Why do elderly people have swollen feet?

Swollen feet is a very common phenomenon among our elderly friends. There are many reasons for swollen feet, but it is worth noting that in many cases, swollen feet among elderly friends is a precursor to many diseases. Therefore, we must take the problem of swollen feet among our friends seriously. So, what is the reason for swollen feet among elderly friends? Let’s take a look at the specific reasons and make preparations for the elderly in our families.

In our lives, many elderly friends do not pay attention to the problem of swollen feet, thinking that it is not a serious disease. By the time the disease occurs, it is often too late to treat it. The following are several specific reasons for swollen feet among elderly friends, you can learn about them.

There are several main reasons why the feet of the elderly are swollen:

There are two main reasons for swollen feet in the elderly: caused by organ aging, decreased function, or disease.

1. Some elderly people have a heavy taste and like to eat spicy and sour dishes, which leads to excessive sodium intake and causes edema. Therefore, the elderly should eat light dishes and more high-protein dishes, such as lean meat, chicken, fish, shrimp, eggs, etc.

2. Improper use of medication.

3. Local infection, such as beriberi.

4. Internal organ disease. In this case, swollen feet are just a symptom of the disease. Different diseases may cause edema in different ways. When heart disease causes chronic right heart failure, edema starts from the ankles of both lower limbs and gradually spreads to the whole body. In cirrhosis of the liver, swelling first occurs in the lower limbs, then ascites appears, and finally the whole body becomes swollen. Patients with kidney disease may also experience lower limb edema, but it usually starts with swelling of the eyelids or face and then spreads to the whole body. When patients wake up in the morning, they often find that their faces are swollen and their upper eyelids are swollen like "silkworms."

5. Long-term malnutrition and anemia will lead to hypoproteinemia and may also cause edema of the lower limbs and the whole body.

6. If elderly men suffer from prostate hypertrophy or prostatitis, and some elderly people suffer from bladder tumors, they will suffer from renal insufficiency due to urine retention, and eventually lower limb edema. After the edema occurs, they should go to the hospital to check the cause. Only by finding out the cause and treating it symptomatically can the disease be cured and the swelling disappear.

7. Slow blood circulation. Some elderly people like to curl up their feet, or their feet are bumped by something, which may cause poor blood circulation in the feet. In this case, it is recommended that the elderly raise their feet when resting and do some appropriate massage (using a massager is also a good choice). Some elderly people do not like to soak their feet, and their children can supervise them and help them soak their feet in warm water to promote blood circulation.

Swollen feet are a common phenomenon among the elderly and are easily underestimated. This neglect often delays the best time for treatment and causes serious consequences. Once elderly people experience swollen feet, they must go to the hospital for a comprehensive examination to find out the cause and receive timely treatment.

I believe that everyone should now have some understanding of the problem of swollen feet among the elderly. In our lives, for those friends who suffer from swollen feet problems in the elderly, we don’t have to panic. We can refer to the detailed introduction above to understand our own situation. For the sake of our health, we should go to the hospital as soon as possible to actively receive medical treatment.