Retention is another name for edema, it's a cause that needs to be watched out for

Approximately 70% of the human body is water. However, this fluid preparation will be continuously replaced so as not to accumulate excessively in the body. Now when the body fails to remove excess fluid, retention occurs. Retention is a disorder that can occur suddenly or develop slowly over a long period of time. If not treated promptly with proper medication, retention can lead to serious complications.

Retention is a matter of body fluids

Retention is a condition of excess fluid or certain substances that should be excreted by the body. Fluid retention and urinary retention are two of the conditions most commonly experienced by many people.

Fluid retention

Water retention occurs when excess fluid builds up in the body. This condition is also known as edema. Fluid buildup usually occurs in the circulatory system or in tissues and body cavities.

This can cause swelling of the hands, feet, ankles and face. Fluid buildup can also increase water body weight and cause your skin to wrinkle, such as when soaking in water for too long.

There are many factors that can cause this condition, some of which include:

Standing or sitting too long
Menstrual cycle and hormonal changes
Too much salt / sodium consumption
Taking certain medications, such as chemotherapy, painkillers, blood pressure medications, and antidepressants
Certain conditions, such as weak heart, deep vein thrombosis, and pregnancy

Urine retention

Urinary retention is a disorder of the bladder that makes it difficult for you to pass urine. Urinary retention is divided into two types, namely:

Acute urinary retention, happened suddenly in a short period of time. The most commonly complained symptom is difficulty passing urine even though you really want to pee. The result is pain and discomfort in the lower abdomen.
Chronic urinary retention. Chronic urinary retention occurs over a long period of time. This condition occurs when you want to urinate, but your bladder cannot empty properly. As a result, people with this condition often experience incomplete urination. Ordinary people often interpret it as wickerwork. You may feel the urge to urinate all the time, even though you just did.

Urinary retention can be caused by many things. One of the most common occurs due to blockage of the urethra, aka the urinary tract.

This blockage can result from an enlarged prostate gland, urethral stricture, the presence of a foreign body in the urinary tract, or severe inflammation of the urethra. Disorders of the nervous system in the urinary tract and the use of certain drugs can also cause urinary retention.

How to deal with this condition?

In many cases, treatment of fluid retention is easier than urinary retention. The reason is, this condition can be overcome with simple home treatments. Some of the home remedies you can do to treat fluid retention include:

Avoid foods with a high salt content because salt can bind water in the body.
Eat foods that contain vitamin B6 such as brown rice and red meat.
Eat foods high in potassium such as bananas and tomatoes.
Take a diuretic (water pill). However, make sure you consult your doctor first before taking this medicine. Not everyone with fluid retention needs diuretic drugs.

Meanwhile, in the case of urinary retention, some of the treatment options commonly used by doctors for retention are:

Certain drugs. The doctor may prescribe certain medications depending on the cause of the urinary retention itself. Consult a doctor before you take these drugs.
Bladder catheterization. This procedure is performed by inserting a tool in the form of a thin, thin tube into the urethra. So, your urine can pass easily. Catheterization is the quickest and easiest procedure to treat urinary retention.
Installation of a stent. A stent, or small tube, can be inserted into the urinary tract to make it easier for urine to pass out of the body. The stenda can be attached temporarily or permanently to keep your urethra open.
Operation. If the various methods mentioned above cannot relieve symptoms, surgery may be the best option. A urologist can perform a transurenthal procedure, urethrotomy, or laparoscopy.

Complications to watch out for

Whether it's fluid retention or urinary retention, both can cause serious complications if not treated quickly and appropriately.

Fluid retention

Fluid retention can be a symptom of heart failure and kidney failure. In both diseases, fluid buildup can build up in various organs, including in the lungs (pulmonary edema). When this condition occurs, you will feel short of breath. In cases of kidney failure, blood pressure can also increase.

Urine retention

Some of the complications that may occur due to urinary retention are:

Urinary tract infection. Urinary tract infection or UTI is an infection that occurs when bacteria are present in the urinary tract organs. Urine retention causes urine flow to be abnormal, allowing bacteria to infect your urinary tract.
Kidney damage. In some people, urinary retention causes urine to flow backward into the kidneys. Now, this backflow, which is called reflux, can damage or injure the kidneys of the sufferer.
Bladder damage. The muscles in the muscles around the bladder can be permanently damaged and lose the ability to contract due to excess pressure.