Steroids and Fluid Retention: Can they cause fluid retention?

Can steroids cause fluid retention?

Steroids and fluid retention are often associated with each other.

Steroids can lead to fluid retention in some cases, but there are factors that must be considered before making this conclusion.

The use of steroids is something that has been on the rise for many years now, and it’s not likely to slow down anytime soon.

From medical practices, bodybuilders to athletes, to people who are just looking to improve their overall health, steroids have become a popular choice.

But with any type of medication or supplement, there are always risks involved. And when it comes to steroids and fluid retention, this is definitely something that you need to be aware of.

Let’s dig in deeper.

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Why Do Steroids Cause Fluid Retention?

One of the less desirable side effects of steroids is fluid retention. But why do steroids cause this?

Corticosteroids, such as prednisone and cortisone, are used to treat many inflammatory conditions (such as arthritis), allergic reactions, and asthma. These steroids can also be used in the treatment of certain forms of cancer by suppressing the immune system.

Steroids work by attaching to receptors in the nucleus of a cell and altering gene expression. This can lead to all sorts of side effects, one of which is fluid retention.

What causes fluid retention on these types of medical steroids is not entirely clear, but it is thought that the steroids may increase the retention of sodium and water in the body.

This can lead to a build-up of fluid in tissues and cavities within the body, such as around the lungs (pleural effusion) or heart (cardiac tamponade).

Some steroids (such as testosterone) are converted into estrogen in the body. Estrogen is a hormone that causes the body to hold on to water.

Then anabolic steroids like Trenbolone which are used in fitness can have a direct action on the kidneys that causes them to retain sodium. The kidney is also stimulated to produce renin – an enzyme involved in fluid retention.

What are the Symptoms of fluid overload and retention?

Symptoms of fluid retention may include:

Swelling of the feet or ankles
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Shortness of breath on exertion (dyspnea), or even at rest. You may also experience wheezing and a cough
Swollen abdomen
Elevated heart rate, due to increased cardiac output as your body struggles to pump this extra fluid
Weight gain, due to the water weight that steroids can cause you to retain. You may also experience increased appetite while taking steroids – another reason for possible weight gain

The above and more are some of the puffy and uncomfortable symptoms associated with fluid retention.

How Can I Manage Fluid Retention Caused by Steroids?

It can be difficult to manage fluid retention when steroids are causing it and there is usually no way to prevent steroids from causing it.

However, one way to manage fluid retention caused by steroids is with a diuretic drug (also known as “water pills”). These can help you get rid of the extra water in your body and treat the symptoms associated with fluid retention.

Of course, it is important to speak with your doctor before taking steroids and/or a diuretic to ensure that it is safe for you to take.

That said, there are also a few ways to help prevent or minimize the effects of steroids on fluid retention:

Reduce your salt intake – salty foods will make you retain more water
Drink plenty of fluids (especially water), which will help flush excess sodium and fluids from the body
Avoid drinking alcohol, as this can also lead to fluid retention
Get regular exercise, which will help your body get rid of any excess fluid more efficiently

Sometimes it is better and safer to discontinue steroids usage when things are getting out of hand.

I recommend this because – as I listed earlier – fluid retention and overload in the body system could lead or escalate to other deadly conditions.

So stopping it completely or finding a safer alternative (especially for bodybuilders and athletes) would be a better option.

Talking of safer options…

Are there safer steroid alternatives without fluid retention?

In the cause of my research for this post and for a safer and better steroid replacement – I came across a website called CrazyBulk.com.

After taking my time on their site and conducting further research, I discovered that they’re the best when it comes to steroid alternative production.

Asides from the water retention part – steroids are dangerous. no doubt!

Not only are steroids illegal in many cases, but they can also cause some pretty severe lashing when caught.

If you want to get serious about building muscle, then you need to consider using steroids. This is where there’s a need for a safer replacement.

CrazyBulk has the solution – their line of 100% natural supplements that help you build muscle faster than ever before, without any of the dangers or side effects associated with anabolic steroids.

Here are some of their popular products:

D-Bal
Clenbutrol
TestoMax
Trenorol
Anvarol
DecaDuro
Winsol

And more… you can check them out on their website. Or read my post on steroids without side effects here.

These supplements are all safe and legal steroid alternatives that can help you achieve the same results as steroids but without any of the dangerous side effects.

FAQs on steroids and fluid retention

How long does water retention from steroids last?

Well, steroids and water retention have no specific time intervals.

It is not gender-specific either, as both men and women experience steroids and water retention. From my research, some say it lasts up to 4 weeks after steroids are stopped while others say steroids and water retention last up to a few months.

Regardless of the time steroids and fluid retention last, it is important to note that steroids and fluid retention are not a condition to be toyed with.

What reduces swelling from steroids?

As may know steroids are synthetic drugs designed to mimic the effects of testosterone.

Steroids have a lot of side effects, and these steroids trigger some hormones in your body that cause water retention. Which then leads to swelling.

Like I mentioned earlier, to reduce steroids and fluid retention, you should:

Avoid salty foods. Cut down on your salt intake or avoid sodium-rich foods entirely
Drink plenty of fluids (especially water), which will help flush excess sodium and fluids from the body
Avoid drinking alcohol, as this can also lead to fluid retention
Get regular exercise, which will help your body get rid of any excess fluid more efficiently

The best way to reduce steroids swelling is by discontinuing steroids usage or finding a safer alternative like CrazyBulk.com products.

How do you get rid of steroids naturally?

After discontinuing steroids, the body will start to get rid of all the steroids and water retention that has built up.

This usually takes a few weeks to months, but there are some things you can do to help speed up the process:

Drink plenty of fluids (especially water)
Avoid drinking alcohol
Get regular exercise
Reduce your salt intake

Are steroids bad for you?

Yes, steroids are very dangerous and could lead to death if not well managed.

Steroids were popularly used for treating certain medical conditions such as delayed puberty in males, muscle loss caused by HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, and anemia.

But these days, steroids like anabolic steroids have also been used illegally to enhance athletic performance and physical appearance (like steroids for bodybuilding).

There are many harmful side effects of steroids that can affect you in a negative way when abused or misused by athletes or bodybuilders.

Final Thoughts

Steroids are dangerous, no doubt about it.

They could cause water retention in the body as well as other effects.

In most cases, steroids such as corticosteroids. And anabolic steroids are used by athletes or bodybuilders to enhance their performance; steroids help increase muscle mass and improve athletic performance.

But what if there was a safer alternative?