What can cause water retention?

Fluid retention, also known as water retention or oedema, happens when our body retains excess water. There can be several reasons for this. Some of these reasons are related to our daily habits or genetics, whereas others are related to health issues. When it is not caused by a serious medical condition, fluid retention can usually be treated easily with home remedies and by acquiring some healthy habits. However, if you experience water retention, and you notice that it lasts more than a week, we recommend getting some advice from an expert. So, what are the causes of water retention? What are its main symptoms? What can we do to reduce it? Here below are the answers you need!

Signs of water retention…

The human body is made up of around 60% of water. Sometimes, one or more of our body systems that help to maintain fluid levels might retain an excess of water.

Water retention can be generalized, which means that it affects the whole body, or localized when it affects particular parts of the body. The main symptoms may include:

1. swelling or aching of the body parts affected
2. puffy skin
3. skin colour changes
4. a feeling of stiffness in the joints
5. weight fluctuation and pitting oedema (a particular area of the skin holds an indent after being pressed with a finger for a few moments)

Although fluid retention isn’t always caused by serious health issues, and it can be a result of a bad diet, inactivity or hormonal changes, it can also be caused by a medical condition. For this reason, it is very important to get advice from an expert that can be able to determine the cause of fluid retention, as well as the most suitable treatment.

Ten causes that may lead to water retention:

1. A sedentary lifestyle. Inactivity can be one of the main causes of fluid retention in the lower legs. Standing up or sitting down for long periods of time can also be a cause of water retention, so it’s important to do some physical activity or to move around often, as it’s a way to keep blood circulating and to keep our muscles strong.
2. Sunburn or other burn injuries.
3. Medications. There are some medicines, such as antidepressants or blood pressure medications, that might cause fluid retention as a side effect.
4. Weight changes during pregnancy.
5. Hot weather, as during the summer our body usually retains higher levels of water.
6. The menstrual cycle or hormonal changes.
7. Air travel can also cause fluid retention. This is due to changes in the cabin pressure.
8. Eating too much salt. This can include table salt and different types of processed food, for example.
9. Water retention can also be caused by protein or vitamin deficiency.
10. Deep Vein Thrombosis, which can cause leg swelling

How to reduce water retention

In order to determine the best treatment for each person, it is really important to find what is causing it. Some causes might need medical treatment, but mild fluid retention can often be treated at home by changing certain aspects of our daily routine. These habits are useful not only to treat water retention but also to prevent it.

Reduce the amount of salt that you eat

Adding less salt to your meals, or avoiding foods that contain a high amount of salt, such as chips, will help you to reduce water retention. Processed meals also tend to be high in salt.

Increase your magnesium and vitamin B6 intake

Another way to reduce fluid retention symptoms is by eating more foods that contain magnesium (such as nuts, beans or green vegetables) and vitamin B6 (meat, fish, bananas and eggs are a few examples).

Drink a lot of water

If you keep hydrated, your body will be less likely to retain excess fluid.

Eat foods that contain potassium

This mineral does not only help to reduce sodium levels, but it also has a lot of other benefits. These are some of the foods that contain potassium: avocados, spinach, watermelon, edamame and tomatoes.

How can Endospheres help to fight fluid retention?

Endospheres Therapy offers a treatment that uses the most innovative technology to tone muscles, firm tissues and improve circulation, amongst many other actions and benefits as anti-ageing and scar treatments. It can also be used as rehabilitative physiotherapy, athletic preparation and many other therapy treatments.

Our beauty treatment can be used to address water retention, as well as to sculpt the body, smooth the skin and fight the feeling of heaviness in the legs.

Find out more about our treatments!