Question from G. Pfefferl: After strenuous efforts, I suffer from severe water retention about two days later, especially in my legs. I am 66 years old, but I am an enthusiastic road cyclist and cycle around 8,500 kilometres a year. Am I drinking too little? I can easily manage about three to four litres a day.
Expert adviceOne cause could be cardiac insufficiency, which can also be latent without any visible signs of illness. Insufficient pumping capacity causes the returning blood to back up in front of the right ventricle. The resulting high pressure in the veins causes fluid to seep into the tissue in the legs. Cardiac insufficiency can develop slowly following myocarditis, heart valve defects or untreated high blood pressure.
Another possible cause is inadequate kidney function, which means that not enough fluid is excreted. Kidney disease can be the result of infections, high blood pressure or diabetes. The leg veins are also a possible cause: if their venous valves no longer close properly, the blood builds up or even flows backwards - in turn, water enters the tissue.
The last conceivable cause is if you drink too much fluid that is low in minerals: This can exceed the capacity of the kidneys.
In your case, two of these causes are most likely: an age-typical, still latent heart insufficiency or your unusually high intake of up to four litres: With a normal diet rich in fruit and vegetables, this seems clearly too much to me. In general, around two litres a day is considered sufficient. I would advise a cardiological examination with ergometry and cardiac ultrasound.
