Considering that there are no secondary complications to your condition as stated by your medical records, the chances that the sudden swelling of the face and cheeks is caused by increased water retention is quite strong. The causative factors behind this could probably be your age, as with age there is a decrease in the amount of estrogen that your body secretes.
Some of the effects that estrogen has on the body when it is reduced are, a decreased metabolic rate, a degradation of skin, hair and bone quality, among other resultant effects. There are few home remedies that can reverse this process or increase the amount of estrogen in the body. This however can be done by taking estrogen supplements that might be necessary in any case to prevent the occurrence of osteoporosis. This has to be done in consultation with a gynecologist. Hormone replacement therapy usually involves the addition of estrogen, progesterone, and small amounts of testosterone. If the patient has already had a hysterectomy, then only estrogen is administered. The estrogen that is used for hormone replacement therapy is synthesized. It is interesting to note that there are natural alternatives to these in the form of phytoestrogens. Phytoestorgens are a class of estrogen-like compounds that mimic the effect of estrogen in the body and cause a great deal of relief from low estrogen levels. These can be acquired by supplementing the diet with preparations made out of nuts, oilseeds, soy, cereals, breads, legumes and meat. Flax seed and oilseeds contain the most amount of phytoestrogen compared to any other natural source, and this is followed by soy bean and tofu. Curiously, a lot of alcoholic products also contain phytoestrogen, like bourbon and beer. Ginseng also contains a reasonable amount of the substance as well. These should be had in adequate quantities to start seeing any changes.
Estrogen, however, should not be regarded as the only useful tool in alleviating your swelling. Reducing your salt intake, increased amounts of exercise – especially cardiovascular exercise that improves your circulation and most importantly keeping a healthy outlook on life are some of the useful measures you should also take to deal with reduced hormone levels. Phytoestrogens being natural products should have no adverse effect on your body at this stage of life at all and can only do you benefit. Keep getting regular checkups for blood pressure and hormones every now and then to monitor the progress as you start approaching menopause.