My dad's feet are so puffy. Why?

Question

Hi doctor,

My dad is 83 years old. He keeps coughing up phlegm and sleeping all the time. He is cold and his feet are very swollen. His feet are so puffy and he feels difficult to wear shoes or walk. He weighs about 300 lbs. He is suffering from congestive heart failure. Currently, he is on Lisinopril for blood pressure, Potassium supplement and Furosemide for water retention and Cetirizine for allergy symptoms.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com. I understand your concerns regarding your father's health. Given the symptoms of increased swelling and cough, it is important to consider the possibility of depressed cardiac function, kidney dysfunction, or liver disease. If the swelling is increasing; even after his initial doctor's visit, it is advisable to have him seen again sooner rather than later. Further testing and evaluation would be necessary to assess the extent of the swelling and determine the underlying cause.

Considering the fluid pill (Furosemide) he is currently taking, the dosage may need adjustment or an increase to effectively manage the swelling. It is also worth noting that Lisinopril can commonly cause a dry, hacking cough as a side effect. In this case, it would be beneficial to switch to a similar medication called Losartan, which does not typically cause a cough. I recommend consulting with his specialist doctor to discuss these concerns and explore the possibility of altering the medication or dosage accordingly.

To provide more accurate guidance, it would be helpful to know the current dosage of Lisinopril, as well as his vital signs including heart rate, blood pressure, and recent kidney function test results with electrolyte levels.