Table of Contents
What’s this
Water retention consists of a accumulation of fluids within the tissues which causes swelling. It is mainly women who suffer from water retention, in particular women with a gynoid body constitution, commonly called “pear”. The areas of the body most affected by water retention are generally the lower limbs and generally the edema is widespread especially at the level of buttocks, thighs and legs.
The accumulation of fluids within the tissues is easily detected by some signs and symptoms, including the feeling of heaviness in the legs and swelling of the feet and ankles. Generally these symptoms tend to appear when you spend a lot of time sitting or several hours on your feet. The swelling can then worsen upon awakening, at the end of the day e during the summer seasonwhen temperatures are high. However, water retention is not always so evident and in some cases the accumulation of fluid does not lead to perceptible swelling.
In the absence of particular symptoms, to understand if you have water retention it is sufficient to look in the mirror, standing. If after about a minute the color of the thighs and legs appears uneven, with white patches and red areas, it is possible that you suffer from water retention. Another test is that of press the skin with a fingertip: if a white mark remains that disappears in a longer time than in other parts of the body, it means that the tissue is affected by edema due to water retention.
Causes and consequences
Water retention is caused by circulation disorders blood and lymphatic which in turn can depend on genetic, hormonal factors, overweight, a diet rich in salt or a sedentary lifestyle and a number of other causes that slow down blood and lymphatic circulation. The accumulation of liquids is therefore caused by the slowing of blood and lymphatic flow, which is unable to remove waste substances produced by cellular metabolism. The waste substances therefore accumulate until they come out of the cells together with the cellular fluid.
The consequence of the stagnation of liquids, in addition to swelling, is the appearance of cellulite. The excess of liquid outside the adipocytes, in fact, causes a series of reactions that lead to the orange peel. Over time, the stagnation of liquids causes the surrounding tissues – including the skin – to lose their firmness. Thighs, buttocks and other areas of the body will look like this more relaxed and less toned. The tissues damaged by water retention are then replaced with scar tissue that causes the classic “holes” of cellulite. In areas affected by water retention, a inflammatory process which, in addition to causing more or less visible swelling, causes pressure pain. If you suffer from water retention it is therefore important to take action to improve blood and lymphatic circulation and thus prevent the appearance of cellulite.
What to do
To counteract water retention it is necessary to intervene to improve blood and lymphatic circulation, so as to favor the process of elimination of accumulated liquids. Although there are factors that predispose to this condition, much can be done by changing your habits. If for work you are forced to spend a lot of time sitting or standing it is good to carve out 30-40 minutes a day to exercise. A brisk walk or other activities such as dancing or training circuits to be carried out at home are certainly useful. During the work, then, it can help wear graduated socks and, every 40-60 minutes, do a few lifts on your toes or, while seated, stretch your legs forward and rotate your ankles. Those who work from home can get one two minute break every hour to perform a very simple exercise, lying on your stomach and placing your legs vertically against a wall.
If the swelling in the lower limbs is particularly pronounced, the situation can be improved keeping your legs raised during the night’s rest, placing a pillow between the mattress and the mattress cover at the foot of the bed. The showers are also excellent alternating jets of hot and cold water and which should be directed on the legs starting from the ankles and going up towards the buttocks. You can then resort to draining massages do it yourself or – even better – performed in a beauty center, using essential oils of sweet orange, lemon and juniper diluted in vegetable oil. Finally, pay attention to nutrition andexcess saltEating fruits and vegetables, staying well hydrated and limiting salt are a great help in avoiding stagnation of liquids.
Natural remedies
Natural remedies for water retention are aimed at improve the tone of blood vessels, promote circulation, drain excess fluids and reduce any inflammation. To promote microcirculation, ivy, the gotu kola, the butcher’s broom. These remedies can be associated with red fruits, such as blueberries and raspberries, rich in flavonoids that exert beneficial effects on circulation and inflammatory states.
Diuresis, on the other hand, can be stimulated by taking horsetail-based herbal teas, ortosiphon, Birch, juniper and pilosella. The ash tree, which combines the diuretic and anti-inflammatory action with the ability to improve the elimination of sodium.
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