Water retention is when the body accumulates too much water in the interstitial spaces of the tissues and is unable to get rid of it, such as through urination. Excess water can cause an area of the body to swell. Generally, the swelling is greater in areas below the heart. One of the most obvious features of water retention is edema of the lower extremities, especially the feet and ankles. The lower extremity edema may not be obvious, but it begins to show up a few hours after getting up and moving around, and it gets worse over time. If you press hard on the ankle with your finger, a small dimple immediately appears on the skin and it takes a longer period of time for it to return to normal. It is very difficult to resolve water retention and the measures that can be taken are extremely limited. If edema develops in the lower extremities (including the feet, ankles, and calves), then when not walking, you should try to elevate the lower extremities as high as possible above the level of the heart. This helps to increase blood return to the heart and kidneys, allowing excess water to be excreted as urine. Elastic stockings are also beneficial in improving circulation to the lower extremities and reducing edema. Since salt is one of the main causes of water retention, the intake of salt in food should be reduced as much as possible. The first step is to stop or reduce the dosage of medications that may cause water retention. Among them, glucocorticoids are the most important. In addition, certain anti-hypertensive medications, such as calcium channel blockers, can also cause sodium and water retention. Secondly, your doctor may ask you to take some diuretics, such as tachyphylaxis and ambien, and the effect is usually more definite. However, high doses of diuretics can damage kidney function, so if you already have renal insufficiency, diuretics must be used with caution. If you have congestive heart failure, pulmonary edema or hypertension, you must be hospitalized for further treatment.