Bloated? 10 questions you should ask yourself...

Do prescription medicines make you swell?

The Pill - especially if it's a high-oestrogen one - can cause fluid retention, but studies have found that only a very small number of women will suffer this side effect. If you're one of them, talk to your GP about trying a different Pill, such as Yasmin, which claims not to cause fluid retention. "More likely to give you swollen ankles are calcium channel blockers, prescribed to treat high blood pressure," says Dr Moss. "These relax blood vessels, which can cause fluid retention." Ask your GP about trying a different type of drug such as an Ace Inhibitor or Angiotestin Receptor Blocker (ARB), which control the hormones that affect blood pressure.