What is Coronary Heart Disease
Coronary heart disease (CHD), also called coronary artery disease (CAD) and atherosclerotic heart disease, is the end result of the accumulation of atheromatous plaques within the ...
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What is 'dropsy'?
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In researching via my 86 yr old mom as to the hereditary factor for my swollen legs, I was told my grandmother had a heart problem that needed a big, expensive, pill and that her legs blew up, also and she had to be tapped periodically to remove excess water. In that day, her disease was called 'dropsy' and not only was there a problem with her heart but with her kidneys, also, and her cause of death at 65 was her liver failing.
Does anyone know anything about this disease I may have inherited? My mother doesn't really seem to know much about it at all, and right now I am just afraid of me having inherited something deadly! Posted on 09/10/09, 01:09 pm |
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Dropsy: An old term for the swelling of soft tissues due to the accumulation of excess water.
In years gone by, a person might have been said to have dropsy. Today one would be more descriptive and specify the cause. Thus, the person might have edema due to congestive heart failure. Edema is often more prominent in the lower legs and feet toward the end of the day as a result of pooling of fluid from the upright position usually maintained during the day. Upon awakening from sleeping, people can have swelling around the eyes referred to as periorbital edema. The Middle English dropesie came through the Old French hydropsie from the Greek hydrops which in turn came from the Greek hydor meaning water. Hope that helps you. 
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