The so-called edema can cause some serious complications such as pain or difficulty walking due to accumulated water in the legs. Such water retention occurs in the circulatory system or in tissues and cavities. Additionally, it can cause swelling in the hands, feet, ankles, and legs. However, there are simple ways to reduce edema yourself with lifestyle changes and home remedies if it is not caused by a serious health condition. Here is some useful information and tips that can help you relieve fluid retention symptoms with simple steps.
Why water accumulates in the legs
The circulatory system, the kidneys, the lymphatic system,hormonal factorsand other body systems all contribute to maintaining healthy fluid levels. However, fluid buildup can occur with these systems. Edema can affect any area of the body for a variety of reasons. Many thingscan cause water retention, including some mild and serious health conditions.
Most people experience such symptoms from time to time. Some of the causes include obesity, dietary changes or malnutrition, high blood pressure, liver or kidney dysfunction, hormonal changes,including pregnancyand menstruation, medications such as steroids and contraceptives, and allergies. Occasional swelling is usually not a cause for concern, but severe or chronic water retention may indicate a more serious health problem.
However, some serious health problems also cause edema. Depending on the cause, you can prevent these by changing your diet or avoiding sitting for long periods of time throughout the day. If it is caused by other health conditions, doctors may be able to help treat the condition.
If you feel bloated and heavy no matter how many changes you make to your diet or how much exercise you do, it could be due to water retention - which, annoyingly, often gets worse in the summer. This can leave you feeling tired, irritable and unwell. Fortunately, there are proven methods to relieve dropsy and accumulated water in the legs. These range from diet and lifestyle changes to nutritional supplements and massage.
Possible symptoms of edema
Symptoms of fluid buildup depend on the area affected. Common areas are usually the lower legs, hands, stomach and chest. In the limbs, feet and hands include theSymptoms swelling, changes in skin color, shiny or swollen skin, areas of skin that remain indented when pressed with a finger known as pitting edema, pain and tenderness in the limbs, stiffness in the joints, or weight gain.
However, this condition can also affect other areas of the body such as the brain and lungs. Also known as hydrocephalus, fluid buildup in the brain can cause symptoms such as vomiting,blurred vision, cause headaches and balance problems. This can be life-threatening. Excess fluid in the lungs or pulmonary edema can indicate a serious problem with the heart or respiratory system. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, cough, chest pain and weakness as this can affect the lungs' ability to deliver oxygen to the body.
Tips for treatment with your own remedies
Having water retention isn't all doom and gloom. You simply need to take proactive steps to change your diet and lifestyle so you can reduce them and feel healthy. One of the most direct ways you can start reducing water retention is through your diet.
Reduce salt intake and prevent water in the legs
The sodium in salt binds water in the body and is an important element in balancing fluid levels inside and outside of cells. Consuming too much salt can disrupt the fluid balance in your body and promote water retention. So, an easy way to combat edema is to simply start reducing your salt intake. Choose healthier alternatives to processed foods and when to use salt substitutes to season your dishes.
Limit consumption of refined carbohydrates
Consuming refined carbohydrates in products such as white flour, white bread, pasta or pastries leads to rapid increases in blood sugar and insulin levels. High insulin levels can cause your body to retain more sodium by causing your kidneys to reabsorb more sodium. This then leads to water retention as more fluid is retained by the sodium. You should therefore eat refined carbohydrates in moderation and avoid swallowing too much of them quickly during meals. Eat more slowly and consider switching to complex carbohydrates like brown rice and whole grains.
Increase magnesium intake
Magnesium has been found to help reduce water retention in women with premenstrual symptoms. It may therefore be helpful to include more magnesium in your diet to combat edema and water in the legs. Common dietary sources of magnesium include nuts, whole grains, dark chocolate and green leafy vegetables. If that's not enough, you can also take magnesium supplements to really boost your diet against water retention.
Consume more vitamin B6 from foods
As with magnesium, vitamin B6 has also been found to help reduce water retention in women with premenstrual symptoms. Therefore, you should also consider incorporating more of them into your diet. Fortunately, vitamin B6 is found in various readily available foods such as fish, organ meats, potatoes and starchy vegetables. Try adding more of it to your next meal and start fighting water retention.
Increase potassium consumption
Potassium is another important mineral that is essential for the body's metabolic processes. In addition, it helps prevent edema by reducing sodium levels in your body and promoting urine production. Foods rich in potassium include bananas, avocados, sweet potatoes, spinach and watermelon. Feel free to explore more potassium-rich foods and see what you would like to have more often in your daily diet.
Natural diuretics for water in the legs
Laxatives help relieve fluid retention symptoms by encouraging you to pee more often. This will reduce the total amount of fluid in your body. While many of the substances you consume daily, like coffee, are already diuretics, you may also consider taking natural laxatives like dandelion, hawthorn, and green and black tea.
Lifestyle changes for water in the legs
You can also reduce water retention through other lifestyle changes. For example, a sedentary lifestyle can also lead to water retention. Standing or sitting for many hours every day can cause fluid to build up in your legs due to poor blood circulation and gravity. This is why your legs and ankles can sometimes swell after standing or sitting all day. Take the time to get up and move or incorporate some form of daily exercise to keep your circulation going and water retention at bay.
Compression socks are tight-fitting and designed to wrap tightly around your legs. Additionally, they help compress your tissues and prevent fluid from building up. If you can't avoid being sedentary because of your work, they're a great investment to prevent or reduce water retention.
People also often experience water retention as a result of the gravity acting on bodies while sitting. So another easy way to reduce water retention is to simply put your feet up. This will encourage fluid to flow away from your legs and back into your body. Try it several times a day or whenever yourFeet swollenfeel.
Water intake and weight management
Just drink more water throughout the day. Although it may sound counterintuitive, drinking water actually helps reduce water retention. When your body is dehydrated, it tends to retain as much fluid as possible. This can lead to tissue dropsy and cause the classic swelling. Therefore, drinking about 12 glasses of water per day and staying hydrated can help reduce water retention.
Obesity or overweight can also lead to poor blood circulation in the body and contribute to water retention in lower extremities. The swelling can put additional strain on your feet and cause pain when walking. This can lead to a more sedentary lifestyle, which in turn further worsens the swelling. If you feel like your weight is contributing, you should consider a weight management plan. Consult a doctor to find a healthy path.
Massage or yoga as measures against water in the legs
As great as they are for mental health, massages can also be an effective way to relieve discomfort from edema. Massage your feet or affected areas with firm movements and pressure toward your heart to push fluid away and reduce swelling. It may also be time to get a massage every now and then, or if you can, get someone to do it for you.
A preliminary study suggests that yoga could help women with premenstrual syndrome quickly reduce water retention. It doesn't hurt to try the right yoga exercises. You might end up having a lot of fun making yoga a part of your daily life. This would help you stay active and improve your circulation anyway.
Medical treatment for edema and water in the legs
Of course, if you feel like diet and lifestyle changes aren't working well for you, you can ask your doctor about prescription diuretics. These are medications that aim to increase the amount of water and salt your body excretes through urine. There are three types of diuretics: thiazide, loop and sparing diuretics. You must consult a doctor to determine whether prescription medicines are right for you and what type of diuretics you should take.
In addition, there are also some medications that cause water retention as a side effect. These may include medications for high blood pressure, painkillers such as ibuprofen, antidepressants, and chemotherapy medications. If water retention is significantly affecting your daily life, it may be time to talk to your doctor about adjusting your dosage or possible alternatives. Finally, you should also remember that it is completely okay to struggle with edema and make these diet and lifestyle changes. It can often take a while before you see significant effects or figure out which methods are best for you and your particular situation.
