Swelling in legs and feet after 60: what’s common and what’s not
Topic: Heart & Metabolic Health
Reading time: 3 min
Swelling in the legs or feet is common—but it has many causes. The goal is to spot the pattern, reduce risk, and know when it needs quick medical attention.
What to track
- One leg or both? One-sided swelling is especially important to evaluate.
- Time of day: worse by evening, better overnight?
- New shortness of breath?
- Medication changes: some meds can cause swelling.
Bring a photo: A quick phone photo of swelling (morning vs evening) can help your clinician see what you mean.
Common contributors
- Venous insufficiency (veins not moving fluid back up as efficiently)
- Salt intake + long sitting/standing days
- Medication side effects
- Heart, kidney, or liver issues (needs clinician evaluation)
Red flags (get checked promptly)
- Swelling in one leg, especially with pain, warmth, or redness
- Swelling + new shortness of breath or chest pain
- Rapid weight gain over days (fluid retention)
Related: Shortness of breath or swelling (symptom-first).
Ask your clinician (starter questions)
- “What’s the most likely explanation in my case?”
- “What serious causes are we ruling out?”
- “Could any medications or supplements contribute?”
- “What’s the simplest next step?”
- “What should make me call you sooner or seek urgent care?”
If you want to prepare for a visit, try the Doctor Visit Checklist. For general support, browse Topics or Common Issues.