Many seniors complain of swollen ankles when they stand or sit for a long duration of time.
Also, seniors who are obese suffer from this problem.
Generally swollen ankles occur when there is fluid accumulated in the soft tissue present around the ankles and inside the ankle joints.
Sometimes, the swelling can also occur due to a blood clot in the region.
Certain medications like diuretics or laxatives can also cause the ankles to swell up.
In order to treat swollen ankles in seniors, it is important to first figure out why the swelling is occurring.
There are certain health conditions that are common amongst seniors which cause ankles to swell up.
Some of these health conditions are as follows: Edema: This is health problem that is brought on due to poor blood circulation.
The condition worsens with age as the blood vessels stop working normally and this leads to fluid getting retained in the intracellular spaces.
Many times, it is considered to be an early symptom of kidney failure, liver failure or heart failure.
Gout: This condition is buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints of the ankles.
Under normal circumstances, uric acid is a byproduct of digestion, but it is eliminated from the body.
Sometimes, there is a problem with uric acid elimination and this leads to gout.
Arthritis: This health condition occurs with age as the cartilage in the joints and the joints themselves degenerate.
Usually seniors who have rheumatoid arthritis suffer from swollen and inflamed ankles.
Vascular Obstruction: When the normal flow of blood is obstructed in the legs, it is known as vascular obstruction.
This obstruction invariably is due to a clot and it causes the ankles and feet to swell up.