If you’re living with heart failure, you’re likely on the lookout for any related symptoms, such as chest pain or shortness of breath. However, one symptom that’s less well known involves what some people call “leaking legs” — fluid seeping from the skin of swollen legs.

If you’ve noticed edema (swelling) in one or both legs, be sure to talk to your doctor — particularly if you have fluid leaking into the skin. Leaking legs can be a serious complication of edema and need to be treated as soon as possible.

Read on to learn more about edema, how it can lead to leaking legs, and what you can do to manage it.

What Are Leaking Legs?

Leaking legs are a result of peripheral edema, a type of swelling due to too much fluid building up in the lower legs (or other parts of the body). Peripheral edema is a common symptom of heart failure. If it isn’t managed well, fluid can build up and leak through the skin. This is known as lymphorrhea and sometimes called “leaky legs.”

Leaking legs are a result of peripheral edema, a type of swelling due to too much fluid building up in the lower legs.

Common symptoms of peripheral edema include:

• Sensations of heaviness in the legs
• Puffy or swollen leg tissue
• Stretched skin or skin that appears to dent after being pressed (also called pitting)

Many MyHeartDiseaseTeam members have experienced peripheral edema. One member wrote, “After being up for about an hour, my ankles would start to swell and, by evening, they’d be grossly swollen.”

Another said, “I can’t get rid of the fluid retention in my legs.”

Leaky or “weepy” legs need prompt medical attention. Left untreated, the fluid can cause open wounds that don’t heal or lead to cellulitis — a bacterial infection that can become serious or even life-threatening.

“Swelling of feet and legs with a weeping sore of one leg. The cardiologist said it is a combination of venous insufficiency and congestive heart failure. Going to the wound care clinic,” a MyHeartDiseaseTeam member shared.

How Does Heart Failure Cause Leaking Legs?

Peripheral edema — and possible leaking through the skin — can be caused by issues with the heart itself, problems with the kidneys, certain medications that help treat heart disease, or other unrelated factors and conditions.

Peripheral edema — and possible leaking through the skin — can be caused by issues with the heart itself, problems with the kidneys, certain medications that help treat heart disease, or other unrelated factors and conditions.

Problems With the Heart

When it comes to heart failure, the heart may not be pumping blood as well as it should. This can cause swelling because blood builds up in the legs, feet, and ankles.

Cardiomyopathy, a condition commonly linked to heart failure, can also cause issues with the heart’s ability to pump blood. In people with cardiomyopathy, the heart muscle is damaged and can’t pump blood efficiently. This can cause symptoms such as swelling in the legs.

There are several types of cardiomyopathy, including:

• Dilated cardiomyopathy — The heart chambers become enlarged and weakened.
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) — The heart muscle, especially in the left ventricle (the heart’s main pumping chamber), becomes thick.

Kidneys Holding on to Water

In heart failure, when the heart’s ability to pump blood decreases, the kidneys are also affected. As a result, the kidneys hold on to water. When the body holds more water, some can leak out of blood vessels and pool in the lower legs and, as a result, lead to swelling and leaking.

Heart Medications

Some treatment options for heart disease may cause peripheral edema as a side effect. This includes drugs that treat high blood pressure and corticosteroids, which are sometimes used to treat myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) or other conditions.

Calcium channel blockers are a class of blood pressure medications that are well known for causing peripheral edema. These medications work by relaxing the arteries, which carry blood away from the heart. When these blood vessels dilate (expand), they hold more fluid. That extra fluid can leak into surrounding tissues, causing swelling and, in some cases, leaking legs.

If you think a medication might be causing your legs to swell or leak, talk to your healthcare provider. They can help you adjust your treatment plan if needed.

What Other Conditions Are Linked to Peripheral Edema?

Swollen legs — with or without leaking fluids — may have causes other than heart disease or heart medications. If you have peripheral edema, your doctor may consider other risk factors, such as:

• Autoimmune disorders like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis
• Chemotherapy
• Inflammation following an injury to the leg, such as a sprain or burn
• Chronic kidney disease
• Pregnancy
• Long periods of standing or sitting
• Certain pain relievers, including naproxen
• Venous insufficiency, an issue in which blood has difficulty flowing back up from the legs to the heart

Can You Prevent Leaking Legs?

You can take steps to help relieve the pain and swelling associated with peripheral edema before it worsens and causes leaking legs.

Talk to your doctor about how to manage symptoms of swollen legs. They may suggest some of the following management techniques:

• Engaging in exercise or other forms of physical activity to help pump fluid back toward the heart
• Reducing sodium (salt) in your diet, which may lower fluid retention
• Raising your swollen leg above your heart, particularly when lying down or sleeping
• Taking a diuretic (sometimes referred to as a water pill), a type of medication that helps your body get rid of extra fluid
• Wearing compression stockings, which gently apply pressure to the legs to help prevent fluid buildup

Importantly, compression stockings aren’t safe for everyone. People with poor circulation or peripheral artery disease may be at risk. Always ask your doctor before using compression stockings, and make sure to wear them as recommended.

“Feet elevated and wearing compression socks. Swelling has decreased considerably today,” a MyHeartDiseaseTeam member wrote.

When Should You Talk to Your Doctor if Your Legs Are Leaking?

If you have swelling in your legs that gets worse or starts to leak fluid through the skin, it’s important to get medical advice right away. Leaking legs can be a sign that peripheral edema is progressing and may lead to serious complications if not treated promptly.

One member described their experience with treating leaky legs: “Because of my congestive heart failure, my legs are carrying a lot of fluid, so much so that the fluid has nowhere to go but up through my skin. What the wound clinic is doing now is putting compression wraps on both legs and having me elevate them above my heart one hour at a time. Unfortunately, more ulcers (blisters) appeared since Monday, and the sore is now wrapping around my ankle.”

“Because of my congestive heart failure, my legs are carrying a lot of fluid, so much so that the fluid has nowhere to go but up through my skin.”

— A MyHeartDiseaseTeam member

Getting early treatment can help prevent infection, reduce discomfort, and protect your skin from further damage. Your doctor can recommend a plan tailored to your needs.

When Is Swelling a Medical Emergency?

Certain types of swelling need immediate medical attention. If you experience swelling in your chest, along with shortness of breath, chest pain, or tightness, seek emergency care right away. These may be signs of pulmonary edema (fluid buildup in the lungs), which can be life-threatening if not treated quickly.

If you experience swelling in your chest, along with shortness of breath, chest pain or tightness, seek emergency care right away.

Swelling in the legs can also signal a medical emergency. If your leg becomes swollen after sitting for a long time — such as after a long flight or car ride — you may have deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot in the leg. One leg being more swollen than the other is a common sign of DVT. This condition requires prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent serious complications.

Let your doctor know right away if you notice these symptoms, or go to the nearest emergency room for care.

Join the Conversation

On MyHeartDiseaseTeam, people share their experiences with heart disease, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

Have you experienced swollen or leaking legs? Let others know in the comments below.