A person with congestive heart failure must often watch what he eats and drinks, as certain foods and beverages can increase the heart's workload. This has the potential to make heart failure symptoms, such as swelling and shortness of breath, worse overall. While salt is often on the watch list for people with congestive heart failure, a certain amount every day is OK.
What is Congestive Heart Failure?
When a person has congestive heart failure, or CHF, the heart cannot pump adequately to supply all of the body's needs. This leads to many of the CHF side effects, including fatigue, swelling in the legs, weight gain and shortness of breath. While the heart generally continues to work even during heart failure, the condition will not improve unless the person makes lifestyle changes. These include taking medications as well as following certain dietary guidelines.
CHF and Salt
Salt intake has a direct correlation with congestive heart failure. Increased salt intake can lead to a buildup of fluid in the body when a person has or is prone to CHF. Once a person is in heart failure, it is harder for the kidneys to get rid of salt efficiently, leading to even more fluid buildup. Restricting sodium in the diet is a must for people with a predisposition toward CHF.
How Much Salt is OK?
The average person without CHF should limit salt intake to around a teaspoon daily, which is about 2,300 mg daily, according to the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Pennsylvania. However, when a person already has related conditions, such as high blood pressure, Hershey recommends a maximum of 1,500 mg daily. People who are diagnosed with CHF may be advised to consume even less; however, each person's figure may vary based on individual differences. A person with CHF must not only avoid adding table salt to their foods, but must also watch his sodium intake from all foods.
Watch for Hidden Salt
Sodium may be hidden where you least expect it. Providence Health and Services reports that many over-the-counter medications, such as cough syrup and antacids, contain sodium. In addition, Providence warns that condiments are often high in sodium. These include mustard, soy sauce, barbecue sauce and gravy. In addition, it recommends learning to identify salt and sodium by other names on food labels, including MSG and sodium bicarbonate. Read every label, even those you least suspect. Believe it or not, bottled water sometimes contains sodium.
Tips for Reducing Salt Intake
Reducing salt in your diet is not difficult; however, it does require a little extra time and diligence. Learn to read labels carefully, avoid fast foods, limit processed food intake and use alternative low-sodium seasonings for your meals. In addition, learn the sodium levels in your daily foods and minimize those with higher sodium content. While your doctor or a nutritionist can provide you with a list of recommended low-sodium foods, you may find it worthwhile to track your daily sodium intake until you get the hand of sticking to a low-salt diet.
