Borja Quiroga: Debunking Fluid Retention Myths & Diuretic Use

Most of us assume a little puffiness means we’re holding water, but a kidney specialist says that’s frequently enough a misconception.In fact, true fluid retention is surprisingly rare, and usually tied to serious underlying health issues or simple physics.

Is fluid retention a myth? A nephrologist explained that most people experiencing what they *think* is fluid retention are likely experiencing something else entirely. “You have to be very careful because I have encountered patients who take diuretics because theoretically they retain fluids,” he said. “To retain liquids there can only be two conditions: in illness, that we have a heart disease, which does not pump enough blood; or a kidney disease that filters little or loses a lot of protein in the urine.”

Did you know?-True fluid retention, clinically defined as excess water accumulation, is uncommon. Most perceived swelling is due to other factors, like prolonged standing or underlying medical conditions.

But there’s one common, harmless situation were fluid *can* accumulate: posture. “The only thing that can make us retain fluid is posture,” the specialist noted. “We retain fluids when we have our legs or arms on a slope all the time, in areas below the heart.” When sitting or standing for extended periods, water from blood vessels can pool in the lower extremities.

Simple Solution for Postural Fluid Buildup

The solution, according to the kidney specialist, is surprisingly straightforward: elevate your feet. “Put your feet up. When I’m on guard I spend a lot of time standing and sitting. When I put my feet up I urinate. The day after having a guard I can’t stop peeing, I am urinating everything that I have accumulated during the guard.”

Pro tip-Elevating your legs helps counteract gravity, allowing pooled fluids to redistribute and be naturally eliminated through urination. This is a simple,non-invasive way to reduce swelling.

Ultimately, the specialist emphasized that fluid retention is typically linked to a medical condition requiring treatment, or simply a matter of gravity. “Fluid retention can only occur with illness, which must be treated with diuretics, or in decline planes, in low areas below the heart, which must be treated with postural techniques,” he concluded.