Edema or water retention as its normally known is the condition where an organ or tissue swells due to the accumulation of excess lymph fluids. This accumulation of excess lymph fluids takes place without an increase of the number of cells in the affected tissue. Water retention can occur in any region of the body but the most common sites being feet and ankles.

Generally the amount of interstitial fluid in the body is regulated by the starling equation of tissue fluid .it basically depends on the balance of osmotic pressure and hydrostatic pressure which acts in opposite directions across the capillary walls.

Water retention is caused when the balance of osmotic pressure and hydrostatic pressure in the capillary walls gets disturbed. Consequently, anything that increases oncotic pressure outside blood vessels or reduces oncotic pressure in the blood will cause edema. Increased hydrostatic pressure inside the blood vessel will have the same effect.

This shift in pressure might be caused by several reasons which includes
• Medication
• Heart damage
• Liver damage
• Kidney failure
• Lymphedema

Although formation of lumps on the skin is one of the main symptoms of water retention other symptoms include
1.feeling of tightness near arms and legs
2.decresing flexibility in the limbs
3.ornaments and watches feel tighter than usual
4.pain and heaviness in the legs
5.skin feels stiff

Water retention is completely curable. Your doctor would recommend you a dosage of diuretics and some physical exercises to treat the anomalies or dysfunction. Always take this drug with advice from a doctor. Make sure you are taking the required dosage as prescribed by the doctor.