Heart failure: Checking your weight

Introduction

People with heart failure need to track their weight carefully. Checking your weight lets you know how much extra fluid your body is holding on to. Sudden weight gain may mean that fluid is building up in your body because your heart failure is getting worse. Knowing how your weight is changing helps you manage your heart failure.

It's not hard to track your weight. Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Weigh yourself on the same scale every day, at the same time each day.
• Keep a calendar by the scale. Write your weight on it each day.
• If you suddenly gain weight, call your doctor.

 What do you need to know about weight gain and heart failure?
 Why do you need to check your weight when you have heart failure?
 How do you check your weight when you have heart failure?
 Where to go from here

You can find more information about heart failure in these topics:

Heart failure: Watching your fluids

Heart failure: Activity and exercise

Heart failure: Eating less salt

Return to topic:

What do you need to know about weight gain and heart failure?

Heart failure means that your heart muscle doesn't pump as much blood as your body needs. Because your heart can't pump well, your body tries to make up for it. To do this:

• Your body holds on to salt and water. This increases the amount of blood in your bloodstream.
• Your heart beats faster.
• Your heart gets bigger.

Your body tries hard to make up for heart failure. But at some point, it won't be able to keep up. The heart gets worn out. Then fluid will start to build up in the body. This fluid buildup is called congestion. This extra fluid shows up on the scale when you weigh yourself.

It’s this congestion that can lead to other symptoms of heart failure. These include shortness of breath, tiredness, and swelling in your belly and legs. For many people, if their heart failure gets worse, their symptoms get worse too.

Your doctor will tell you how to manage ups and downs in your weight caused by fluid buildup. For example, if you have a slight weight increase, your doctor may want you to take an extra water pill (diuretic).

Test Your Knowledge

1. Sudden weight gain may be the first sign that your heart failure is getting worse.
1. True
   

   The answer is correct

   Weight gain may be the first sign that extra fluid is building up in your body and that your heart failure is getting worse.

   
2. False
   

   The answer is incorrect

   How much weight you gain is a measure of how much extra fluid your body is holding on to. Sudden weight gain may be the first sign that your heart failure is getting worse.

   
2. Fluid buildup, or congestion, can lead to other symptoms of heart failure.
1. True
   

   The answer is correct

   When fluid builds up in your body, it can lead to other symptoms of heart failure. These include shortness of breath, tiredness, and swelling in your legs and belly.

   
2. False
   

   The answer is incorrect

   Fluid buildup can lead to other symptoms of heart failure. These symptoms include shortness of breath, tiredness, and swelling in your legs and belly.

   

Continue to Why do you need to check your weight when you have heart failure?
Return to Heart failure: Checking your weight

Why do you need to check your weight when you have heart failure?

Checking your weight helps you manage your heart failure. It helps you know when to call your doctor. Tracking your weight also helps your doctor know if your treatment for heart failure is working.

Test Your Knowledge

1. Checking your weight helps you manage your heart failure.
1. True
   

   The answer is correct

   One of the best ways to manage your heart failure is to check your weight. Tracking your weight helps you know when to call your doctor.

   
2. False
   

   The answer is incorrect

   One of the best ways to manage your heart failure is to check your weight. It also helps you know when to call your doctor.

   

Continue to How do you check your weight when you have heart failure?
Return to Heart failure: Checking your weight

How do you check your weight when you have heart failure?

It’s easy to keep track of your weight if you check it every day. Here are some tips:

• Weigh yourself at the same time each day. Use the same scale on a hard, flat surface. The best time is in the morning after you go to the bathroom and before you eat or drink anything.
• Wear the same thing each time you weigh yourself, or always wear nothing. Don't wear shoes.
• Keep a calendar by the scale. Write your weight on it each day. Take your calendar with you when you see your doctor.

If you suddenly gain weight, call your doctor. Your doctor may tell you how much weight to watch out for. But in general, call your doctor if you gain 3 lb (1.4 kg) or more in 2 to 3 days. If you are gaining weight slowly, tell your doctor on your next visit.

Keep a few notes on your calendar about how you feel each day. Here are some things to ask yourself:

• Is it harder to catch your breath?
• Are you more tired?
• Are your feet and ankles swollen?
• Do your legs or belly seem puffy?

Tell your doctor if you are having to prop yourself up at night to breathe, or if you wake up in the night feeling out of breath.

Test Your Knowledge

1. If you suddenly gain weight, it's okay to wait and see what happens.
1. True
   

   The answer is incorrect

   If you suddenly gain weight, don't wait. Call your doctor if you gain 3 lb (1.4 kg) or more in 2 to 3 days.

   
2. False
   

   The answer is correct

   If you suddenly gain weight, don't wait. Call your doctor if you gain 3 lb (1.4 kg) or more in 2 to 3 days.

   
2. You should weigh yourself every day and at the same time each day.
1. True
   

   The answer is correct

   You should weigh yourself every day, at the same time each day. This will help you keep a true record of your weight over time. It will also help you know right away if you are gaining weight from fluid buildup.

   
2. False
   

   The answer is incorrect

   It's important to weigh yourself every day, at the same time each day. This will help you keep a true record of your weight over time. It will also help you know right away if you are gaining weight from fluid buildup.

   

Continue to Where to go from here
Return to Heart failure: Checking your weight

Where to go from here

Now that you have read this information, you are ready to start checking your weight.

Talk to your doctor

If you have questions about this information, print it out and take it with you when you visit your doctor. You may want to write notes in the margins where you have questions.

Many hospitals and insurers have disease management programs to help people learn more about their heart failure.

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

Organizations

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