Relieving Edema
Simply put, water retention is caused by water that gets trapped in the tissues of the body, and water retention results in the swelling or puffiness of parts of the body. Usually, water retention occurs in the feet, ankles, and legs, but it can also affect the face and the hands.
Although pregnant women and older adults are the most common victims of water retention, water retention, also known as edema, can happen to anyone. Some people's bodies seem to retain water for no apparent reason. The puffiness may come and go in cycles and may be related to hormone fluctuations. In women, it usually occurs in the week or so before menstruation. Other women simply experience a shift in the distribution in water with no weight gain.
Causes of water retention include sitting in one place for too long, (causing edema of the legs), eating foods with too much salt, congestive heart failure, and liver, kidney, and thyroid diseases.
Relieving edema is very important, because the edema can lead to more serious problems if not treated. Try the following suggestions to treat your water retention and hopefully prevent future problems resulting in water retention. To bring swelling down, try putting a pillow under your legs when you are lying down, wear support stockings, which put pressure on your legs and keep water from collecting in your legs and ankles, avoid sitting or standing too long without moving, limiting salt intake, and taking a diuretic (with doctor's orders).
Edema, otherwise known as water retention, is a complex, incurable but treatable medical condition caused by several different factors, including an excess of salt intake and more serious issues such as congestive heart failure. Although water retention is not curable, it is treatable. In order to relieve edema and prevent more serious medical conditions, see your doctor and treat the causes of the water retention.