Crying itself doesn't directly cause widespread water retention throughout the body leading to weight gain, as suggested by some sources that connect excessive crying with weight gain due to unrelated factors like hormonal imbalances (e.g., hypothyroidism). However, crying can cause localized fluid retention, specifically around the eyes.
Localized Fluid Retention Around the Eyes
The tears produced during crying don't always drain completely. This excess fluid can accumulate in the tissues surrounding the eyes, resulting in temporary puffiness or swelling. This is a localized effect and not a systemic change in the body's overall fluid balance. The swelling typically resolves on its own. This is supported by multiple sources stating that crying and sleeping can both cause swelling around the eyes due to fluid retention. Medical News Today and other reputable sources corroborate this.
Systemic Water Retention: No Direct Link
It's crucial to distinguish between localized swelling around the eyes and systemic water retention. While crying might be associated with stress and hormonal changes that indirectly influence fluid balance in some individuals, there's no direct causal relationship between crying and overall body water retention resulting in weight gain. Excessive sodium intake is a far more significant factor in causing fluid retention affecting the whole body.
Other Factors Contributing to Puffy Eyes After Crying:
- Inflammation: Crying can irritate the eyes, leading to inflammation that contributes to swelling.
- Stress Hormones: Emotional distress associated with crying can increase stress hormones (like cortisol), which might indirectly influence fluid retention in some individuals, although this is not a direct effect of the crying itself.
In conclusion, while crying can lead to temporary localized fluid retention around the eyes due to incomplete tear drainage, it does not cause widespread water retention in the body.
