Water Retention In Men
Water retention in men is often more straightforward than it is in women since men do not have a monthly menstrual cycle.
In men, the causes of water retention can still be hormonal, but the hormone in question is more likely to be insulin. As we age our insulin can lose its effectiveness, so the body tries to compensate by producing more insulin. This happens in both men and women. High insulin levels interfere with the body’s sodium control, resulting in water retention.
This water retention is not always visible. It can just look like you’ve put on a bit of weight, but this weight is water as well as fat.
Men and oestrogen (estrogen)
High levels of the hormone oestrogen can also cause water retention. Just as testosterone is found in both men and women, so is oestrogen, although it plays a more important role in women’s bodies.
Oestrogen can be produced by body fat, so overweight men are more likely to have higher oestrogen levels. Many of today’s pollutants such as PCBs also have an oestrogenic effect, and men can be affected by this too.
Other causes of water retention in men
It may surprise you to know this, but you can suffer from both dehydration and water retention at the same time.
Dehydration is a common cause of water retention. When it is dehydrated the body learns to hold on to water in order to prevent damage to its vital tissues. Men are more at risk of dehydration than women because they are more likely to do manual work which increases sweating, or very active sports such as football. Men also tend to drink more alcohol, which has an extremely dehydrating effect.
Other drinks which cause dehydration are tea and coffee. Like alcohol all these drinks stimulate the kidneys to remove more water from the blood.
Most people need to drink much more water than is their custom. The minimum for men is two litres a day – more if you are physically active.
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Comments
Comment from Linda Lazarides
Time August 17, 2010 at 8:15 am
Plantar fasciitis is a type of inflammation. Inflammation causes water retention. It would be better to use a natural approach to try to eliminate the cause of this inflammation, since Ibuprofen and similar drugs are just painkillers. As you can see, it is only masking your problem, not curing it.
Comment from Don
Time January 28, 2011 at 2:00 pm
I have problem with water retention and bloating and gas, I would like to use remedies or supplements that are natural that will be able to give me fast results.
Comment from Steve
Time May 4, 2011 at 9:14 pm
Today before my daily run i decided to weigh myself. I weighed approximately 145 pounds before, whereas the day before i was 133. I weighed myself after my run and i was around 133 again. Is this from water retention?
Comment from Bryan
Time July 4, 2011 at 9:36 pm
Just noticed this section for men… I experienced an extreme case of amoebeosis and parasites while visiting India in 2007. I live in the US, have been treated for the above with antibiotics and now suffer acid reflex and have been prescribed a permanent dose of prilosec. I have also put on a lot of weight and have tremendous bloat.
Comment from charles
Time September 9, 2011 at 4:09 am
my legs seem filled with fluid—75 yrs old—i push hard about 6 inches above my ankles with two fingers and hold for 10 seconds—then remove fingers and i’m left with two finger indentations —for a long time before my skins fill back to normal—my legs are swollen above the ankles 6 to 8 inches all the time.
Comment from trafford
Time November 26, 2011 at 7:04 pm
hi linda, i weigh about 250 pounds, i feel a lot bloated after i drink water. i drink about 4 lts of water per day. also my salt intake is very high.
Comment from Mike
Time February 21, 2012 at 2:33 am
I have servere abdominal water retention. I had a lap band surgury 2& 1/2 years ago and I an now having alot of problems. I am a 50 year old male that has diadetes and takes 3 needles per/day, high B/P, high B/S and ADD meds. I may have a fatty liver.
I have been telling my doctor for 3 years to try and find out why my stomach is always swelling. I had a lift truck accident about 6 years ago causing alot of pain in my stomach area. Is it my Hormone levels, my byo duct not working. If I eat anything with sugar in it the swelling is unbelievable. Also I am getting scores on my chest, when one heals than another one will start. They start like a ingrowen hair and then get as big as a dime that is brown in colour.
Comment from Gordon Thomas
Time August 17, 2010 at 2:04 am
I have planterfascitis and am taking IBprofun for it to reduce the swelling. I did not take the amount I should have yesterday and my ankles got swollen up. What is this a sign of?