Water retention can be described as collection of excess of fluids in the tissues of the body and in medical terms it is called as edema. Water retention can occur due to many medical conditions and diseases and it does not necessarily be heart or kidney problems. Water retention is one of the common symptoms during premenstrual period. This problem gets worse for women as they grow old. Water retention can also occur due to unknown cause and is described as idiopathic edema. Though no cure is available for water retention without cause, still the symptoms can be managed by regular exercise and by wearing support stockings.
Water Retention Causes :
Small amount of fluid leaks out of blood vessels and gets collected in the nearby tissues. This process can occur even for healthy people having normal diet with less salt intake. Water retention is common for many people whose job involves standing for long hours. When a person keeps standing, there is extra pressure in the veins inducing water retention.
Sitting in the same position for extended hours, and going for long journey can also cause retention of water. In some cases water retention occurs due to retention of salt or sodium ions in the body. People who involve in binge eating can also develop water retention and this can happen also in the case of people who follow strict dieting.
Water Retention Symptoms :
Although water retention can occur anywhere in the body, it is quite common in the extremities like hands and legs. For some people swelling can occur in the abdomen, face and even on the breasts. The symptoms are intense during the evening and night and disappear next morning. There are people who gain weight in the evening due to water retention and get back to normal weight in the morning.