Why am I retaining fluid in my legs?

You can have swelling due to fluid buildup simply from being overweight, being inactive, sitting or standing for a long time, or wearing tight stockings or jeans. Factors related to fluid buildup include: Acute kidney failure. Cardiomyopathy (problem with the heart muscle)
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How do you get rid of fluid in your legs?

Support stockings
  1. Movement. Moving and using the muscles in the part of your body affected by edema, especially your legs, may help pump the excess fluid back toward your heart. ...
  2. Elevation. ...
  3. Massage. ...
  4. Compression. ...
  5. Protection. ...
  6. Reduce salt intake.
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How can I get rid of water retention in my legs fast?

Remedies for water retention can include the following.
  1. Follow a low salt diet.
  2. Eat potassium- and magnesium-rich foods. They will help balance out your sodium levels. ...
  3. Take a vitamin B6 supplement.
  4. Eat protein. ...
  5. Keep your feet elevated. ...
  6. Wear compression socks or leggings. ...
  7. Seek a doctor's help if your problem persists.
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What is fluid retention a symptom of?

Consistent water retention might be a symptom of a serious condition such as: deep vein thrombosis. pulmonary edema, or fluid buildup inside your lungs. fibroids in women.
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When should I be concerned about leg swelling?

Seek medical care right away if your legs swell for no apparent reason, especially if you have unexplained leg pain, difficulty breathing, chest pain or other warning signs of a blood clot in your lungs or a heart condition. Many factors — varying greatly in severity — can cause leg swelling.
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EDEMA - What causes swollen legs and feet?



What happens if fluid retention is not treated?

"Fluid buildup can quickly escalate into a life-threatening situation," says Dr. Eldrin Lewis, a heart failure specialist at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital. Heart failure may start with injury from a heart attack or develop as a result of damaged valves, infection or disease of the heart muscle cells.
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What foods cause water retention in legs?

If you have too much in your system, your body holds in water. Table salt is one source of sodium, but we get more of it from processed food like lunch meat, crackers, chips, canned vegetables and soups, fast food, and even soft drinks.
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What medications cause water retention?

Medications – certain drugs, including high blood pressure medication (antihypertensives), corticosteroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are known to cause fluid retention.
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What medication is used for fluid retention?

Hydrochlorothiazide is used to treat edema (fluid retention; excess fluid held in body tissues) caused by various medical problems, including heart, kidney, and liver disease and to treat edema caused by using certain medications including estrogen and corticosteroids.
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What medications cause leg swelling?

The medications most likely to cause swollen legs include: Heart medicines called calcium channel blockers are often to blame: Amlodipine (Norvasc) Nifedipine (Adalat CC, Afeditab CR, Nifediac CC, Nifedical XL, Procardia)
...
Medications
  • Aspirin.
  • Ibuprofen.
  • Naproxen.
  • Celecoxib (Celebrex)
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Can dehydration cause leg swelling?

“Usually, individuals who suffer from heaviness and leg swelling make the mistake of not drinking enough water – says Dr. Marco Setti, Head of Vascular Surgery at Humanitas Gavazzeni. Instead, it is necessary to introduce fluids into the body by eating lots of vegetables and fruits as well as drinking natural water.
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What causes legs to swell from knees down?

Common causes of leg swelling include salt retention, cellulitis, congestive heart failure, venous insufficiency, pregnancy, and medication side effects.
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What is the most effective natural diuretic?

The 8 Best Natural Diuretics to Eat or Drink
  1. Coffee. Share on Pinterest. ...
  2. Dandelion Extract. Dandelion extract, also known as Taraxacum officinale or “lion's tooth,” is a popular herbal supplement often taken for its diuretic effects ( 4 , 5 ). ...
  3. Horsetail. ...
  4. Parsley. ...
  5. Hibiscus. ...
  6. Caraway. ...
  7. Green and Black Tea. ...
  8. Nigella Sativa.
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What is the safest diuretic?

TUESDAY, Feb. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Patients taking a common diuretic to help lower blood pressure may be better off with a similarly effective but safer one, a new study suggests. Current guidelines recommend the drug chlorthalidone (Thalitone) as the first-line diuretic.
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When I push on my leg it leaves a dent?

Edema is swelling in the body caused by excess fluid. It often affects the lower body, such as the legs, feet, and ankles, but it can occur anywhere. If you press on a swollen area and an indentation or pit remains, it's called pitting edema.
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Why am I gaining weight so fast when I barely eat?

Unintentional weight gain occurs when you put on weight without increasing your consumption of food or liquid and without decreasing your activity. This occurs when you're not trying to gain weight. It's often due to fluid retention, abnormal growths, constipation, or pregnancy.
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Does high blood pressure cause water retention?

Water retention can occur due to cardiac problems like high blood pressure, cardiac insufficiency or venous insufficiency. It occurs when the heart has trouble pumping blood to the body, or because the valves inside the veins are not functioning properly.
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What is a home remedy for swollen legs?

Soak your legs for 15 to 20 minutes in lukewarm water with Epsom salts, which helps relax muscles and ease swelling. If you don't have a bathtub, try to find a bucket big enough to fit at least one leg at a time, with the water covering your legs up to your knees.
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Does coffee make you retain water?

Coffee can make a quick difference in the short term because it is a diuretic, but excessive caffeine intake is known to increase water retention, as is alcohol, so avoid over-indulging.
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Are bananas good for water retention?

Eating food that is rich in potassium like bananas, tomatoes and avocados can easily help you lose water retention in your body. Research has indicated that potassium could easily counter the harmful effects of sodium in the body.
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How do you get rid of water retention overnight?

How To Get Rid Of Water Retention Overnight: Beat Bloat With...
  1. Decrease Sodium Intake.
  2. Cut Back On Refined Carbs.
  3. Drink More Water.
  4. Take Supplements. Chromium Picolinate. Potassium Citrate.
  5. Exercise.
  6. Eat Potassium Rich Foods.
  7. Manage Stress Levels.
  8. Take Electrolytes.
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What are the 4 stages of congestive heart failure?

There are four heart failure stages (Stage A, B, C and D). The stages range from "high risk of developing heart failure" to "advanced heart failure."
...
Stage C
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Feeling tired (fatigue).
  • Less able to exercise.
  • Weak legs.
  • Waking up to urinate.
  • Swollen feet, ankles, lower legs and abdomen (edema).
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What stage of heart failure is edema?

Patients in the end stages of heart failure want to know what to expect. The symptoms of end-stage congestive heart failure include dyspnea, chronic cough or wheezing, edema, nausea or lack of appetite, a high heart rate, and confusion or impaired thinking.
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How do you tell if your legs are retaining water?

Signs of edema include: Swelling or puffiness of the tissue directly under your skin, especially in your legs or arms. Stretched or shiny skin. Skin that retains a dimple (pits), after being pressed for several seconds.
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What fruit is the best diuretic?

Watermelon, with its 92% water content and high potassium content, also has diuretic properties. It contains the amino acid citrulline, which relaxes blood vessels and keeps fluids from leaking into nearby tissue, thus reducing the retention of water.
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