Causes of Water Retention

Lymphatic system

Lymphatic system is a network of lymph nodes and lymph vessels secreting lymph fluid; fluid that consists of protein, fats, water and wastes. It drains excess tissue fluid, filters waste products, carries fats absorbed from the intestine to blood and produces immune cells to fight infections.

One of the most common causes of neck swelling is disease of the thyroid gland. So, what is thyroid gland? What happen when it’s malfunctioning?

Well, thyroid gland is a large ductless gland that lies at the lower front of the neck, secreting thyroid hormones; thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3); directly into the bloodstream. These hormones affect almost all the cells in the body. They control much of the metabolism and stimulate the growth of child.

The prostate is part of the male reproductive organ contributing in the semen secretion. It is a cone-shaped glandular organ round the neck of the bladder. It has 5 lobes: anterior, posterior, two laterals and one median lobe. Any injury in the prostate will obstruct urination and ejaculation since part of the urethra (the duct that conveying urine and semen from the bladder) is surrounded by the prostate.

Too much salt or excess sodium intake

Too much salt or excess sodium intake will elevate the blood pressure and cause edema (usually ankles and feet swelling). This particularly occurs in person who is more sensitive to sodium.

If you're suffering joint pain, fever, swelling in the knee or other joints, fatigue, check this out, it might be symptoms of arthritis such as gout, osteoarthritis, bursitis or rheumatoid arthritis.

Preeclampsia is a high blood pressure during pregnancy which is accompanied by proteinuria; significant amount of protein in urine. Some women develop high blood pressure without proteinuria; this is referred to as Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH). Both preeclampsia and PIH are a leading cause of death to maternal and infant.

Water retention occurs to about 50% of women during their pregnancy in some degree. The water retention usually lead to feet swelling and might cause joint and leg pain. It is a common condition in pregnant women. In fact it’s a sign of normal pregnancy (pregnancy without the present of any serious condition).

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer which develops in the mesothelium; protective layer of thin platelike cells covering over most of the body’s internal organs such as heart, lungs and abdomen.

The veins (venous) also referred to as blood vessels are tubes or ducts that transport blood to the heart. The veins contribute to our circulatory system by carrying oxygen-poor blood from the leg back to the heart.

There’re two reasons why water retention occur in patients with lung diseases:

• The flow of the blood from the heart to the lung backs up because of increased pressure in the blood vessels. The blood build-up will leak into the surrounding tissues and lead to pulmonary edema, abdominal fluid retention, ankle and feet swelling, etc.
• The lung capillaries become leakier and cause fluid retention in lungs (pulmonary edema).