Geriatrician Dr. Didyk explains what to know about leg swelling in aging, including common causes, when to get urgent help, and how to treat chronic leg edema.


Watch the subtitled video and search the transcript by clicking above.
(For a short tutorial on how to search the transcript, see here.)

 

 

In This Episode:

Guest host Dr. Nicole Didyk explains what older adults and families should know about leg edema (swollen legs), a common condition that affects aging adults. Dr. Didyk is a geriatrician in Canada, and the founder of the blog and YouTube channel The Wrinkle.

She discusses:

Why is it common for the lower legs to swell?

What are the most common medical causes of leg edema and what are some serious causes that should not be missed?

Which common medications can make leg swelling worse?

When should you seek immediate medical attention for swollen legs?

How can chronically swollen legs be treated?

What to know about using diuretics (water pills) for swollen legs

 

Related episodes:

092- Interview: Addressing Nighttime Urination & Insomnia in Aging

040 – Dehydration in Older Adults: How to Prevent It, Detect It, & Treat It

113 – Interview: Urinary Incontinence in Aging

Related Resources:

Leg Swelling in Aging: What to Know and What to Do

What Is Edema? – Causes and Treatment | familydoctor.org

Treatment of Edema – American Family Physician (aafp.org)

Chronic Venous Insufficiency | Society for Vascular Surgery

What is Chronic Venous Disease? | American Venous Forum (veinforum.org)

VIDEO: EDEMA – What causes swollen legs

Never Miss an Episode! Sign up here to be notified of our latest podcast episodes by email