When your heart isn’t pumping like it should, it doesn’t squeeze enough blood out with each heartbeat. But that blood has to go somewhere. So, it backs up into the veins that lead to your heart. Blood and fluids can also back up into your lungs, preventing oxygen from entering your blood and leaving you short of breath. Over time, this traffic jam of fluids can even impact your kidneys by causing them to retain both water and salt.
Am I retaining fluid?
Fluid retention can mean your heart disease is getting worse, but the good news is there are several ways to spot it early.
- Weight change – This is one of the earliest signs. If you feel full without eating much, have loose stools, notice leg and belly swelling or gain two or more pounds in a day or five or more pounds in three days, contact your cardiologist immediately.
- Swelling – Swelling can occur everywhere from your belly to your legs and ankles. Do you know how to tell if you have edema?
- Bloating – Extra fluid can cause bloating in your stomach, as well as loss of appetite and nausea.
- Increased need to urinate – This can occur as your body tries to get rid of the extra fluid.
How can I reduce the extra fluid in my body?
Cardiologists and registered dietitians can help you manage fluid retention with medicine and nutrition plans. Here are a few steps you can take at home:
- Monitor your weight and lose weight if needed – Talk with your doctor about what your ideal weight is. Your “dry weight” is your regular weight when you are not retaining fluid.
- Cut back on salt/sodium – Salt is the main source of sodium, which is found naturally in, and is also added to, many of the foods we eat. Sodium causes your body to hold on to water. Most nutrition plans for heart disease patients limit sodium to 1,500 to 2,000 milligrams or less per day.
- Take diuretics as directed – Diuretics, also known as water pills, help your kidneys remove extra water and salt from your body. They can also relieve swelling in your legs.
Call your doctor immediately, even at night, on the weekend or on a holiday, if you gain 2 or more pounds in one day or 5 or more pounds in 3 days, have swelling that is getting worse, have trouble breathing or feel bloated or nauseous and have lost your appetite.
Want help reducing your salt intake?
Your primary care provider or cardiologist can give you advice or refer you to a registered dietitian who can provide nutritional counseling to keep you on track.
