Swollen ankles

Category: Chest, Heart & Circulation · All chest & heart symptoms

What it can feel like

Swollen ankles mean fluid has collected in the tissues around the ankles and feet, making shoes tight and sometimes leaving a pit when the skin is pressed. Ankles that swell during the day and settle overnight are common; persistent or one-sided swelling deserves a look.

Possible causes

A symptom can have many causes, and most are not serious. The lists below group conditions this symptom can be associated with — common causes first. They are possibilities to discuss with a clinician, not a diagnosis.

Common causes

Swollen ankles can be associated with standing or sitting for long periods, hot weather, pregnancy, being overweight, varicose veins, and medicines such as some blood pressure tablets.

Other possible causes

Persistent swelling can be associated with heart failure, kidney or liver problems, an underactive thyroid, or a problem with the veins or lymph drainage in the leg. Swelling in one leg only needs prompt assessment for a possible clot.

Red flags — when to seek help promptly

Swelling in one leg only, especially with calf pain or redness
Swollen ankles with breathlessness, especially lying flat or waking you at night
Rapid swelling over days with weight gain
Swelling with reduced urine output or frothy urine

What a clinician may do

A clinician will examine your legs, heart and lungs, check blood pressure, and usually arrange blood tests for kidney, liver and thyroid function, a urine test, and sometimes a heart tracing or ultrasound scan of the heart or leg veins.

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Frequently asked questions

Why do my ankles swell by evening and settle by morning?

Gravity pulls fluid down during the day, and lying flat redistributes it overnight. That daily pattern usually points to veins and posture rather than heart or kidney disease — but if the swelling stops settling, or breathlessness joins it, have it checked.

When is one swollen leg urgent?

A single newly swollen leg — particularly with calf ache, warmth or redness, or after a long journey, surgery or immobility — should be assessed the same day to exclude a deep vein clot.

Related symptoms — Chest, Heart & Circulation

Blue or pale lips Calf pain Chest pain Chest tightness Cold hands and feet Irregular heartbeat

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Please note: This page is educational information about a symptom. A symptom alone cannot diagnose any condition, and the causes listed here are possibilities, not a diagnosis. If you are worried about a symptom — especially one that is new, severe, getting worse or not going away — please see your own clinician, who can examine you and arrange tests. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.