Dramatic Improvement in Symptoms of CHF with Fluid Restriction
ABSTRACT: Congestive heart failure symptoms can improve with fluid restriction. Here’s more information about restricting fluids and improving quality of life for patients with CHF.
When I was first diagnosed with diastolic congestive heart failure last year, I suppose I was in a bit of denial about the truth of that diagnosis. After all, I had none of the warning signs for congestive heart failure, and none of the major lifestyle indicators that would have led to congestive heart failure either. Because of this, I spent too much time trying to find other ways to treat my symptoms, besides looking at CHF treatment options on my own.
My doctor prescribed medication for me, and while I was in the hospital, he had me on fluid restriction and a low sodium diet, but nobody said anything to me about this for returning home. It wasn’t until I picked up a copy of a book a few months ago called Success with Congestive Heart Failure that I learned what fluid restriction could do for the quality of life of people living with CHF.
I discussed what I read in this book with my doctor and his nurse, and later with hospital staff when I was hospitalized again, and that’s when I started implementing fluid restriction in my diet. The difference this makes in the quality of life and the way a patient with CHF feels is immeasurable.
Fluid Restriction for Congestive Heart Failure
According to the Cleveland Clinic’s website on lifestyle modifications for patients with congestive heart failure, sodium and fluid restriction both should be used as a non-medication way of controlling the symptoms of CHF. The restriction of fluid should limit all fluid intake to approximately two liters per day. This amount of fluid will help prevent congestion of fluid in the body and the lung and abdominal area as well as allowing diuretics, commonly prescribed for CHF patients, to do their job more effectively.
How to Measure Fluid Intake
I was quite amazed by just how much fluid I would take in during a day before I began measuring it for fluid restriction. In order to measure fluid, I took a two liter empty soda bottle and filled it with water at the beginning of the day. Each time I would drink something or eat something with fluid in it, I would pour out that same amount from the soda bottle. When the soda bottle was empty, that would be all the fluid I could take in for the day.
Eventually, I learned the amount more by instinct and was able to increase or decrease my fluid intake on my own without measuring it, based on symptoms and how much water retention and swelling I was having during the day. Some days, I could have slightly more to drink and some days I would need to restrict more. It is important not to decrease less than one liter per day, however, unless your doctor specifically tells you otherwise, so you can avoid dehydration.
Hidden Fluids in Food
It’s important to keep in mind when restricting fluid for controlling congestive heart failure symptoms to also measure the fluid in foods. While this doesn’t have to be an exact measure, things like soups and broths and juices in fruits all will increase fluid intake, which means less liquid/fluid should be consumed as a drink.
What to Do When Thirsty
While fluid restriction has made me feel a lot better, removing congestion in my chest and neck, reducing fluid retention in my abdomen, legs, arms, fingers and face, there are times I get thirsty when I’m already at my fluid limit for the day. To battle this thirst, I have frozen Crystal Light flavored drinks into ice cubes, and will suck on an ice a flavored ice cube.
When desperate, I’ll pour a tiny glass of juice or water and sip it very slowly through a straw, allowing the fluid to roll around in my mouth some before swallowing, tricking my mind into believing I’ve had more fluid then I’m actually consuming.
Every once in a while, going over the two liters on a better health day won’t do any damage, but patients don’t want to make a habit of it. If you’re anything like me with your congestive heart failure, you’ll feel so much better after just a few days of limiting fluids that you’ll be happy to do without the extra drinks to feel so much better.
If you have any type of heart condition, consult with your doctor about fluid restriction. It’s very possible that restricting fluids can make a huge difference in your symptoms and thus improve your quality of life.