How to combat water retention

With water retention, also known as edema and fluid retention, you may notice that some areas of you body feel tight or puffier. For example, the rings on your fingers may feel tighter than usual, or there may be puffiness in your abdomen, feet, ankles or around the face. You may also see that edema has caused indentation from the elastic bands of your socks on your legs. Water retention can be a side effect of prescription medication or a sign of a more serious condition, like kidney or heart problems. It also can be the result of alcohol intake, excess salt intake or prolonged inactivity. If you're a woman, edema can result from pregnancy or monthly hormonal changes. There are ways to combat water retention.

Instructions

How to Combat Water Retention

• 1

  Increase your intake of water and tea. Avoid colas, juices and sodas since they contain some salt. Instead, drink plain water. When water travels through your kidneys and bladder, it can dilute your urine. As a result, the water makes it easier for your kidneys to flush out salt and urine, according to Health Guidance.

  Increase your physical activity. Regular exercise can combat water retention. When you work out, your body expel excess water and salt through your sweat. In addition, exercise can create increased urine flow and higher respiration, which can flush out edema. For instance, if you have to sit or stand for a long time, take a break and walk up and down stairs once every hour. Try pointing your toes downward before you raise them as high as possible. This exercise will help your foot and calf muscles.

  Another option is to exercise in a swimming pool. Water pressure can force the excess water from your tissues and into your bladder. Make sure the pool water is 80-90 degrees. If you're pregnant, make sure that the water in a pool is not above 100 degrees.

• 2

  Rest with your feet elevated. When you lie down with your feet up, fluids that have settled in your ankles, feet or legs reverse direction.

• 3

  Avoid foods high in salt, such as pizzas or hot dogs, to combat water retention. Although your body can rid itself of normal salt intake, too much can build in your body and remain there until your kidneys can expel the excess, which can take at least 24 hours, according to Health Guidance.