Ascites is an accumulation of fluid in your abdomen that can be caused by several diseases -- most commonly, liver disease. Ascites can lead to potentially fatal health complications and requires special dietary considerations. Although ascites can be treated in some cases, its effects can be debilitating and life-threatening, and the best strategy is prevention through a healthy diet.
Identification
If you have ascites, protein-containing fluids fill your abdominal cavity and cause abdominal swelling and discomfort. Pressure on your stomach from the swollen abdomen can lead to loss of appetite, and if the fluid-filled cavity exerts pressure on your lungs, it may lead to shortness of breath. Cirrhosis of the liver is the most common cause, according to the American College of Gastroenterology, but other conditions can also lead to ascites, such as heart failure, kidney failure, infection or cancer.
Significance
Side effects of ascites can include an infection called spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, which is fatal without early treatment with antibiotics. The University of Illinois Medical Center adds that long-term effects can include breathing problems, difficulty walking, malnutrition, sleep disorders, heart failure and kidney failure. In most cases, ascites will require lifelong treatments. According to the American College of Gastroenterology, the five-year survival rate following diagnosis is only 30 to 40 percent.
Considerations
Your doctor will provide specific dietary instructions, but if ascites makes eating or breathing difficult, then the abdominal fluid may have to be removed via a needle procedure, and you may have to be fed nutritional supplements along with medications or albumin protein intravenously.
Diet Recommendations
Salt reduction is the most important dietary guideline to follow. The American College of Gastroenterology recommends limiting salt intake to a maximum of 4 to 5 g, or 2000 mg, of sodium per day. You may be able to a use salt substitute but it shouldn't contain potassium, which can interact with certain medications used to treat ascites. A 2007 ABC News report on hidden sodium in foods points out that you should avoid almost all prepared foods, mixes, dressings, soy and even sweets that may contain high levels of sodium. The University of Illinois Medical Center adds that you should restrict your fluid intake to one liter per day, while the Cleveland Clinic recommends anyone with ascites caused by liver disease should avoid alcohol.
Prevention
You can prevent alcoholic cirrhosis-induced ascites by avoiding drinking excessive amounts of alcohol. Likewise, since many cases of ascites are caused by congestive heart failure, eating a heart-healthy diet as recommended by the American Heart Association can prevent the disease. The AHA diet includes emphasizing nutrient-rich foods that contain vitamins, minerals, fiber, whole grains and fat-free or low-fat dairy and limiting low-nutrient foods such as those containing saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol and sodium.
