What is fluid restriction?

A buildup of fluid in the body can cause low sodium levels in the blood. It may also cause symptoms such as swelling and pain. Your doctor may suggest that you limit liquids, including foods that contain a lot of liquid. Limiting liquids is called fluid restriction.

Limiting the amount of fluids you take in can help balance sodium levels in your body. Your doctor will tell you how much fluid you can have in a day.

With heart failure, having too much fluid in your body can lower sodium levels in the blood. It can also cause symptoms such as swelling. You may have to limit fluids if you need to maintain your body's sodium balance.

Not everyone who has heart failure needs to limit fluids. Most people don't need to limit their fluids until heart failure is advanced or severe.

When you have heart failure, you may have some questions about limiting fluids. Here are answers to some of the more common ones.

• Does everyone with heart failure need to limit fluids? No. Most people don't need to limit their fluids until heart failure is advanced or severe.
• Why is limiting fluids important? Too much fluid in your body can cause low sodium levels in your blood. You may have to limit fluids to maintain your body's sodium balance.
• What can I do if I feel thirsty? It's very important to limit your fluid to the level your doctor suggests. But that can be hard. If you feel thirsty, try chewing gum or sucking on a piece of hard candy, a breath mint, or pieces of frozen fruit like grapes or strawberries. If your lips feel dry, try lip balm. But stick with your program.
• Can I have alcohol? Alcohol can raise your blood pressure, which makes your heart work harder. Since you are allowed only a limited amount of fluid each day, you may want to choose healthier fluids. Ask your doctor how much alcohol, if any, is safe.

Do you have any questions or concerns? It's a good idea to write them down and take them to your next doctor visit.