Hypothyroidism and Water Retention

Hypothyroidism and Water Retention

Hypothyroidism, by itself, can cause concerns in the body that can affect different bodily systems. Water retention, on its own, makes people gassy and feel bloated.

 

But, hypothyroidism and water retention paired together can be detrimental to a person’s health.

 

These health concerns can create life-threatening problems over time that people need to take note of.


What is Hypothyroidism?

According to The Harvard Medical School Guide to Overcoming Thyroid Problems, over 13 million people living in the United States of America deal with a thyroid gland that is underactive.

 

This is referred to as hypothyroidism. Also, a lower temperature in the body takes place when hypothyroidism occurs. The thyroid becomes underactive and does not produce the necessary hormones that the body needs for a happy and healthy life.

 

Women are the ones who deal most with hypothyroidism, specifically ladies that are over the age of 60. With chemical reactions in the body going haywire, the early symptoms of hypothyroidism can be where women start to notice that things are going wrong.

 

However, this disease is not limited to older women, but also can be found in infants, children, and teens.

 

Why does Hypothyroidism Happen?

There are a lot of reasons as to how hypothyroidism happens. It can be because of an autoimmune disease dealing with immune deficiencies.

 

Also, hypothyroidism can be a result of hyperthyroidism treatments that go wrong and verve the other way. Any surgeries, radiation therapy, or medications can also be the perpetrator.

 

Issues like pregnancy, deficiencies of iodine, pituitary disorders, and congenital diseases can hurt the body, too. 

 

What is Water Retention?

Water retention happens when the body accumulates extra fluid that are not needed in the body. This type of clear fluid starts to gather in cavities and tissue of the body.

 

Furthermore, water can buildup in the circulatory system, adding to weight gain. There are other names for water retention such as hydropsy, fluid retention, and edema.

 

On its own, water retention can add more weight to a human body. One of the common symptoms of hypothyroidism is water retention.

 

Since the body is made up of 70% water, it can be found in bones, blood, organs, and muscles. Water is vital for a human’s existence, but too much can cause problems. .

 

Negative Issues

Paired together, hypothyroidism and water retention can cause weight gain among people.

 

A lot of times, people with water retention will start to see swelling in their face, hands, wrists, legs, ankles, and/or feet. Along with the swelling, people dealing with hypothyroidism and water retention also deal with lower energy even after a full night of sleep.

 

Moreover, headaches, skin that is dry, and constipation are more problems that persist with hypothyroidism. Even women could experience heighten menstrual cycles.

 

Solutions to the Problem

There are a few ways to combat the negative effects of hypothyroidism and water retention.

 

The first step should be going to a doctor to test for hypothyroidism. So many people believe they are invincible over the years, but it is important to get a check-up year-to-year.

 

Especially if an individual is gaining weight in rapid succession, they should consult a doctor because this could be hypothyroidism. Furthermore, doctors can plot out a plan to help patients with new medication, dieting, and exercises.

 

Also, know that if a doctor’s advice does not work the first time, it does not mean they are wrong. It just means there are more things to try, so health updates are really important when dealing with hypothyroidism and water retention.

 

This process honestly may take two or three visits to repair the difficulty. The more detail you have to give your medical provider during this time, the more beneficial it will be for you in the long run.

There are some thyroid medications that can actually reverse the effects of weight gain, and in turn, people can see weight loss happen over time.

 

Prescription medicines can actually steady the thyroid gland production if an individual is dealing with hypothyroidism. Doctors will usually give patients a mild dosage of drug to help with the problem. Over time, a patient will vary doses to find the right amount for them because it really differs from person to person.

 

However, doctors and patients will still need to be cautious in protection against an overdose. Sometimes, an over-the-counter medication may be the best thing, like Pepto Bismol or Beano, to work against water retention.

 

This decision is made with a personal physician as they gauge how troublesome they believe water retention is for that individual.

Alternating a diet can help fight against hypothyroidism and water retention. There are so many foods under the sun today that cause bloating in the body.

 

Stay away from food like breads, processed and fried foods, pizza, hot dogs, beans, and any food with additional salt to limit water retention. Sodium is packed in so many foods these days and overindulges the body. Try not to add extra salt at meal times and focus on less canned and processed foods that are full of sodium.

