Recognizing and treating water retention

Usually there are no serious problems, even if your body is retaining water.

Water retention can occur when we eat a salty meal, but the body usually recovers on its own. However, if you consistently notice signs of water retention, it may be due to edema. It is important to recognize the signs of abnormal water retention and talk to your doctor about treatment options.

Signs of water retention

You should not ignore the signs of water retention, because over time, this condition can lead to kidney failure or heart failure. Here are some signs of water retention to look out for: Rapid weight gain: If you notice a rapid increase in weight, this may be because your body has started retaining more water than it needs.

Exercise is necessary to stimulate the circulatory system and prevent water retention in the body.

Swollen joints:One sign of water retention is swollen joints, which is also related to increased weight due to fluid retention in the body. Water retention can also affect muscle function and cause muscle weakness and pain. You may have tension spots on your limbs, difficulty walking, and even stiffness in some joints.

Increased heart rate:It is fluid retention that makes it difficult for the heart to pump blood to all parts of the body. This often happens when your legs and arms swell due to water retention. Fluid retention in the limbs increases peripheral pressure and interferes with the heart's ability to pump blood and often makes you feel like your heart rate is increasing.

Pay attention to skin discoloration:Water retention affects blood flow. You may notice redness in some areas and pale patches on the skin in other areas of the body, mainly due to water retention causing poor blood circulation. If you press on the skin, you may notice a permanent indentation. Difficulty breathing: Edema can lead to swelling of tissues in the body, and it can also affect the tissues in the lungs and lead to difficulty breathing.

How to recognize water retention?

Check your legs, hands, feet, and ankles for any signs of swelling. Water retention often affects these areas first.

Suddenly noticing that your rings are feeling tight can indicate swelling in your hands. Bracelets and watches can also provide similar clues.

Check to see if you have a hollow around your lower leg after removing your socks. It is important to make sure you are using the correct size socks and that they are not too tight to begin with.

Press on any swollen area on your body and then release your finger. You may have edema if the indentation remains there for a few seconds.

Stand in front of a mirror and check to see if your face is puffy. Facial swelling can be a sign of water retention.

Treatment and prevention of water retention

To avoid water retention, you should drink eight glasses of water and fluids every day.You may also want to pay attention to the color of your urine, if it is yellow and concentrated you may need to drink more water. You may need to drink more water if you have an active lifestyle because exercise can cause sweating and rapid loss of water.

Remember that your body will retain water if you are dehydrated. So drink fruit juice, water, herbal tea, and non-caffeinated drinks to stay hydrated. Avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks as they can cause dehydration.

Limit sodium (salt) intake:You will gain weight if your food is high in sodium. Therefore, you should limit your sodium intake and avoid processed foods and salty foods. Avoid adding salt to cooked and served meals. Also, increase your intake of fresh vegetables as well as proteins, grains and low-fat dairy products. It is recommended to consume no more than 1 teaspoon of table salt per day.

Have a balanced diet:Combine vegetables, whole grains, fruits, and other high-fiber foods. Make sure to have six servings of grains along with four servings of vegetables each day. You should also eat four servings of fruit each day, but be sure to eat a variety of different colors.

Daily exercise:You don’t have to spend hours in the gym, just 20-30 minutes of moderate exercise every day is enough to stay healthy. You can also go hiking or walking with friends, cycling, jogging or swimming to keep your body healthy.

Put your feet up high:You may experience swelling in your feet from standing for long periods of time. To reduce swelling and prevent fluid retention, you can elevate your feet for short periods of time. You should keep your feet above the level of your heart to help fluid drain from your feet and return to your heart./.

According to SK&DS