Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesSymptomsTreatmentHome RemediesPreventionWhen to Seek Medical Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Symptoms
Treatment
Home Remedies
Prevention
When to Seek Medical Care
Water retention is when fluid builds up in part of your body. It is also called fluid retention oredema. It can affect body tissues outside of blood vessels, leading to swelling or bloating. Water retention can also happen in the stomach (ascites), lungs (pulmonary edema), or in the chest around the lungs (pleural effusion).
Water retention can be temporary and mild, like after an airplane flight, or a symptom of a serious issue like heart or kidney failure.
Water retention can be uncomfortable but there are things you can do to help.bbbrrn / Getty Images
bbbrrn / Getty Images
Causes of Water Retention
There are many different causes of water retention. Sometimes lifestyle factors like diet and fluid intake are the cause; at other times,edemacan signify a serious medical condition.
Poor Diet
Several different dietary choices can lead to fluid retention. Each person’s body reacts to these substances in food and drinks differently. You may want to record a food log and compare it to your edema symptoms to see if there are any patterns.
Consuming food and drinks with high levels ofsalt (sodium)can trigger your body to hold on to extra water.Some salt occurs naturally in food, but most comes from processed or packaged foods or restaurant meals.
Sodium LimitsThe sodium recommendation for healthy Americans is 2,300 mg per day. The American Heart Association recommends individuals with underlying medical conditions that warrant a more severe sodium restriction take in a maximum of 1,500 mg ofsodium per day.
Sodium Limits
The sodium recommendation for healthy Americans is 2,300 mg per day. The American Heart Association recommends individuals with underlying medical conditions that warrant a more severe sodium restriction take in a maximum of 1,500 mg ofsodium per day.
Kidney Problems
When thekidneysare healthy, they collect waste products from the body and excrete them with fluid to make urine. Kidneys are also vital to balancingelectrolytes(sodium, potassium, magnesium, etc.) dissolved in the blood.
When kidney function is reduced, it can be more difficult for them to regulate fluid balance and clear wastes. If the kidneys become too damaged, you may not be able to make urine and may requiredialysis, a treatment that performs some of the functions of the kidneys.
Congestive Heart Failure
In people withcongestive heart failure(CHF), the heart’s pumping ability is reduced. The heart is less effective at circulating blood than in a healthy person. Heart failure can stimulate complicated involuntary mechanisms that encourage the body to keep extra fluid. The heart is also less helpful in creating blood flow to the vital organs. Because of this, people with CHF may develop kidney problems.
Weight GainChecking your daily weight is a crucial tool in managing heart failure. Contact your healthcare provider if you notice a weight gain of 2 or 3 pounds in a day or 5 pounds in a week. This may be a sign of a serious condition causing fluid retention.
Weight Gain
Checking your daily weight is a crucial tool in managing heart failure. Contact your healthcare provider if you notice a weight gain of 2 or 3 pounds in a day or 5 pounds in a week. This may be a sign of a serious condition causing fluid retention.
Lymphedema
Lymphedema is a chronic condition of the lymphatic system. It occurs when a protein-rich fluid called lymph is unable to drain from your tissues, causing swelling in the arms or legs. Lymphedema can occur because of a serious injury, obesity, or a genetic problem.
Symptoms of lymphedema include:
Malnutrition
A severe type of protein malnutrition calledkwashiorkorcan cause edema. Kwashiorkor is more common in developing countries and usually affects infants and very young children.
Cirrhosis of the Liver
Ascites (fluid in the abdomen) develops during the decompensated stage of cirrhosis of the liver. Decompensated cirrhosis is the severe stage of the condition that occurs when the liver is no longer able to function normally.
In addition to ascites, a person with decompensatedcirrhosismay also have symptoms like:
People with both acute and chronic liver failure can also develop a type of edema that affects the brain.
Medication
Some medications can cause swelling or edema. The most common include:
Pregnancy
It’s common to have swollenfeet and anklesthat worsen as the pregnancy progresses.Talk with your healthcare team about techniques to help manage pregnancy edema.
A serious condition of pregnancy calledpreeclampsiacan cause pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs) and/or myocardial edema (fluid in the heart).If you are pregnant and experience symptoms such as headache, stomach pain, spots in your vision, or swelling of the hands and face, see your healthcare provider right away.
Allergies
Allergic angioedema can occur as a result of exposure to common allergens such as peanuts and shellfish or in someone who is allergic to insect stings or antibiotics.
Allergic angioedema can be a sign of a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which requires emergency medical care. Other symptoms that may occur include:
Hormonal Conditions
Some women report fluid retention as part of their typical menstrual cycle (period bloating). The hormones that regulate female fertility can cause bloating or edema. Typically this does not require medical attention as the fluid retention is predictable and happens with each cycle.However, speak with your healthcare provider if you have concerns.
