What is Water Retention?
Water retention is also known by its more medical term, edema. This is a condition that results when water leaks into the body tissues from the blood. In normal circumstances, the fluid is drained from the body tissues through the lymphatic system – a network of tubes throughout the body that removes waste and extraneous material, and empties it back into the bloodstream.
Water retention problems arise when fluid is not removed by the lymph system properly, it is retained in the body tissues where it causes swelling (edema). Water retention in the body is most common in the feet and legs, but it can occur in the hands, arms, abdominal cavity (ascites) and around the lungs (known as pulmonary edema).
Types of Water Retention
There are two main categories of water retention, generalized edema and localized edema. Generalized edema refers to swelling that occurs throughout the body while localized edema refers to the swelling in specific parts of the body.
Diagnosing Water Retention
The diagnosis of water retention is determined by a physical examination, the symptoms presented as well as medical history. Various tests such as blood tests, urine tests, liver and kidney function tests, chest x-ray or an electrocardiogram (ECG) may also be performed to determine the cause.
If water retention is a symptom of a serious underlying disorder, the disorder must be treated first.
Symptoms of Water Retention
- Feeling of puffiness, especially the feet, ankles and legs
- Appearance of shiny, stretched skin
- Dimples/indentations upon pressing the skin
- Swollen, stiff and painful joints
- Headaches
- A bloated or enlarged abdomen
- Breathing difficulties
- Decreased flexibility of the joints (ankles, wrists and fingers)
- Sudden or rapid weight gain
Shortness of breath, chest pain, redness or heat in the swollen edematous area(s) are rare but serious symptoms that should receive immediate medical care.
What Causes Water Retention?
Causes of body water retention depend on a wide range of factorscauses of body water retention.
including a high salt intake, as a reaction to hot weather, gravity, nutritional deficiencies, burns as well as sunburn and as a side effect of certain drugs. Pregnancy, oral contraceptives such as the pill, the menstrual cycle and menopause are also known
causes of body water retention.
Weight Gain
One of the main causes of weight-related water retention can be attributed to sodium intake, particularly from processed foods. In addition, since sodium is present in all foods, a higher intake of food in general also contributes to weight gain from fat stores and subsequent water retention.
People dieting may experience frustrations in weight fluctuations related to water retention. Many people turn to diuretics or water pills, which create a false sense of weight loss. Reducing calories too quickly also forces the body to use up stores of carbohydrates and breakdown protein in the muscles, which also leads to water weight stored in those cells- sometimes with up to 75% of weight loss related to water weight. However, after calorie ingestion is resumed to a normal level, the water weight is restored as well.
People dieting may experience frustrations in weight fluctuations related to water retention. Many people turn to diuretics or water pills, which create a false sense of weight loss. Reducing calories too quickly also forces the body to use up stores of carbohydrates and breakdown protein in the muscles, which also leads to water weight stored in those cells- sometimes with up to 75% of weight loss related to water weight. However, after calorie ingestion is resumed to a normal level, the water weight is restored as well.
Menopause
Fluctuating hormone levels, hormonal imbalances, and a loss of progesterone can attribute to water retention in menopausal women. Unless the weight gain is excessive, it should not be a cause of concern and can be self-managed.
Hypertension
While it is not entirely known why high blood pressure occurs, a strong genetic component has been indicated. Other risk factors for high blood pressure include smoking, alcoholism, and high salt intake, being overweight, lack of exercise, and high levels of stress. Conditions known to cause secondary hypertension include Cushing’s syndrome, diabetic nephropathy, kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, obesity, and many more.
Since many of the above conditions are linked to water retention such as salt intake and obesity, it is important to receive a proper diagnosis and take measures to control blood pressure and fluid levels in the body.
Since many of the above conditions are linked to water retention such as salt intake and obesity, it is important to receive a proper diagnosis and take measures to control blood pressure and fluid levels in the body.
Thyroid Problems
- Hypothyroidism
While a blood test is needed to confirm hypothyroidism, clinical history, antibody screening tests and thyroid scans typically accompany this test to help identify the underlying cause.
- Hyperthyroidism
A blood test is usually the method of screening used to test for hyperthyroidism.
Kidney Infection/Disease
The kidneys are responsible for many important functions of the body, including removing toxins in the body via expelled urine and helping balance the volume of fluid in the body. When the kidneys are not performing these functions due to infection or disease, water retention may be experienced.
Additional causes
- Hot Weather: Warmer temperatures hinder the body’s efficiency of removing fluid.
- Postpartum Depression: A change in hormonal levels after pregnancy may lead to water retention.
