What is it?
The accumulation of tissue fluid in the body. It is most noticeable in the fingers (rings become tight), around the eyes (eyelids look and feel puffy), and in the abdomen (belts become tight). It is a condition that affects millions of women, often around their period times.
About 60 per cent of the body’s weight is water, which is distributed in the various fluids inside and outside the cells. The average person takes in about 2-3 quarts of fluid a day and the body’s balancing mechanisms ensure that the loss through urine, sweat and on the breath keep the total body water steady. A healthy person can handle at least 8 quarts of fluid a day without retaining any but people with heart disease, liver disease, kidney disease and certain hormonal problems retain fluid abnormally. Water is retained in places that offer least resistance, particularly around the eyes or where gravity exerts its main influence (such as around the feet and ankles). If, when you poke your fingertip into a swollen ankle it leaves a depression, you have about 8-9 lb of water too much in your body overall.
Immediately before a period many women, because of their hormonal changes, retain water-sometimes putting on up to a stone in weight. This produces swollen, tender breasts, pelvic pain, headaches, stomach swelling, nervousness, irritability, a feeling of mental dullness, insomnia and poor concentration. Even the eyeballs can swell and make the wearing of contact lenses impossible. During pregnancy ankle swelling is also common.
What causes it?
• Hormone changes in the premenstrual phase of a woman’s cycle.
• Long periods of standing and walking can cause foot and ankle swelling.
• Heart disease (especially heart failure, in which the reduced pumping efficiency of the heart means a smaller blood flow to the kidneys to produce urine).
• Steroid hormones (which cause salt to be retained by the body along with water to dissolve it in). This includes the contraceptive Pill, of course.
• Kidney diseases in which the capability of the kidney to put out normal amounts of urine is impaired.
• Certain allergies cause local fluid retention. This is especially seen in urticaria (hives). The swelling may be generalized, or may affect only the hands, feet and face.
• Too much sodium in the diet. Water always goes hand in hand with sodium so if you eat too much sodium (salt) you will automatically retain too much water.
• Stress and emotional conditions can cause (in men as well as women) too high a production of anti-diuretic hormone which causes the retention of water.
• Very hot weather, especially if humid too, can make some people retain water.
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