Congestive Heart Failure                         Return to the Beginning

“Heart failure is a condition in which cardiac output is inadequate to meet the body’s needs” (2). Increasing demands on the heart result in the heart being unable to meet the challenge of pumping blood throughout the body. Fluid accumulates, reducing the capacity for physical performance. Patients with advanced congestive heart failure find it difficult to perform activities of daily living such as eating, walking, and sleeping. “Heart failure management requires a careful balance of sodium and fluid intake matched with the capabilities of a patient’s heart and the diuretic therapy provided” (2). If the patient’s sodium intake is too high, he will retain fluid making it even harder for an already overworked heart to perform. As healthcare providers, simple changes can be made to make going home from the hospital not as perplexing – especially if the patient has not seen the dietitian. 

Limiting the amount of salt one uses in the diet is the prescribed method of dietary treatment in congestive heart failure. Sodium is usually limited to 2 grams or 2,000 milligrams. Food labels make it easy to check the amount of sodium in a product.  Decreasing the amount of salt used in the diet helps to prevent/control the amount of fluids accumulated around the heart or in the legs. Too much fluid also increases the workload of the heart and can cause high blood pressure.. Fluid includes anything that will melt at room temperature, including ice cream and gelatin.

As we get older our taste buds do not work as well as they used to. Therefore the elderly will use salt to increase the taste of the food since their taste buds are not as sensitive. Also keep in mind that patients can truly be doing a great job with limiting the amount of salt and fluid in their diets. However, depending on how well their heart is pumping, diet is not always the culprit.

Thanks to Mother Nature, sodium is present in everything we eat. Patients need to be able to make healthy choices and use foods naturally low in sodium. There are simple, unoffending changes patients can make in their diets. Once the patient is home and feeling better, he can call and schedule an appointment with the dietitian to review food records and have any further nutrition questions answered. The following is a list of simple changes one can make in the diet in order to make a difference in the way he feels with his congestive heart failure.

 

Congestive Heart Failure Survival Skills

• Avoid using salt, or use half the amount currently used. Substitute with salt-free seasonings.
• Avoid canned soup. Homemade soups are good, and commercial low-sodium soups are acceptable as well.
• Substitute fresh or frozen vegetables for canned vegetables.
• Limit the amount of convenience foods being used. Stick to fresh cuts of meats and limit processed meats.
• Limit fluid intake in liquids or foods such as ice cream, soups, and gelatin. A physician will determine the amount of fluids that can be consumed.