The water retention treatment should be directed at the underlying cause, after following careful diagnosis. Treatment options should also vary as per the severity of the symptoms. Since pulmonary edema is a potentially life-threatening condition, it needs immediate treatment. This is because excess fluid present in the lungs affects the transfer of oxygen from the lungs to the bloodstream adversely. Pulmonary edema requires supplemental oxygen, mechanical ventilation as well as several medications. Edema and water retention treatment which is caused by hypothyroidism can be relieved by treating this thyroid malfunction with thyroxine.
Sodium induces water retention, and hence, sodium reduction is an obvious water retention treatment. Patients having edema are encouraged to lower their intake of sodium, which is done by reducing the amount of salt in their diet. Dietitians advise the patients to stop adding salt to their food when cooking, or while eating. Besides, to avoid foods such as salted snackfoods, packet or canned soups, soy sauce besides processed foods, all of which contain ‘hidden’ salt.
Physical exercise helps to widen the blood vessels, leading to an increase in the amount of fluid which goes to the kidneys in order to be excreted. A thirty minute workout or a brisk walk, which is done three times a week, should help your body to let go of excess water and be an effective water retention treatment.
Diuretics induce the kidneys to excrete more water as well as sodium, thus reducing the fluid volume throughout the body. However, as fluid removal decreases the blood volume and can cause an unhealthy reduction in blood pressure, the use of diuretics has to be medically supervised as a water retention treatment. The principal diuretics which are used to treat edema may help to improve many types of edema, but they are not universally appropriate. They will not benefit edema which is resulting from venous insufficiency or during pregnancy.