What lifestyle modifications can I advise patients to help manage their lymphoedema effectively?

Lifestyle modifications to advise patients for effective lymphoedema management include:

• Encourage regular physical activity and upper limb exercises, as physical activity does not worsen lymphoedema and may improve overall quality of life.
• Advise maintaining a healthy body weight to reduce lymphoedema risk and severity.
• Promote good skin care, including regular use of moisturisers to prevent skin complications and reduce infection risk.
• Educate patients on recognising early signs and symptoms of lymphoedema and complications such as cellulitis, so they can seek timely medical attention.
• Recommend elevation of the affected limb when resting to help reduce swelling.
• Advise avoiding prolonged standing or limb dependency to minimize fluid accumulation.
• Discuss shared decision-making regarding medical procedures on the affected limb, balancing clinical needs and patient preferences.
• Inform patients that there is no consistent evidence that activities such as air travel, manicures, or sports injuries increase lymphoedema risk, so these need not be avoided unnecessarily.

Compression therapy should be offered as part of lymphoedema management but not as a preventive measure in at-risk individuals without lymphoedema. Referral to specialist lymphoedema services for assessment and management options is important once lymphoedema develops.

Providing information in a suitable format and supporting self-monitoring are key to empowering patients in managing their condition.

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