What Is Your Body Telling You

My Weekly’s favourite GP from TV and radio writes for you

From cough to constipation, weight-loss to wheezing, we all get symptoms from time to time. Often it’s down to something that will settle on its own. But how do you know when a change in your body needs checking out?

Swollen ankles are common, especially towards the end of the day. Blood pumps round your body and needs to travel against gravity to get back from your feet to your heart. If you sit with your feet down or stand (rather than walk), the muscle pumps in your calves aren’t pushing the blood back up, so fluid can collect around your ankles. This is worse in hot weather and gets worse as the day goes on – it usually goes away when you lie flat.