Other conditions that affect the hormones may also cause water retention, including:
Leaky Capillary Syndrome
When your capillaries (small blood vessels) are damaged, fluid can leak into surrounding tissues. This is a rare condition knowns as leaky capillary syndrome.
Leaky capillaries can develop during cancer treatment or as a result of the cancer itself. Infections and inflammatory diseases can also cause the capillaries to become leaky.
Initial symptoms of capillary problems are non-specific and include:
These symptoms can progress to severe edema and can become life-threatening very quickly.
Additional Causes
Other medical and lifestyle factors can cause your body to retain water. Some of these include:
Much of the time, retained water collects in parts of the body closest to the ground (feet, ankles, and legs) if you are sitting or standing. However, fluid typically collects in parts of your body touching the bed if you mostly lie down.
Areas of fluid retention become swollen and puffy. It’s possible to push on an area of swelling and create adent or a pit. If your body retains enough water, your skin may become tight, stretched, and even shiny.
Additional symptoms include:
Fluid Retention in the Brain
Fluid retention in the brain does not cause visible swelling, but may produce other serious symptoms such as:
Fluid Retention in the Lungs
Pulmonary edema can cause swelling of the feet or ankles and a range of other symptoms, including:
You may need medical attention, especially if you have sudden or worsening water retention.A medical professional should evaluate for causes like heart failure, kidney disease, or infection right away.
Treatments to reduce water retention work best when they are focused on the cause. Work with your healthcare team to find the approach that works for you.
Your healthcare provider may prescribe diuretics to help your kidneys remove excess water from your body. Diuretics are generally only recommended for short-term treatment of edema.
Avoid taking over-the-counter diuretics since they sometimes contain other ingredients that can affect your electrolyte balance.
See a healthcare provider if you have water retention. Certain conditions that cause water retention require treatment from a healthcare provider. In the meantime, you may be able to relieve symptoms with home remedies.
Elevation
Fluid is heavy, and when there is extra fluid in the body, it collects in the lower areas due to gravity. Elevating swollen arms or legs, especially above your heart level, can help reduce edema.As the extra fluid moves into the blood vessels, your body will eliminate it in the urine. You can use a footstool, pillows, or even a recliner to elevate water retention areas.
Compression Clothing
Over-the-counter (OTC) or medical-grade compression clothing can help get rid of extra water in your body.These put gentle pressure on the swollen arm or leg to help move the fluid back into the blood vessels so your kidneys can add it to your urine.
Compression socks and stockings are available for legs.Compression sleevesare available for arms. If you are using compression garments for heart failure, you may be able to get a prescription from your provider.
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 is believed to help the body pass sodium in the urine. When sodium leaves the body, extra water generally is removed as well. According to one study, vitamin B6 may reduce the bloating and swelling associated withpremenstrual syndrome(PMS).
If you want to try a vitamin supplement, talk with your provider and discuss the dose and type suitable for you.
Diet
For many people, reducing the amount of salt (sodium) in the diet can improve water retention. This is because high sodium levels in the blood encourage the body to hold on to more water. Less salt in the body often means less edema.
Read nutrition labels when available. If sodium is an ingredient, it is listed per serving size. Whenever possible, choose fresh ingredients rather than processed or packaged foods.
What happens if water retention is untreated?Water retention may clear without treatment in a few days. However, if there is a health problem causing you to hold onto fluid, your swelling may worsen over time. You may find that the body parts retaining water become tight, swollen, and painful. If untreated, heart or kidney problems may get much worse.
What happens if water retention is untreated?
Water retention may clear without treatment in a few days. However, if there is a health problem causing you to hold onto fluid, your swelling may worsen over time. You may find that the body parts retaining water become tight, swollen, and painful. If untreated, heart or kidney problems may get much worse.
Preventing fluid retention is more helpful than getting rid of extra water. There are a few things you can do that you can try:
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Summary
Fluid retention can be a brief discomfort related to a lifestyle choice or a symptom of a serious health condition. The best way to manage edema depends on the original cause of the swelling. However, there are some basic at-home remedies you can try. If you have new or worsening water retention, it’s important to see a healthcare provider.
