Water retention, also known as oedema, happens when fluid builds up in your body's tissues instead of being properly removed.
Your body has a constant process of fluid exchange. Fluid naturally leaks from your blood vessels into the surrounding body tissues. This is a normal part of how nutrients and oxygen reach your cells.
The Role of the Lymphatic System
To prevent this fluid buildup, your body relies on the lymphatic system.
- The lymphatic system is a complex network of tubes spread throughout your body.
- Its main job is to collect the fluid that has leaked into the tissues.
- This collected fluid is called lymph.
- The lymphatic system drains this lymph from the tissues.
- Finally, the lymphatic system empties the collected lymph back into your bloodstream, maintaining fluid balance.
What Happens During Fluid Retention (Oedema)
According to the reference, fluid retention (oedema) occurs when the fluid isn't removed from the tissues.
When the lymphatic system cannot effectively drain the fluid from the tissues – for various potential reasons not detailed in the reference – the fluid starts to accumulate. This accumulation is what we experience as water retention or oedema, often visible as swelling in affected areas like the legs, ankles, or feet.
Here's a simple breakdown:
| Normal Fluid Balance | Fluid Retention (Oedema) |
|---|---|
| Fluid leaks from blood into tissues. | Fluid leaks from blood into tissues. |
| Lymphatic system drains fluid (lymph). | Fluid isn't removed from tissues. |
| Fluid is returned to the bloodstream. | Fluid builds up in tissues. |
In essence, water retention is a disruption in the body's natural fluid drainage system, specifically when the lymphatic system fails to remove the fluid that has leaked into the tissues.
