Water Retention - Causes of

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Carolyn, I had this in my files:

 

Causes Of Fluid Retention

 

 

Many different problems and conditions can cause edema (swelling due to fluid

retention). Some causes involve lifestyle (diet, lack of exercise,

alcoholism, occupations involving standing), some causes are hormone-related,

especially in women, other causes are drug-related or the result of a serious

medical

condition. Here is a list of the most common causes of edema caused by water

retention.

 

Eating Too Much Salt - Sodium intake is closely related to water retention

and edema. Over consumption of salt is one of the commonest reasons why people

retain excess fluid. Many experts tell patients with water-retention problems

to eat fewer processed foods, add less salt when cooking and remove the salt

shaker from the table. A good diet to follow is the DASH diet.

 

Gravity - Prolonged periods of standing often causes fluid to ‘pool’ in the

tissues of the lower leg.

Hot Weather - During periods of high temperatures, the body is less efficient

at removing fluid from its tissues.

Burns/Sunburn - When burn injuries occur, the skin reacts by retaining fluid

and this causes localized swelling.

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) Edema - Women have an increased risk of water

retention, due to the rise and fall of hormone levels. For example, the

reduction in progesterone, in the week before menstruation, can cause fluid

retention.

Some experts believe the problem is related to abnormal fluctuations in

blood sugar. Others believe it is sodium-related. When your blood breaks down

progesterone in the run-up to menstruation, the kidneys are told to retain water

and sodium. As well as this, a water-retaining compound (an anti-diuretic

hormone) may be secreted, which causes more water to be retained. Diuretic

treatment is not beneficial for edema related to PMS.

 

Contraceptive Medication Edema - The birth pill or any oral contraceptives

that include estrogen can lead to fluid retention in some women. Weight gain

(of up to 8 pounds) when first going on the pill is not uncommon.

 

Edema During Pregnancy - Hormones released in pregnancy encourage the body to

hold onto excess fluid. Pregnant women typically retain a significant amount

of sodium and water. Some of this excess fluid is needed by the fetus and

placenta. S welling in the face, hands, lower leg and feet is typically seen in

pregnancy.

 

Menopause - Water retention, causing bloating and edema can occur in

menopausal women either during perimenopause or post menopause. Hormone

fluctuations

and estrogen replacement therapy are two common culprits.

 

Nutritional Deficiencies - Dietary deficiency, like inadequate intake of

vitamin B1 (thiamine) can cause fluid retention. Vitamins B6 and B5 also assist

fluid dispersal. Low levels of protein (albumin) in the bloodstream may also

cause edema.

 

Medication Side Effects - Water retention and edema may also be caused by

drugs, such as high blood pressure medication (antihypertensives) and certain

forms of steroid medications such as corticosteroids and nonsteroidal

anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

 

Medical Conditions - Fluid retention may be a symptom of a more serious

underlying medical condition. Here are the most common examples:

 

Chronic Venous Insufficiency - In some patients, weak valves in the veins of

the legs fail to return blood to the heart as efficiently as normal. T he

pooling of blood can result in varicose veins. Chronic venous insufficiency may

itself occur after the patient has experienced venous blood clots (deep vein

thrombosis). Here, the swelling is usually limited to the lower extremities

(feet/ankles) and may affect only the left or right side. Usually, other

conditions cause swelling in both extremities.

 

Kidney Disease (Nephrotic syndrome and acute glomerulonephritis) - Kidney

disease can cause swelling in the legs and around the eyes. It is the result of

an increase in pressure in the blood vessels, caused by the kidneys failing to

excrete a sufficient amount of sodium and fluid. The fluid left behind

raises pressure on the blood vessel walls, which induces fluid to move from

inside

the blood vessel to outside, leading to edema.

 

Heart Failure (Congestive Heart Failure) - Heart failure can adversely affect

the right hand chambers, whose function is to receive blood from the body and

pump it to the lungs to be filled with oxygen, or the left heart chambers,

which pump oxygenated blood to the rest of the body. If these chambers are

unable to pump effectively, the body compensates by retaining fluid and

increasing

the volume of blood. This causes congestion of the veins, enlargement of the

liver, and the accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity (ascites) and in

subcutaneous tissues, causing swelling in the legs. Typically, right heart

failure, leads to swelling in the legs and abdomen, while left heart failure

causes edema in the lungs, or pulmonary edema, leading to shortness of breath.

 

Liver Disease - Cirrhosis - Cirrhosis causes congestion in the liver which

leads to an increase in pressure in the liver's blood vessels which backs into

the blood vessels leading to the liver, causing ascites. This causes swelling

in the abdomen, and in the feet or, if the patient is lying down most of the

day, edema in the lower back (sacral edema).

 

Malignant Lymphoedema - This includes cancerous tumours that block structures

of the lymphatic system, such as the lymph nodes.

 

Thyroid Disease - An example is hypothyroidism, usually treated with

thyroxine.

Arthritis - Arthritic joints may swell with fluid, causing localized edema.

 

Allergic Reactions - People who are susceptible to allergic reactions may

experience edema in response to particular allergens (eg. wasp sting). In some

cases, the reaction is severe (anaphylaxis) and requires immediate medical

attention. This type of edema is short-lived.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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