Watching your fluid intake when you have heart failure

Introduction

Too much fluid in your body can make it harder for your already-weakened heart to pump. Your doctor may prescribe a diuretic to help get rid of excess fluid. He or she may also suggest that you limit liquids so that your body can get rid of the extra water and sodium.

Key points

• Monitoring your fluid intake can reduce complications and hospitalizations.
• All foods that melt (such as ice cream, gelatin, and frozen ice treats) and foods that contain a lot of liquid (such as soup) are considered liquids. Be sure to count these in your daily intake.
• Space your liquids throughout the day. Then you won't be tempted to drink more than the amount you are allowed.
• To relieve thirst without taking in extra water, try chewing gum, sucking on hard candy (sugarless if you are diabetic), or rinsing your mouth with water and spitting it out.

How much fluid should I have?
Why is it important to limit my fluid intake?
How can I be sure that I am getting enough fluid?
Where to go from here

Return to topic:

How much fluid should I have?

Fluid usually is not restricted in heart failure unless you have advanced or severe heart failure. Usually, restricting sodium intake alone is enough to help your body get rid of extra fluids.

However, if your doctor recommends that you limit the amount of fluids you drink and eat (fluid intake), you will need to keep track of all beverages and any foods that contain a lot of liquid. Your doctor will tell you how much fluid you can have in a day.

Test Your Knowledge

1. Fluid intake usually is not restricted in heart failure unless your doctor gives you a specific fluid limit.
1. True
   

   The answer is correct

   Fluid intake usually is not restricted in heart failure unless your doctor gives you a specific fluid limit. Usually fluid is not restricted unless you have severe or advanced heart failure.

   
2. False
   

   The answer is incorrect

   Fluid intake usually is not restricted in heart failure unless your doctor gives you a specific fluid limit. Usually fluid is not restricted unless you have severe or advanced heart failure.

   

Continue to Why is it important to limit my fluid intake?
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Why is it important to limit my fluid intake?

Too much fluid in your body can make it harder for your already-weakened heart to pump and can make the symptoms of heart failure worse. Things that affect the amount of fluid in your body include:

• Too much sodium, which will cause your body to hold onto (retain) extra fluid. Following a low-sodium diet is important in preventing too much fluid from building up in your body.
• Diuretics, which help your body get rid of excess fluid.
• The amount of fluid you drink, especially if you cannot get rid of the extra fluid by limiting sodium and taking medicines.

Test Your Knowledge

1. It is important to follow your fluid recommendations in heart failure:
1. So that you can eat more salt.
   

   The answer is incorrect

   Following your fluid recommendations does not mean that you can eat more salt. If your doctor recommends that you limit your fluid intake, it is to help reduce the buildup of extra fluid in your body, along with the medications you are taking and a low-sodium (low-salt) diet. The correct answer is b.

   
2. Because it can help maintain a normal sodium balance.
   

   The answer is correct

   Following your fluid recommendation is important in heart failure because it can help maintain a normal sodium balance. It may also help reduce the buildup of extra fluid in your body, along with the medications you are taking and a low-sodium (low-salt) diet.

   
3. So that you don't have to keep track of the sodium in your diet.
   

   The answer is incorrect

   Following your fluid recommendations does not mean that you don't have to keep track of the sodium in your diet. If your doctor recommends that you limit your fluid intake, it is to help reduce the buildup of extra fluid in your body, along with the medicines you are taking and a low-sodium (low-salt) diet. The correct answer is b.

   
4. So that you can quit taking your medications.
   

   The answer is incorrect

   Following your fluid recommendations does not mean that you can quit taking your medications. If your doctor recommends that you limit your fluid intake, it is to help reduce the buildup of extra fluid in your body, along with the medicines you are taking and a low-sodium (low-salt) diet. The correct answer is b.

   

Continue to How can I be sure that I am getting enough fluid?
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How can I be sure that I am getting enough fluid?

Your doctor will tell you how much fluid you should be taking in every day. Recommendations may range from about 1500 mL (1.6 qt) to 2000 mL (2 qt), or about 48 fl oz (1420 mL) to 64 fl oz (1893 mL) per day. Here are the amounts of fluid in some common equivalent household measures:

It is important to know how much fluid your regular drinking glasses hold. You can find out by filling your drinking glass with water and then measuring the amount in a measuring cup. Once you know this, you won't have to measure every time.

