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Water retention generally occurs when fluid that should travel through blood vessels and lymph channels works its way into cells and the tiny spaces between them. Depending on the cause your GP may decide to treat you with a diuretic to help you excrete the excess.

The problem with this is you also lose important minerals from your body so it may be preferable to look for a more natural route. While diuretics may be necessary with some conditions, other times you can self treat with an adjustment of diet, exercise, or by using a herbal supplement such as Aqua-Rite.

The causes of water retention are many and varied. Sometimes it’s easy to identify - such as having too much salt in your diet or wearing tight knee high socks. Sometimes it can be a menstruation period side effect and occasionally it could be something more serious such as kidney or liver disease. In the elderly it is more commonly a result of heart problems. 

As already mentioned in most cases you can help yourself without the need to see a GP by some simple self help. If salt is an issue then you will need to adjust your diet. If you have fluid on the ankles  you can reduce swelling by taking regular exercise or even by self-massage. Another traditional remedy used for water retention is parsley, which has been shown to work as a weak diuretic.

So when should you see a doctor?

If retention causes swelling in your abdomen or limbs that persists form more than a week, see your doctor. Medical attention should be sought more swiftly for those with bloating so severe that poking your skin with your finger leaves a dent there. Obviously if your water retention is the result of heart failure or any other serious disease then you should already be under a doctors care anyway.

As always please remember that this article is for information only and shouldn’t replace professional advice. We always try to provide information as accurate as possible but like most people we may make the occasional mistake.