Heart dropsy is an outdated term that was historically used to describe generalized swelling (edema) caused by heart failure. In essence, "dropsy" was synonymous with congestive heart failure.
In the past, medical professionals used "dropsy" to refer to the accumulation of excess fluid in the body's tissues and cavities. When this fluid retention was specifically caused by the heart's inability to pump blood effectively, it was known as "heart dropsy." The primary goal of treatments at that time focused on reducing fluid retention and alleviating the overall burden on the circulatory system.