- Seasonal Allergies: Those who are prone to seasonal allergies may experience fluid retention, especially around the eyes and face.
This condition may also be symptomatic of other serious diseases such as heart failure, liver disease, arthritis, allergic reactions, thyroid disease such as hypothyroidism, chronic lung diseases, malignant lymphoedema or kidney disease.
Help for Water Retention
Treatment involves rectifying the underlying causes of body water retention. A low dose of diuretic (water pill) may be prescribed to reduce swelling. In more severe cases of water retention, where the blood vessels are blocked or damaged, surgery may be required.
Natural Remedies for Water Retention
Natural and holistic treatments provide gentle water retention remedies. Those seeking a natural remedy for water retention may use herbs such as Uva ursi, Horse chestnut and Buchu for their excellent diuretic properties. Taraxacum officinale (Dandelion) and Olea europea help to balance blood pressure, assist liver and gall bladder functioning and improve circulation.
Water retention remedies that use herbal and homeopathic remedies are safe and effective and not as harsh as prescription diuretics.
Water Retention and Weight Gain
To avoid water retention during a weight loss period and avoid re-gaining the water weight back, it is important to reduce losing water weight as much as possible so the body is forced to burn fat stores, not carbohydrate or protein stores. This can be attained by eating small portions of high quality protein at each meal, reducing food intake gradually, including anaerobic exercise into a fitness routine, avoiding crash and starvation diets, training for strength to increase muscle, and losing weight slowly (2 pounds per week max).
Water Retention and Menopause
Natural treatment for menopausal water retention is much the same for other causes of edema. Many of the same tips apply for maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding water retention during menopause, including eating a balanced diet and avoiding crash and starvation diets, limiting intake of caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol (these can exacerbate water retention), and remaining active to help increase metabolism and burn fat plus protect against osteoporosis. Most women stabilize any water retention weight within a few months.
However, if weight gain is excessive, check with your doctor to make sure hormone and blood sugar levels are normal, as excessive abdominal fat increases the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure.
However, if weight gain is excessive, check with your doctor to make sure hormone and blood sugar levels are normal, as excessive abdominal fat increases the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure.
Water Retention and Hypertension
Avoid diuretics if you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, as these may have additional health risks for your condition. Instead, strive to achieve healthy fluid balance and blood pressure through a healthy lifestyle, including eating a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting sodium, alcohol, and caffeine intake, and getting plenty of exercise.
Water Retention and Diuretics
It is best to address the root cause of water retention rather than relying on diuretics, which only provide temporarily relief and may create lasting health problems. You can also eliminate excess fluid naturally, by incorporating foods such as celery, onion, eggplant, asparagus and watermelon into your diet, which are said to have a diuretic effect. In addition, the herbs hawthorn, corn silk, and parsley are used as diuretics in natural medicine. Some other natural diuretics include dandelion, ginger, and juniper.
Also be sure to keep foods high in sodium to a minimum, limit caffeine and alcohol, and follow a healthy lifestyle. Exercise can help relieve the body of excess fluid and salt through sweating, increased respiration and, ultimately, increased urine flow. While it may seem counterproductive, drinking water helps water move through the kidneys and bladder, diluting the urine. Since urine has some fluid-retaining salt in it, the more it's diluted, the easier it is to remove salt and prevent or decrease edema.
Also be sure to keep foods high in sodium to a minimum, limit caffeine and alcohol, and follow a healthy lifestyle. Exercise can help relieve the body of excess fluid and salt through sweating, increased respiration and, ultimately, increased urine flow. While it may seem counterproductive, drinking water helps water move through the kidneys and bladder, diluting the urine. Since urine has some fluid-retaining salt in it, the more it's diluted, the easier it is to remove salt and prevent or decrease edema.
More Information on Water Retention
Tips for Preventing and Treating Water Retention
- Water retention remedies such as eating a well balanced diet and reducing your intake of salt will make a marked difference.
- Drink plenty of water so that the body is well hydrated.
- Exercise regularly, especially by walking, to help pump fluids back into the circulatory system.
- Limit your intake of dehydrating drinks such as coffee, tea and alcohol.
- Increase your intake of vitamin B supplements which are known to be beneficial for water retention.
- Wear support stockings or elastic sleeves to help push fluids back into your circulatory system and help circulation.
- Remember to elevate the affected area when sitting or lying down.
- If you are overweight or suffer with obesity, try to take the appropriate steps to lose weight and slim down to a healthier weight in a safe and natural manner.
Source :
http://www.nativeremedies.com/ailment/water-retention-causes.html....
