Suggest Remedy For Puffy Ankles And Swollen Wrists Due To Water Retention

Posted on Wed, 8 Oct 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 8 Oct 2014 Answered on

Fri, 31 Oct 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : I HAVE WATER RETENTION - PUFFY ANKLES, SWOLLEN WRISTS AND SOME SLIGHT SWELLING AT THE TOP OF MY FACIAL CHEEKS. MY BLOOD PRESSURE IS NORMAL AND I HAVE NO KNOWN HEART PROBLEMS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT TO DO TO ASSIST THE DRAINAGE OF FLUID.I AM OVERWEIGHT AND MY AGE IS 73 YEARS.HOWEVER I AM RELATIVELY HEALTHY FOR MY AGE.
MANY THANKS
XXXX

Answered by Dr. Rakesh Madhyastha (13 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Need to know the cause of water retention

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Thanks for the query

I understand you are having water retention in the form of puffy ankles and face. It is not just heart disease which causes water retention. I would suggest you the following things

1. Get yourself tested for urine routine for protein loss
2. Liver function test to check for albumin levels
3. Thyroid function test
4. ECHO cardiogram

Low albumin levels in our body causes water retention and so does thyroid dysfunction and heart disease. A very easy way to bring down water rentention is to add a diuretic like Lasix, this will excrete out excess water through the urine

I hope I was of help, if you have any further queries please get back to me

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar