Excess weight is often just excess fluid. Dr. Anna Oderiy from SM Clinic explained to Gazeta.ru that this can be checked by gently pressing a finger on the skin of the calf or foot. The doctor notes that if a dent remains after pressing and slowly flattens out, then you have edema due to excess water in the body. If it’s fat, the skin will remain elastic.
Furthermore, weight gain with edema can fluctuate very quickly, by 1-2 kilograms in a day or two. Body volumes with edema can change throughout the day, for example, with a swollen face in the morning and swollen legs in the evening. Fat, on the other hand, does not accumulate or dissipate quickly and cannot ‘move around.’
Causes of edema can range from simple overconsumption of salt, which hinders fluid drainage from the body, to more serious issues. It’s also important to understand that edema is a symptom, not a disease, so it is crucial to consult a specialist if edema is frequent.
‘It is essential to consult a specialist if edema appears without an obvious cause and lasts more than a few days, weight increases by 2-3 kg in a short period, there is shortness of breath, weakness, rapid heartbeat, dense edema that doesn’t go away even after rest, or if there is a diagnosis of thyroid, heart, or kidney diseases.’ Dr. Oderiy explains that one should start with a general practitioner, who will refer to a cardiologist, nephrologist, or endocrinologist, depending on the suspected cause.
The doctor added that it’s important to monitor fluid intake, limit salt consumption, move more, and walk.
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