Sign 3: Swelling in Legs, Ankles, and Feet
When our body is functioning properly, we hardly give a second thought to the complex network of blood vessels running through us, carrying essential nutrients to our body’s nooks and crannies. However, when something goes awry, such as in the case of cardiomyopathy, some symptoms might start to appear, one of them being swelling in your legs, ankles, and feet.
Edema, or swelling, often starts subtly, making it easy to ignore or attribute to other less serious conditions. You might notice your shoes are feeling a bit tight or there’s a slight puffiness in your ankles at the end of the day. However, with cardiomyopathy, this swelling is persistent and tends to get worse as the day goes on.
This swelling occurs due to a backlog of blood in your veins. As your heart struggles to pump efficiently due to cardiomyopathy, blood doesn’t flow as freely as it should. As a result, fluid can build up in your tissues, causing noticeable swelling. It’s not limited to your legs, ankles, and feet, either. Some people might notice swelling in the abdomen or even notice weight gain.
If you’ve noticed unexplained, persistent swelling, it’s worth bringing up with your healthcare provider. While it could be due to several other reasons, ruling out cardiomyopathy could potentially catch the disease in its early stages. (3)