Besides water, milk, juices, and other beverages, some foods contain a lot of fluid. Any foods that will melt (such as ice cream, gelatin, or flavored ice treats) or foods that have a lot of liquid (such as soup) should also be measured and counted as part of your fluid intake.

How to keep track of your fluid intake

One method for keeping track of your fluid intake is to have an empty container that holds the amount of fluid you are allowed for the day. As you drink fluids, put an equal amount of water into the container until you reach your fluid limit. When the container is full, you have reached your fluid limit and should stop drinking.

Another method for keeping track of your fluid intake is to allow yourself 8 fl oz (1 cup) of fluid at each meal [3 x 8 fl oz = 24 fl oz, or 3 cups]. You can then fill a container with water to keep in your refrigerator that contains the balance of your fluid allowance. For example, if you are allowed 48 fl oz (6 cups) of fluid a day, you could have 24 fl oz (3 cups) divided into three meals and then another 24 fl oz (3 cups) in the refrigerator to drink during the day. If you drink other beverages besides water (such as coffee, juice, or soft drinks), then you would need to pour out an equal amount of water from your container in the refrigerator.

Test Your Knowledge

1. To keep track of your fluid intake, you should:
1. Estimate how much you drink during the day.
   

   The answer is incorrect

   To keep track of your fluid intake, you should not estimate how much you drink during the day. It is important to carefully measure the amount of any fluids you drink as well as the fluid in foods, such as ice cream, gelatin, flavored ice treats, and soup. Estimating fluid intake can be very inaccurate. The correct answer is c.

   
2. Keep track of only the water you drink.
   

   The answer is incorrect

   To keep track of your fluid intake, you should not keep track of only the water you drink. It is important to measure the amount of any fluids you drink as well as the fluid in foods, such as ice cream, gelatin, flavored ice treats, and soup. Estimating fluid intake can be very inaccurate. The correct answer is c.

   
3. Measure all beverages and all foods that have a lot of fluid in them.
   

   The answer is correct

   To keep track of your fluid intake, you should measure all beverages and all foods that have a lot of fluid in them. It is important to measure the amount of any fluids you drink as well as the fluid in foods, such as ice cream, gelatin, flavored ice treats, and soup. Estimating fluid intake can be very inaccurate.

   
4. Drink only at meals.
   

   The answer is incorrect

   To keep track of your fluid intake, you should not drink only at meals. It is important to measure the amount of any fluids you drink as well as the fluid in foods, such as ice cream, gelatin, flavored ice treats, and soup. Estimating fluid intake can be very inaccurate. The correct answer is c.

   
2. Which is equal to 1 fluid quart?
1. 8 fluid ounces
   

   The answer is incorrect

   Eight fluid ounces is not equal to 1 quart. Thirty-two fluid ounces is 1 quart. It is important to measure fluids and to know how much fluid your glasses hold. The correct answer is c.

   
2. About 15 milliliters, or 1/2 fluid ounce
   

   The answer is incorrect

   About 15 milliliters, or 1/2 fluid ounce, is not equal to 1 quart. One liter is about 1 quart. It is important to measure fluids and to know how much fluid your glasses hold. The correct answer is c.

   
3. About 1 liter, or 32 fluid ounces
   

   The answer is correct

   One liter is about 1 quart, or 32 fluid ounces. It is important to measure fluids and to know how much fluid your glasses hold.

   
4. About 125 milliliters, or 4 fluid ounces
   

   The answer is incorrect

   About 125 milliliters is not equal to 1 quart. Thirty-two fluid ounces is 1 quart. It is important to measure fluids and to know how much fluid your glasses hold. The correct answer is c.

   

Continue to Where to go from here
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Where to go from here

Talk with your health professional (cardiologist, family doctor, dietitian, or nurse)

If you have questions about this information, take it with you when you visit your health professional. You may want to mark areas or make notes in the margins of the pages where you have questions.

If you would like more information on fluid intake in heart failure, the following resource is available:

Organization

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