Water retention—also called edema or fluid retention—occurs when fluid buildup becomes trapped in the body’s tissues, causing swelling. This can result in heaviness or puffiness in areas such as the arms and legs and swelling in the ankles, feet, and hands.
Water retention can be caused by overconsumption of salt, certain medications, and certain health conditions, such as kidney disease and cancer. It is common among pregnant women and older adults, but anyone can experience it.
Water retention can be mild and resolve on its own, or it might be a symptom of a condition that requires treatment. If water retention causes severe swelling or becomes painful, it is important to see a healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.
Water retention causes body parts such as your face and extremities (arms, hands, legs, feet, and ankles) to become swollen and puffy-looking. The skin over the swollen area may also appear stretched and shiny.
Water retention is most common in the legs, ankles, and feet but can occur anywhere in the body.
If you have water retention, your skin may dimple or dent when the affected area is gently touched. The skin may feel warm and tight, and wearing clothing or jewelry may feel uncomfortable. In some cases, the affected area may feel tight and painful, causing difficulty moving the affected joints.
Possible causes of water retention include health conditions, pregnancy, lifestyle factors, and medication side effects.
Lifestyle and Dietary Factors
Several lifestyle factors commonly cause you to retain water:
- Excess sodium: Consuming excess sodium (salt) can cause water retention. Salt causes your body to hold onto more fluid.
- Protein deficiency: A lack of protein in the blood can also cause fluid to leak out of the blood vessels more easily. Low protein is usually caused by extreme malnutrition (a deficiency in nutrient intake) or kidney or liver diseases, where the body produces too little protein or loses too much of it.
- Standing or sitting for long periods: One example is sitting on a long airplane flight. Water retention caused by sitting or standing still for too long is worsened by warm or hot weather and is characterized by puffiness in the feet, hands, and face.
Health Conditions
Health conditions that cause water retention include cancer, heart failure, kidney disease, liver disease, venous insufficiency, and severe lung diseases such as emphysema:
- Heart failure: The heart becomes too weak to pump blood properly, causing blood to accumulate in front of the heart and increasing blood pressure in the veins. As a result, fluid is released into the surrounding tissue. This can lead to water retention in the arms and legs (peripheral edema) and in the abdomen.
- Kidney disease: Kidney disease can lead to water retention around the eyes and in the legs. Blood vessel pressure builds up when the kidneys cannot function properly to remove enough water and sodium from the body.
- Cirrhosis: Scarring of liver tissue can lead to water retention in the abdomen. Liver cirrhosis can result in protein loss and a buildup of blood in the liver, which increases pressure in the blood vessels and causes fluid to leak out of the abdomen.
- Venous insufficiency: Blood pools in the veins, preventing the blood from being properly transported to the feet and back up to the heart. This causes water retention in the ankles, lower legs, and feet.
- Lung diseases: Conditions like emphysema can lead to an increase in lung pressure, which causes blood to build up in the heart and veins. This results in water retention in the legs and feet.
- Cancer: Cancers located near the pelvic regions, such as kidney cancer and ovarian cancer, are more likely to cause water retention in the leg or foot.
Medications
Certain medications may cause water retention, including:
These medications can cause your body to hold onto salt and water, which causes swelling in the arms, legs, and feet.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy is another common cause of water retention. Pregnancy can lead to increased blood vessel pressure, which results in greater fluid weight and water retention.
Pregnancy also increases total body water content by 6-8 liters (L). It’s a risk factor for developing venous insufficiency and varicose (bulging, enlarged) veins, both of which can lead to water retention.
Mild water retention typically resolves with lifestyle or dietary changes, but medical care or further treatment is sometimes necessary. If you experience worsening symptoms or complications of water retention, it is important to seek emergency care.
Signs and symptoms of worsening water retention include:
- Sudden pain with swelling or swelling that doesn’t improve
- Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
- Swelling that moves up your arms or legs
- A swollen area that is painful or warm to the touch
- Rapid weight gain
- Inability to empty your bladder
To diagnose water retention, a healthcare provider will perform a physical exam by gently pressing the affected area for 15 seconds. If water retention is present, the area will pit or show a depression in the skin.
If additional tests are necessary, your healthcare provider may order blood or imaging tests, such as an ultrasound. An ultrasound uses sound waves to produce images of structures (such as tissues and organs) inside the body.
To treat water retention, the condition causing it must be treated. The goal is to manage and eliminate symptoms that could lead to health complications.
Underlying causes, such as diseases, require treatment or management to help control and resolve water retention. Treatments for water retention include the following:
- Take diuretics: Diuretics (water pills) flush out salt and excess fluid from the body through the urine.
- Elevate your legs: While sitting or lying down, elevate your legs with an item such as a pillow or a footstool to prevent fluid buildup.
- Wear compression socks, stockings, or sleeves: These garments help improve blood flow and move fluid around your arms and legs to prevent excess fluid buildup.
- Limit salt intake: Your healthcare provider may advise you to limit or avoid foods high in salt and sodium, which include bacon, ham, and canned foods.
- Move your body regularly: Walking and other forms of light exercise can help improve circulation and move fluid around your body.
If necessary, your healthcare provider may recommend you see a physical therapist (PT) or occupational therapist (OT).
- A physical therapist is a licensed practitioner who improves, restores, and maintains a person’s ability to move and function. They can provide you with a specialized series of exercises to help reduce swelling.
- An occupational therapist is a licensed practitioner who helps manage health-promoting activities for daily living, such as bathing, dressing, and eating.
From dietary tweaks to lifestyle changes, you can take steps to prevent water retention from returning. Here are some common recommendations:
- Wear compression socks or stockings
- Take frequent movement breaks when sitting or standing for long periods
- Limit salt intake
- Avoid tight clothing, shoes, or jewelry, as they can make swelling worse
Water retention can result in complications if it’s not managed or treated properly.
It can cause skin to stretch, which can lead to other health conditions if left untreated. Pregnant people are more susceptible to stretching skin and should speak with their healthcare provider about ways to manage water retention while pregnant.
Other complications of water retention include pulmonary edema, a serious health condition caused by fluid buildup in the lungs. It can cause difficulty breathing and is life-threatening. Emergency medical care is necessary to treat pulmonary edema.
Water retention is a fluid buildup in the body that can lead to swelling and puffiness. While it can occur anywhere in the body, water retention most commonly occurs in the ankles, legs, and feet.
The condition can present with symptoms that range from mild to severe. More mild forms of water retention can be treated with strategies like diuretics, leg elevation, and frequent movement throughout the day.
If you experience complications like shortness of breath, swelling that doesn’t go away, rapid weight gain, or the inability to empty the bladder, go to your nearest emergency room for treatment and medical care.
If you think you may be experiencing water retention related to an underlying condition, contact your healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.
