Water Retention in Men

Water retention or edema, is a medical ailment that happens when the body builds up on water in certain parts of the body, making it bloat up, or swell. When the abdomen is filling with water, one can actually hear the sound of water filling it up. If these signs persist over a week, where you experience signs of swelling, you need to get immediate medical help. Water retention and bloating go hand in hand, wherein one also notices a bloated facade when it comes to the body.

The most common places to get affected are the ankles and legs, where there is pain and a feeling of discomfort. Water retention takes place when there is pressure inside the capillaries, or if there are changes in the capillary walls, making it leak. When there is too much of fluid build up in the capillaries, they cannot hold all of it in, thus it causes a leakage, making it flow out into tissue spaces between cells. This is why there is swelling and a feeling of tenderness around that area, where it occurs. Any kind of symptom where there is water logging, is a sure sign of water retention in one's body.

Why Men Suffer from Water Retention

When a man experiences water retention, there are many things that are changing in his body making him experience uncomfortable sensations, especially swelling.

• When the kidneys are unable to fill fluid out of the blood, it is flushed out in the form of urine. This would ultimately be termed as kidney failure. This could be because of an infection, disease or some sort of viral attack on the system. When this happens, swollen ankles is a common phenomenon, as well as around the leg area.
• Thyroid problems can cause water retention.
• High levels of estrogen, which is a bi-product of body fat, in overweight men, can cause them to have estrogen fluctuations that are high. Pollutants have an estrogen effect on women and men too.
• The body can also be dehydrated, during water retention, which is odd. This is because the body has to hold on to what fluid is left to avoid damage to the important tissues. That is why it is vital to drink lots of water. Fluid intake needs to be increased, in order to flush out toxins from the body and positively impact one's body to reduce swollen ankles in men; make it a habit to have meals that are rich in whole grains, leafy vegetables and fruits as well.
• Heart water retention is due to change abnormalities when it comes to pressure within the heart. If pressure is not enough when the heart needs that sufficient pump, water starts to build up in the ankles, feet, legs and even in the lungs for some people. This then leads to a lot of stress put on the heart, as well as breathing difficulties.
• Consuming a lot of salt, can lead to water retention in guys. Junk foods cause this, as well as those that are easily attainable from stores, like flavored additives and not proper meals made from home. Sodium is the main ingredient that causes water retention, so cut down on sodium intake to avoid this.
• Sugar, is another factor that aids water retention. It can force the body to produce more insulin, thus causing one to retain water.
• Proteins play an important role in the body, and maintains one's water balance. They in turn bring in more fluid into the body and maintains it. Those who lack proteins, cuts down the capillaries ability to draw in more water from tissues. Thus this leads to accumulated water within tissue spaces.

How to Avoid Water Retention

Water retention can be avoided by following simple and important guidelines in how to maintain yourself, and what to do in order to stay healthy and risk free from water retention.

• Avoid wearing clothes and other accessories (belts) that are too tight for you. You need blood circulation, and cutting off that flow can lead to water retention.
• Increase fruit, vegetable and water intake and also eat high potassium foods. Cranberry juice has many added benefits, and also helps in flushing out built up water.
• Exercise, and practice routines that will help you promote healthy blood circulation.
• Make sure you get your everyday healthy batch of protein intake.
• Keep your feet high, or try elevating that part of the body where water retention has clogged up the tissues, to promote circulation of blood.

Water retention is something that can easily be avoided if you know how to take care of your overall health and maintain a good lifestyle. You'll save yourself a lot of trouble by getting yourself checked sooner, instead of going through the adverse effects of this condition when it reaches a severe stage. Have a healthy tomorrow.