Water Retention

Introduction
If your body were a town, than water retention would be a flood. Water retention is a condition in which the fluids get accumulated in your body. This accumulation results in the swelling or bloating in the body, which in turn causes muscle ache. Being constant this retention could cause somewhat like little “pits” in your feet and ankles, indicating towards a serious problem. This condition is called EDEMA in the medical terms, and it could be a door to many other ailments.

Causes
The basic cause behind water retention is the presence of more-than-required salt in the body. This extra salt causes the water inside the cell to move outside the cell so as to dilute the sodium concentration there. Women are usually more prone to this condition because of the hormonal fluctuations in their menstrual cycle. The monthly increase in the production of the hormone estrogen causes an increase in the hormone aldosterone. This hormone is the cause behind those extra pounds that women gain every month. Water retention also occurs because of the disorders in the heart kidney or liver. It happens when these organs accumulate more water then they could eliminate, as a result of which fluid accumulates in the spaces between the cells. This happens mostly in the ankle, feet or leg due to gravity. Generally, three basic causes attributed to be the driving force of water retention.
1. Comparatively larger intake of fluids.
2. Failure of the organs like heart or kidney.
3. Hormonal fluctuations in women or even the premenstrual phase could be the sole reason.

Risk Factors

Women going through the phase of hormonal fluctuations.
Patients of heart or kidney failure.
People working or living in the conditions where a larger intake of fluids is required.

Symptoms & Signs

Leg or ankle swelling.

Diagnosis
Your doctor will diagnose you of water retention basing his/her knowledge on the kind of edema you have and the symptoms and signs found. Regarding this diagnosis the treatment is suggested along with certain home care suggestions that could help and supplement the treatment.

Prevention

Since water retention is largely because of the presence of increased salt in the body, it is better to reduce salt in your diet. So better keep a watch on your salt intake.
Exercises are a good way to prevent the fluids from accumulating in the leg muscles.
Elevate your feet. Always lie down with feet raised above the heart level, in order to help the fluid move back to the heart.
Healthy living!

Treatment
There are several methods of treating this condition. First of all we shall discuss the drugs that are usually prescribed by the doctors for the treatment of this disorder. But it is always recommended that before taking any drug you should first consult your doctor.
1. Diuretics: these help in reducing the body fluid levels. But the drawback of these drugs is that they deplete the important vitamins and minerals in the body, which can ultimately cause a loss in, bone mass and various other possible side effects.
2. Morphine: it reduces congestion and anxiety along with the pulmonary edema
Surgery is included in the treatment in order to remove the fluids and fats deposited. In addition to the drugs and surgery a several traditional methods are prescribed that could help in the reducing swelling. Following are some of them:

Exercises.
Massages.
Wearing support hose.
Lying with legs above the heart level.
Less salt intake.

Primary Natural Supplements
HERBS

Buchu
Uva ursi
Juniper

VITAMINS

Vitamin B6

QUASI VITAMINS

Bio-flavonoids

Secondary Natural Supplements
HERBS

Cornsilk
Devil’s Claw
Grape seed Extract (Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins OPCs)
Butcher’s Broom

Dietary Guidelines
Exercising is indeed good for you but dietary modifications are also necessary. Following are some of the ways you could improve your diet:

Diets rich in sodium should be avoided including French fries, pepperoni pizza, potato chips, and most fast foods.
If the problem is mainly because of the kidney disorders, your doctor will then recommend a diet low in fats and proteins.
Alcohol be used moderately, and if the condition is due to liver disorders you would stay away from it.
Vegetables, fruits, and carbohydrates have more water in them so avoid them.

Home Care Suggestions

Take care of what you eat and make sure the diet is not rich in salts.
Regularly exercise, even dancing or swimming could help. This is because the more active you are the more water you could lose.

Mind/Body Considerations
Massages are very beneficial for bodies experiencing this condition. Keep your body active and take a lot of rest.

Products

Diurtab 60 caps $4.75	Juniper Berries 100 Caps $5.36	Natrum Muriaticum 6X 1000 Tabs $12.48


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