22 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Family Physicians.Edema.Uptodate.comPatient education: Edema (swelling) (beyond the basics).American Heart Association.Get the scoop on sodium and salt.National Kidney Foundation.How your kidneys work.American Heart Association.Warning signs of heart failure.American Heart Association.Managing heart failure symptoms.National Library of Medicine.Lymphedema: Living with swelling and stiffness.Dipasquale V, Cucinotta U, Romano C.Acute malnutrition in children: pathophysiology, clinical effects and treatment.Nutrients. 2020;12(8):2413. doi:10.3390/nu12082413Mansour D, McPherson S.Management of decompensated cirrhosis.Clin Med (Lond). 2018;18(Suppl 2):s60-s65. doi:10.7861/clinmedicineKumar G, Taneja A, Kandiah PA.Brain and the liver: Cerebral edema, hepatic encephalopathy and beyond.Hepatic Crit Care. 2017 Aug 7:83–103. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-66432-3_8Trayes KP, Studdiford JS, Pickle S, Tully AS.Edema: Diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician. 2013;88(2):102-110.Aguree, S., Gernand, A.D.Plasma volume expansion across healthy pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth19, 508 (2019). doi:10.1186/s12884-019-2619-6Jha N, Jha AK.Pathophysiology of pulmonary and myocardial edema in preeclampsia.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2023;228(1):118. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2022.08.032Preeclampsia Foundation.Signs & Symptoms.JAMA Network.Angioedema.Bichon A, Bourenne J, Gainnier M, Carvelli J.Capillary leak syndrome: State of the art in 2021.Rev Med Interne. 2021;42(11):789-796. doi:10.1016/j.revmed.2021.05.012National Cancer Institute.Edema (swelling) and cancer treatment.Kentucky Neuroscience Institute.Cerebral edema.Yale Medicine.Pulmonary edema.Ebrahimi E, Khayati Motlagh S, Nemati S, Tavakoli Z.Effects of magnesium and vitamin b6 on the severity of premenstrual syndrome symptoms.Journal of Caring Sciences; eISSN 2251-9920. doi:10.5681/jcs.2012.026Philipson H, Ekman I, Forslund HB, Swedberg K, Schaufelberger M.Salt and fluid restriction is effective in patients with chronic heart failure.European Journal of Heart Failure. 2013;15(11):1304-1310. doi:10.1093/eurjhf/hft097Health.govLower sodium foods: Shopping list.
22 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Family Physicians.Edema.Uptodate.comPatient education: Edema (swelling) (beyond the basics).American Heart Association.Get the scoop on sodium and salt.National Kidney Foundation.How your kidneys work.American Heart Association.Warning signs of heart failure.American Heart Association.Managing heart failure symptoms.National Library of Medicine.Lymphedema: Living with swelling and stiffness.Dipasquale V, Cucinotta U, Romano C.Acute malnutrition in children: pathophysiology, clinical effects and treatment.Nutrients. 2020;12(8):2413. doi:10.3390/nu12082413Mansour D, McPherson S.Management of decompensated cirrhosis.Clin Med (Lond). 2018;18(Suppl 2):s60-s65. doi:10.7861/clinmedicineKumar G, Taneja A, Kandiah PA.Brain and the liver: Cerebral edema, hepatic encephalopathy and beyond.Hepatic Crit Care. 2017 Aug 7:83–103. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-66432-3_8Trayes KP, Studdiford JS, Pickle S, Tully AS.Edema: Diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician. 2013;88(2):102-110.Aguree, S., Gernand, A.D.Plasma volume expansion across healthy pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth19, 508 (2019). doi:10.1186/s12884-019-2619-6Jha N, Jha AK.Pathophysiology of pulmonary and myocardial edema in preeclampsia.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2023;228(1):118. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2022.08.032Preeclampsia Foundation.Signs & Symptoms.JAMA Network.Angioedema.Bichon A, Bourenne J, Gainnier M, Carvelli J.Capillary leak syndrome: State of the art in 2021.Rev Med Interne. 2021;42(11):789-796. doi:10.1016/j.revmed.2021.05.012National Cancer Institute.Edema (swelling) and cancer treatment.Kentucky Neuroscience Institute.Cerebral edema.Yale Medicine.Pulmonary edema.Ebrahimi E, Khayati Motlagh S, Nemati S, Tavakoli Z.Effects of magnesium and vitamin b6 on the severity of premenstrual syndrome symptoms.Journal of Caring Sciences; eISSN 2251-9920. doi:10.5681/jcs.2012.026Philipson H, Ekman I, Forslund HB, Swedberg K, Schaufelberger M.Salt and fluid restriction is effective in patients with chronic heart failure.European Journal of Heart Failure. 2013;15(11):1304-1310. doi:10.1093/eurjhf/hft097Health.govLower sodium foods: Shopping list.