WEIGHT GAIN: SPECIAL MENTION FOR THE ELDERLY

Weight gain in an elderly person can be a sign of water accumulation, especially if it’s accompanied by shortness of breath, an inability to lie flat at night, and swollen ankles. An increase in weight in an elderly person can lead to heart failure. I tell elderly patients who have had heart failure in the past to weigh themselves in the early morning after they urinate. I also tell them that if their weight is up two or three pounds over the course of several days and they have some of the other signs of heart failure I’ve mentioned, they should call me so I can advise them on proper treatment. Sometimes, if their other signs aren’t serious, I’ll tell them just to take another water pill; other times, however, I’ll ask them to come in to see me.

In addition, weight loss that’s due to body water can be an indication of heart problems, and I give my patients with weight loss these same guidelines.

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