Ways of Reducing Swelling in Congestive Heart Failure

Congestive heart failure is the heart's inability to pump enough blood throughout the body. Generally, the condition is chronic but it can occur suddenly in some people. People with CHF may also have high blood pressure, emphysema or numerous other problems. Swelling in the arms, legs and other areas of the body is a common symptom of CHF.

Sodium

The swelling occurs from water and blood that pools in these areas. It tends to settle in the lungs as well, which causes the inability to breathe. Fluid retention in the body comes from many things but high salt intake is the leading cause. Doctors may ask their patients to cut back or reduce their sodium intake. This means eating less food with high sodium and not using it to prepare meals.

Substitutes for sodium:

• Ground pepper


• Citrus fruit juice like lemon and pineapple


• Unsalted spices such as oregano and garlic

Water

Cutting back on how much water and other fluid patients drink is important in reducing CHF swelling. They may be on fluid restrictions or specific schedules that allow them to drink a set amount of fluid each day. Most fluid restrictions include soups and other foods that contain water. Restrictions must be planned carefully to avoid dehydration problems.

Medications

Medications that encourage the loss of fluid in the body can help reduce swelling. These medications are commonly known as water pills and diuretics. Water pills tend to make people urinate more than normal. They also have side effects if not regulated properly. Since the body needs fluid to regulate potassium and sodium, taking too much of a diuretic can prevent both nutrients from working. Doctors generally do not prescribe more than one or two pills per day for patients.

Types of water pills:

• Demadex


• Edecrin


• Lasix