My mother has swollen ankles. Can it be peripheral edema?

Question

Hello doctor,

My mom has swollen ankles in her lower feet. The skin is stretchy and tight.

When you touch it, it is warm. Does she have edema?

Please suggest.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Yes, she has a sort of edema. It is fluid retention in the ankles. Take less salt and follow a low-sodium diet. Please get all the investigations done, like heart echo and blood tests, and kidney tests.

You may take a course of antibiotics and anti-inflammatories, as well as it may be infectious too, but it certainly is due to some circulation disturbance in the body.

Also, you may get her feet elevated when she lies on the bed and do not allow her feet in the upright position for a longer period of time. Get her thyroid, blood pressure (BP), and fasting blood sugar also checked.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.