Water weight problems affect many individuals. Water retention -- also known as edema -- has a variety of causes ranging from pregnancy to diet to certain medications to even more serious conditions such as congestive heart failure. Fluid retention is typically in the calves, abdomen and feet, but in some instances organs such as your lungs may be affected.
Diet
A poor diet is often the culprit in water retention issues. A diet high is sodium is one of the most likely sources of edema, and the retention is a combination of sodium and water. The subcutaneous tissue, muscles and organs confine the water and salt, causing fluid retention. Your kidneys play an important role in regulating a healthy balance between the electrolyte sodium and water in your body. When you consume a lot of sodium, your kidneys respond by counteracting the sodium with increased levels of water. Problems with your kidneys can also cause fluid retention.
Hormones
Female hormones are responsible for causing water weight gain. The week before a woman's menstrual cycle, symptoms of premenstrual syndrome or PMS occur, causing water retention. According to MayoClinic.com, the exact cause of this excess water weight is unknown, but it is known that hormones, especially estrogen, appear to play a role. During pregnancy, hormone levels fluctuate and cause fluid retention, especially in the feet, legs and fingers; the chemical changes effect the balance between sodium and water. Even the expanding uterus causes fluid retention by pressing on the veins and vena cava, causing the blood to slow and form a pool. Hormone changes and hormone replacement therapy during menopause also will cause fluid retention.
Medications
Certain medications have been known to increase fluid retention. Particular steroid medications, especially corticosteroids, can cause edema. Even nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have the potential to cause swelling and excess water weight. Hypertension medications also commonly cause water retention, and a diuretic is often prescribed in addition to combat the fluid buildup. Both contraceptives and hormone therapy containing estrogen have the side effect of water weight gain.
Other Serious Conditions
Chronic venous insufficiency occurs because the veins in your legs do not allow the blood to travel back through the arteries to the heart. This condition causes water weight in lower extremities and can result in clotting. Congestive heart failure causes the heart to pump blood inadequately and as a result, your body compensates by retaining fluid in your subcutaneous tissue, liver and legs. Other serious conditions that involve edema include cirrhosis, kidney disease, some forms of cancer and thyroid disease.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Sodium: How to Tame Your Salt Habit Now; March 2011
- MayoClinic; Water Retention: Relieve This Premenstrual Symptom; October 2009
- BabyCenter: Swollen Extremities (Edema) During Pregnancy
- Texas Heart Institute: Diuretics
- University of Chicago Medical Center: Chronic Venous Insufficiency
- MayoClinic.com: Edema; October 2009
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