Possible causes of generalized edema in the elderly include cardiac insufficiency, hypoproteinemia, hypothyroidism, and renal hypoplasia.
1. Cardiac insufficiency: right heart insufficiency in elderly patients can lead to venous return obstruction and sodium retention in the body, which can lead to generalized edema; in addition, patients with heart failure can also have generalized edema due to decreased cardiac output.
2. Hypoproteinemia: Hypoproteinemia is often caused by malnutrition, malignant disease, etc. The decrease of total plasma protein leads to the decrease of colloid osmotic pressure of the blood, and thus fluid retention in various tissues, which leads to generalized edema.
3. Hypothyroidism: Due to hypothyroidism, the metabolic function of the body is reduced, and mucopolysaccharides are deposited in the tissues, resulting in mucous edema, which is manifested as generalized edema.
4. Renal hypoplasia: if the elderly patients have nephrotic syndrome, nephritis and other diseases, resulting in renal hypoplasia, the body water excretion obstacles, so there is fluid retention, resulting in generalized edema.
It is recommended to go to the regular hospital in time to find out the cause of generalized edema and get timely treatment.