My ankles hurt and are swelling i don't wear heels why is this happening?

Heels do not : Necessarily cause ankle swelling. Varicose veins, or venous valve damage can cause swelling from a mechanical perspective. High blood pressure or cardiac abnormalities, kidney disease, side effects of medicine, too much salt in your diet are some of the reasons. You should see your internist for a history and physical.

Not shoe related: Swelling and pain in the ankles can be caused by multiple things such as diet, blood pressure, kidney function, circulation, nerves, injury, previous surgery...Basically many things. You need to see your primary doctor and jot down more info about when do you notice the swelling, does it every go down, when does it hurt, what is your diet, etc. Get checked.