankles. Some of the most common causes include:
- Genetics
- An Underlying Health Condition
- Factors that may cause your ankles to swell
Now, let’s have a look at all three of these causes individually.
Genetics
If you are wondering what are crackles causes, genetics is the first thing to consider. Genetics plays a vital role in our body. It can affect the shape and size of your calves and ankles. Some people naturally have bigger bones, tendons, and muscles that can give your ankles the appearance of Cankles. However, you don’t have to worry if your cankle is genetic.
Health Conditions
There are a whole host of underlying health conditions that can cause cankles in your ankles. Some of the most prominent health diseases include:
Obesity: As we mentioned above, your ankles bear your whole weight, and carrying excess weight can cause your ankles to swell up and give the appearance of Cankles.
Diabetes: You might know that diabetes can cause problems with our blood circulation. This causes the fluid to accumulate in your ankles and legs to give it an appearance of Cankles.
Infections: Any infection in your calves, ankles, or even thighs can cause your ankles to swell up, making them seem swollen.
Cellulitis: A common bacterial infection that usually happens near an open wound. This infection can cause redness and swelling in the affected part, which in this case can be your foot.
Venous Insufficiency: This is a condition where the valves at the end of your veins cannot efficiently send the blood back to your heart. This causes the blood to flow in the wrong direction and get pooled up in your legs and ankles.
Congested Heart Failure: This condition affects the Heart’s ability to pump blood into our bodies. This can cause blood to pool in your lower leg, calves, and ankles.
Deep Vein Thrombosis: The cause of this condition is a clot in our deep veins. This can cause redness and swelling in the affected area, which is, more often than not, your leg. This condition requires immediate attention.
Lipedema: Lipedema is a chronic disease that leads to improper fat distribution in the body. Lower body in particular.
Lymphedema: Lymphedema happens when our Lymphatic system starts malfunctioning and causes the lymph fluids to accumulate in your legs.
Kidney Problems: Kidneys are responsible for cleaning our blood and maintaining sodium and potassium levels. A set of malfunctioning kidneys can cause sodium to accumulate in your legs, giving them the appearance of Cankles.
Other Causes
Many other things can cause your ankles to swell up; some of them are:
Pregnancy: The hormonal change and carrying extra weight can cause your ankles to swell up.
Medications: Medications like birth control pills, hormone therapy drugs, steroids, and anti-depressants can swell up your ankles.
Insect Bites Or Stings: The little venom present in insect bites and stings can also cause your ankles to swell up.
Sitting or standing for too long: Sitting and standing for long periods can result in improper blood circulation, which can lead to swollen ankles.
Treatment For Cankles
Now that we know what are cankles and its cause, let’s have a look at some of their possible treatments. t the treatment of cankles depends solely on the underlying condition that is causing it. Some of the treatments include:
Diabetes: You should try medications like insulin to reduce your blood sugar level.
Venous Insufficiency: Wearing compression stockings can cause the blood to flow back to the heart and not get polled up in your feet.
Congested Heart Failure: You can use diuretics, which reduce fluid retention and help relax the blood vessels to promote blood flow.
Deep Vein Thrombosis: You should use anti-coagulants to prevent blood clot formation.
Lipedema: Proper diet and exercise are the best ways to get rid of excess fat from your body.
Cellulitis: Take appropriate antibiotics to fight the infections.
Hypothyroidism: Medications like levothyroxine can help replace the hormones made by the thyroid gland. You can also use coconut oil to cook your food to get rid of thyroid issues.
Prevention Of Cankles
There are a number of ways to prevent cankles if you don’t have a serious condition, in which case you will have to get your condition treated to red git of cankles. Some of the ways to prevent cankles include:
- Regular exercise to stay fit and promote blood circulation.
- Elevating feet while sitting and not sitting for a long period continuously.
- Should avoid wearing tight socks or footwear.
- Keep your feet clean and healthy to prevent any kind of infection.
- Wearing compression socks can also help with proper blood flow
Final Take
Cankles are not a medical condition on their own but rather a symptom of an underlying health condition. If you deal with cankles, make sure you visit a doctor to get a better diagnosis of the situation. We hope this blog answers your question ‘what are cankles’ and its causes and treatments. If you find this blog helpful, make sure to leave a comment to show your appreciation.