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Edema.Uptodate.comPatient education: Edema (swelling) (beyond the basics).American Heart Association.Get the scoop on sodium and salt.National Kidney Foundation.How your kidneys work.American Heart Association.Warning signs of heart failure.American Heart Association.Managing heart failure symptoms.National Library of Medicine.Lymphedema: Living with swelling and stiffness.Dipasquale V, Cucinotta U, Romano C.Acute malnutrition in children: pathophysiology, clinical effects and treatment.Nutrients. 2020;12(8):2413. doi:10.3390/nu12082413Mansour D, McPherson S.Management of decompensated cirrhosis.Clin Med (Lond). 2018;18(Suppl 2):s60-s65. doi:10.7861/clinmedicineKumar G, Taneja A, Kandiah PA.Brain and the liver: Cerebral edema, hepatic encephalopathy and beyond.Hepatic Crit Care. 2017 Aug 7:83–103. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-66432-3_8Trayes KP, Studdiford JS, Pickle S, Tully AS.Edema: Diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician. 2013;88(2):102-110.Aguree, S., Gernand, A.D.Plasma volume expansion across healthy pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth19, 508 (2019). doi:10.1186/s12884-019-2619-6Jha N, Jha AK.Pathophysiology of pulmonary and myocardial edema in preeclampsia.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2023;228(1):118. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2022.08.032Preeclampsia Foundation.Signs & Symptoms.JAMA Network.Angioedema.Bichon A, Bourenne J, Gainnier M, Carvelli J.Capillary leak syndrome: State of the art in 2021.Rev Med Interne. 2021;42(11):789-796. doi:10.1016/j.revmed.2021.05.012National Cancer Institute.Edema (swelling) and cancer treatment.Kentucky Neuroscience Institute.Cerebral edema.Yale Medicine.Pulmonary edema.Ebrahimi E, Khayati Motlagh S, Nemati S, Tavakoli Z.Effects of magnesium and vitamin b6 on the severity of premenstrual syndrome symptoms.Journal of Caring Sciences; eISSN 2251-9920. doi:10.5681/jcs.2012.026Philipson H, Ekman I, Forslund HB, Swedberg K, Schaufelberger M.Salt and fluid restriction is effective in patients with chronic heart failure.European Journal of Heart Failure. 2013;15(11):1304-1310. doi:10.1093/eurjhf/hft097Health.govLower sodium foods: Shopping list.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Edema.
Uptodate.comPatient education: Edema (swelling) (beyond the basics).
American Heart Association.Get the scoop on sodium and salt.
National Kidney Foundation.How your kidneys work.
American Heart Association.Warning signs of heart failure.
American Heart Association.Managing heart failure symptoms.
National Library of Medicine.Lymphedema: Living with swelling and stiffness.
Dipasquale V, Cucinotta U, Romano C.Acute malnutrition in children: pathophysiology, clinical effects and treatment.Nutrients. 2020;12(8):2413. doi:10.3390/nu12082413
Mansour D, McPherson S.Management of decompensated cirrhosis.Clin Med (Lond). 2018;18(Suppl 2):s60-s65. doi:10.7861/clinmedicine
Kumar G, Taneja A, Kandiah PA.Brain and the liver: Cerebral edema, hepatic encephalopathy and beyond.Hepatic Crit Care. 2017 Aug 7:83–103. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-66432-3_8
Trayes KP, Studdiford JS, Pickle S, Tully AS.Edema: Diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician. 2013;88(2):102-110.
Aguree, S., Gernand, A.D.Plasma volume expansion across healthy pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth19, 508 (2019). doi:10.1186/s12884-019-2619-6
Jha N, Jha AK.Pathophysiology of pulmonary and myocardial edema in preeclampsia.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2023;228(1):118. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2022.08.032
Preeclampsia Foundation.Signs & Symptoms.
JAMA Network.Angioedema.
Bichon A, Bourenne J, Gainnier M, Carvelli J.Capillary leak syndrome: State of the art in 2021.Rev Med Interne. 2021;42(11):789-796. doi:10.1016/j.revmed.2021.05.012
National Cancer Institute.Edema (swelling) and cancer treatment.
Kentucky Neuroscience Institute.Cerebral edema.
Yale Medicine.Pulmonary edema.
Ebrahimi E, Khayati Motlagh S, Nemati S, Tavakoli Z.Effects of magnesium and vitamin b6 on the severity of premenstrual syndrome symptoms.Journal of Caring Sciences; eISSN 2251-9920. doi:10.5681/jcs.2012.026
Philipson H, Ekman I, Forslund HB, Swedberg K, Schaufelberger M.Salt and fluid restriction is effective in patients with chronic heart failure.European Journal of Heart Failure. 2013;15(11):1304-1310. doi:10.1093/eurjhf/hft097
Health.govLower sodium foods: Shopping list.
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