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What Causes Shortness Of Breath And Swelling In The Ankles And Feet?
Question: 60y/o F type 1 diabetic 44 yr, stage 3 renal disease, pvd, never have seen cardiologist. This week a lot of SOB with edema in ankles/feet. I know something is not right but not til Christmas is over. Am I crazy to wait would it be of any benefit to go to ED
Brief Answer:
Yes thorough cardiac evaluation should be done as early as possible
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Firstly thanks for choosing health care magic for your query,
I have noted all your details
SOB (Medically termed as DYSPNOEA) with associated pedal edema(ankle swelling) in a patient with history diabetes for 44 years , points out toward possible congestive cardiac failure .
Coronary artery disease, a disease of the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the heart, causes decreased blood flow to the heart muscle. If the arteries become blocked or severely narrowed, the heart becomes starved for oxygen and nutrients.Hence oxygen deprived heart cannot pump the blood efficiently in forward direction causing the blood to stagnate and regurgitate back in lungs and other body spaces like ankles ,feets etc.
Shortness of breath is caused by fluid accumulation and congestion in the lungs. Wet lungs cannot exchange oxygen easily. In the early stages of heart failure you will probably only experience dyspnea after exercise or walking or climbing upstairs known as DOE grade 1, but if your heart failure progresses you may feel breathless when resting as well termed as DOE grade 3.The excess fluid begins to accumulate into the free spaces of body , hence peripheral edema in ankles and legs is there.
Chronic illness like long term diabetes , chronic renal failure ,old age makes you a candidate for congestive cardiac failure.Therfore a possibility of congestive cardiac failure should be ruled out as early as possible.
Answer to your question is YES you should go to the ER and consult a cardiologist as soon as possible before breathlesness and edema further worsens.Don't wait till Xmas as things may worsen more.
Get a 2D echo done as soon as possible to find out the pumping functions of heart any motion abnormality in heart wall or any leakage in valves,it will play a pivotal role to find out the cause of chf.
Advised tests are
2D echo
E.C.G
pulmonary function tests
complete blood count
fasting and pp blood sugar
Please do consult a cardiologist and get these tests done as soon as possible.
In case you have any more query ,feel free to ask, i would be happy to help you!
Thank you,
Have a safe recovery
Dr Rishu Saxena
Cardiologist
Yes thorough cardiac evaluation should be done as early as possible
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Firstly thanks for choosing health care magic for your query,
I have noted all your details
SOB (Medically termed as DYSPNOEA) with associated pedal edema(ankle swelling) in a patient with history diabetes for 44 years , points out toward possible congestive cardiac failure .
Coronary artery disease, a disease of the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the heart, causes decreased blood flow to the heart muscle. If the arteries become blocked or severely narrowed, the heart becomes starved for oxygen and nutrients.Hence oxygen deprived heart cannot pump the blood efficiently in forward direction causing the blood to stagnate and regurgitate back in lungs and other body spaces like ankles ,feets etc.
Shortness of breath is caused by fluid accumulation and congestion in the lungs. Wet lungs cannot exchange oxygen easily. In the early stages of heart failure you will probably only experience dyspnea after exercise or walking or climbing upstairs known as DOE grade 1, but if your heart failure progresses you may feel breathless when resting as well termed as DOE grade 3.The excess fluid begins to accumulate into the free spaces of body , hence peripheral edema in ankles and legs is there.
Chronic illness like long term diabetes , chronic renal failure ,old age makes you a candidate for congestive cardiac failure.Therfore a possibility of congestive cardiac failure should be ruled out as early as possible.
Answer to your question is YES you should go to the ER and consult a cardiologist as soon as possible before breathlesness and edema further worsens.Don't wait till Xmas as things may worsen more.
Get a 2D echo done as soon as possible to find out the pumping functions of heart any motion abnormality in heart wall or any leakage in valves,it will play a pivotal role to find out the cause of chf.
Advised tests are
2D echo
E.C.G
pulmonary function tests
complete blood count
fasting and pp blood sugar
Please do consult a cardiologist and get these tests done as soon as possible.
In case you have any more query ,feel free to ask, i would be happy to help you!
Thank you,
Have a safe recovery
Dr Rishu Saxena
Cardiologist
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Veerisetty Shyamkumar
Answered by
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