Water retention happens when the body cannot get rid of excess water when needed, so water stays under the skin and in the body. This results in an uncomfortable feeling for most people. Water retention in the body can either be a normal occurrence or it can also be a sign of a serious medical condition.
Diet
People who don't watch their salt intake tend to retain more water, according to the Mayo Clinic. They state that salt causes the body to hold on to water, while certain minerals flush excess water in the body. Therefore, people who eat a lot of sodium from canned vegetables, soy sauce, frozen dinners and added salts may experience water retention. Reducing sodium intake and increasing fruits and vegetables in the diet can help to reduce water retention.
Liver Cirrhosis
The National Institutes of Health states that cirrhosis of the liver is another common reason for water retention, especially around the stomach area. Cirrhosis involves the loss of liver function, and scarring of the liver, often due to excessive alcohol consumption or liver disease. The liver functions to remove waste products from the blood stream but when its function is repaired, water tends to build up. Since cirrhosis can be very dangerous, people with water retention around the abdominal area should be seen by their doctors.
Premenstrual Syndrome
According to the Mayo Clinic, one of the most common reasons for water retention is premenstrual syndrome (PMS), the week or two before a woman gets her monthly menstrual period. They state that hormonal changes that prepare a woman's body to have her period also cause the body to retain extra water. While this amount of water retention caused by PMS is not harmful, it can be uncomfortable and discouraging, especially if a woman is trying to lose weight. The Mayo Clinic states that increasing physical activity can help to reduce water retention in women who are going through premenstrual syndrome.
Cancer
Excess water retention can also be a sign of something as serious as cancer. The National Institutes of Health states that water retention can be a symptom of pancreatic cancer, endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer, in particular, involves water retention in the lower abdomen. Carrying excess water weight around the stomach area is not always a sign of something as serious as cancer, but people who have a chronic bloated and full feeling may want to see their doctors.
