What signs point to an excess of water in the body? How is it identified? And when it might be necessary to see a doctor or go to the emergency room? This article contains the solution.
Although the body may retain fluid, what are the signs and symptoms of too much water? Continue reading the article to know the answer, in addition to many important information:
Symptoms of excess water in the body
In general, the symptoms of excess water in the body depend on where the problem is. The feet, hands, abdomen, and chest are typical locations for water retention.
1. Symptoms of excess water in the body in adults
The most typical signs that only affect adults are as follows:
- There is swelling throughout the body, but it is most common in the abdomen.
- Swelling in the legs, feet, and ankles.
- Joint stiffness.
- Swelling of the abdomen, face, and hips.
- Unexplained weight fluctuations.
- After a brief period of pressure, the skin forms a fold.
- Feeling severe pain and discomfort in the extremities.
- One of the most significant signs of too much water in the body is stretching and glossiness of the skin, which may also be accompanied by a change in skin tone.
- Rapid weight gain within a few days or weeks.
2. Symptoms of excess water in the body in children
Children who experience water retention in the body may experience the following symptoms:
- Severe swelling of the feet and ankles.
- Swelling of the face or eyelids.
- Flatulence.
Symptoms of excess water in the body that require a doctor's review
The following serious symptoms necessitate a trip to the doctor and should be known after you have learned the symptoms that are most frequently associated with an excess of water in the body:
1. Adults who have excess water retention should consult a doctor
These symptoms include:
- Chest pain, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing are all signs that you may have pulmonary edoema that needs to be treated right away.
- having a deep vein thrombosis in the foot if you experience persistent foot pain and swelling.
- the appearance of hydrocephalus symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, a severe headache, and balance issues.
2. Children's signs of excess water that need a doctor's attention
In addition to the previous symptoms, the child may suffer from one or more of the following symptoms, which are somewhat dangerous, as they may indicate the presence of problems with the heart or lungs, so they require a visit to a specialist doctor or go to the emergency room directly, and they include the following:
- feeling extremely worn out after performing a simple action, like climbing stairs.
- Significant weight gain despite not changing the diet.
- Breathing difficulty.
- Cough that lingers and gets worse at night or while lying down. This is a symptom of excess water in the body that may indicate acute pulmonary edema or fluid retention in the lung.
Complications of excess water in the body
In addition to knowing the symptoms of excess water in the body, it is necessary to know the complications that may result from it, which include the following:
- Difficulty walking .
- Increased risk of infection and skin ulcers.
- Reducing the flexibility of arteries, veins, joints and muscles.
Methods for diagnosing symptoms of excess water in the body
It is challenging to identify the signs of excessive water in the body, and the diagnosis is largely dependent on the patient's information. However, there are some diagnostic techniques that the doctor may use; the most significant of these are listed below:
- physical examination.
- Know the patient's medical history.
- Gather specific information about the problem's beginning, the aggravating factors, and whether or not symptoms occur consistently or occasionally.
- Do some blood tests.
- urinalysis
- Liver function analysis.
- Chest x-ray.
- Renal function analysis.
- Electrocardiogram.