Dear Dr. Roach: I have noticed that I gain weight after eating salted foods. Last night, I had a pasta dish that was salty. Upon awakening, all my fingers were swollen to a point of not bending. Besides drinking a lot of water to flush it out, I'm concerned that there could be potential for an undetected cause.

I'm an 82-year-old woman, and this has been happening for the past six months. My blood pressure is higher recently. Could this be related? My doctor doesn't seem as concerned as me.

— B.H.

Dear B.H.: It is common to retain fluid after a salty meal. This can often be noticed due to tight rings on your fingers, socks that leave marks, and other signs of excess fluid. When a person has excess salt and water in their body, it is also common for their blood pressure to go up.

Ther

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