 

These foods with high fiber are the culprit. Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS, is also said to be worsened when water retention takes place. Additionally, there is research that has been done suggesting that people should limit eating food with fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polypols or FODMAP.

 

Foods on this list include onions, wheat, a variety of fruits and vegetables, garlic, and beans. Food allergies or intolerances may be the next issue that doctors sort through with people who are dealing with water retention and hypothyroidism.

 

This sensitivity can be a real problem because gluten foods are hard for a lot of people to process through. This can cause bloating and gas, which in excess can be warning signs of water retentions and hypothyroidism.

 

Many food intolerances can be tested and figured out to help patients understand the problem with their health.

A proper diet involves eating until full and work towards eating patterns that are healthy. Eating until full does not mean to eat everything on your plate.

 

If a person still has food on their plate, they should not eat it to limit bloating. This might be a sign to you that you need to be better about portioning out your food. This can be a hassle to measure out and start to count the number of calories, but this will help overeating and issues related to an unhealthy diet.

 

Also, frequency of meals may need to be cut back too if there are issues with hypothyroidism and water retention. Consider adding snacks through the day, eat a big breakfast, and eat less during the evenings.

 

Try eating like a “king” for breakfast, a “noble” for lunch, and a “peasant” for dinner. What this means is you should eat more in the morning, and eat less and less throughout the day. This will also help limit your calories. Another thing to consider is what foods you should start to limit. Potassium-based foods like spinach and bananas can help work against sodium, and benefit your dieting.

 

With so much research to help aid people dealing with hypothyroidism and water retention, bring ideas to your doctor and see if they could aid you as you get on track to recovery. But, don’t try anything new without your doctor’s consent.

One rule of thumb to notice if you sigh during their meal. This may be a signal that you are finished eating/ People can achieve this by eating tinier meals day to day, while making sure to eat at the same time.

 

Eating slowly while drinking fluids intermittently with also stymie water retention, especially if it takes about 30 minutes to eat each meal throughout the day. A lot of people are under false pretenses when they think water can cause water retention.

 

People are actually bloated because they don’t give the body enough water, and the body counteracts itself by retaining water anyway it can, causing more harm than good. By drinking 8, 8 ounce glass of water per day and drinking water before each meal, people will be able to decrease water retention issues in the body.

 

Pedialyte is another beverage that counteracts bloating which can be used in place of water or alongside it.

Other dietary ideas to slow water retention involves NOT doing this things:

1 – Chew Gum

2 – Drink Sodas

3 – Use a Straw

 

By not doing these things, an individual will limit swallowed air, which is a problem with water retention.

If these normal ways of nutrition do not work, a dieting plan may be in order. With hypothyroidism, the guilty party for 5 to 10 extra pounds of weight gain, planning out what you eat is very important.

 

While on a dieting program when dealing with hypothyroidism, people can expect to lose up to 10% body weight, but no more.

Exercise is another way people are motivated to deal with hypothyroidism and water retention. So many people who have these issues spend too much time involved with limited stationary tasks and not enough time getting a sweat on.

 

As technology becomes more and more prevalent in our lives, the world becomes less exercise focused, too. With so many office jobs these days, exercise can be hard to fit in a person’s busy schedule, but it needs to be a must for people dealing with hypothyroidism and water retention.

 

By exercising 30 minutes a day for 5 days a week, water retention has less of a hold on the body. For a lot of people, team sports are not realistic activities to participate in, but a lot of older individuals can still exercise by walking, running, cycling, playing tennis, swimming, and so much more. Before or after exercise, contemplate stretching or getting a massage.

 

These techniques help with the puffiness that the body can let on due to water retention and hypothyroidism. The reason these techniques work is because they reallocate water to other parts of the body and keep them there.

 

Also, individuals with hypothyroidism and water retention will need to completely stop smoking and using alcohol because these things can cause added water retention.

Hypothyroidism and water retention combined can cause a lot of havoc on the human body. However, even though there are negative effects that can keep people down, there are a lot of solutions to the problems they cause.

 

Doctors can be a great resource to help figure these problems out. They can help with medications, a new diet, and exercise to help in redeeming this matter.

 

Thyroid supplements, like Thyromate, may also help in supporting your thyroid and by extension, your symptoms.

 

Over time, people can see positive results to get their health back to the way it used to be, but the situation must be treated with diligence and hard-work.

 

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