Controlling Fluid Intake in Heart Failure

Why do I have to limit fluid? How much fluid can I have?

In Heart Failure, the body often retains MY FLUID ALLOWANCE IS:

fluid, leading to: .. mL each day
increased blood pressure (more work (as advised by your doctor)
for the heart)
difficulty breathing and shortness of You may need some extra fluid (500 mL)
breath (due to fluid in your lungs) in hot weather. Please check with your
swelling on ankles, hands and face doctor.
nausea and bloating
What should I count as fluid?
Your doctor may recommend limiting your
intake of fluid to help control these Fluid includes all drinks, and anything that
symptoms. Your body is 60-70% fluid. is liquid at mouth temperature:
There is a difference between fluid weight water
and body weight. Weight changes due to soft drink, cordial, fruit juice
fluid occur quickly, over a period of days. tea, coffee
Changes in body weight (muscles, bone milk, milkshakes, thick shakes
and fat) occur more slowly, over weeks or ice, iceblocks
months. cream, ice-cream, custard, yoghurt
jelly
Taking daily weights is important. soup, gravy, sauces
Establish a daily routine: alcohol
Wake up, Wee, Weigh and Write.
Food that is liquid at room temperature or
Call your doctor or heart failure nurse if that contains large amounts of fluid and is
you lose or gain greater than 2kg over 2 consumed in large quantities e.g.,
days. porridge, pasta, rice or fruit, should be
counted as part of your allowance.

This is a consensus document from Dietitian/ Nutritionists from the Nutrition Education Materials Online, "NEMO", team.
Disclaimer: http://www.health.qld.gov.au/masters/copyright.asp Reviewed: March 2015
Due for Review: March 2017
 Spread your fluid allowance over the
What is the fluid content of foods? day - don't drink it all at once!
Drink from small rather than large
cup jelly or custard 125mL cups.
2 scoops ice cream 30mL Remember to include ice in your fluid
200g yoghurt 160mL count.
1 cup cooked porridge 160mL Limit salt and salty foods as these
cup melon 100mL make you thirsty. Foods high in salt
2 Tb gravy/sauce 40mL include processed meats, canned
Tea/coffee in a mug 300mL vegetables, tinned soup, cheese,
1 can softdrink 375mL sauces, gravy, snack foods (salted
nuts, crisps), pastry, and most
Hints for fluid control takeaway foods.
Choose foods low in salt - fresh fruit
Use jugs and measuring cups to and vegetables; fresh meats, chicken,
accurately measure your fluid intake. fish, and eggs; porridge and pasta;
Fill up a jug of water with your daily and low salt or no added salt foods.
fluid allowance each morning and use Look for sodium content of ideally less
this to keep track of how much fluid than 120 mg per 100g on the nutrition
you are drinking throughout the day. If information panel of packaged foods.
drinking other fluids e.g. tea, coffee, Do not add salt at the table or in
milk or having foods that contain fluids cooking.
eg. rice, pasta, gravy, jelly etc pour Brush your teeth or try mints,
the amount of fluid out of your jug to peppermints or chewing gum to
account for these other fluids and/or freshen your mouth.
foods. Try sucking on boiled lollies or slices
of lemon, rather than drinking.
1 tablespoon = 20mL
Sucking slowly on frozen fluids or
1 metric cup = 250mL
pieces of fruit from your allowance
1 litre = 1000ml = 1kg in fluid weight
takes longer to consume and is more
thirst quenching.

This is a consensus document from Dietitian/ Nutritionists from the Nutrition Education Materials Online, "NEMO", team.
Disclaimer: http://www.health.qld.gov.au/masters/copyright.asp Reviewed: March 2015
Due for Review: March 2017
Constipation

To help prevent constipation Begin slowly with small amounts

include fibrous foods such as:
o wholegrain cereals
breads
o fruits & vegetables (include
the skins where possible),
o unsalted nuts or seeds
o lentils and legumes e.g.,
baked beans (no added
salt), red kidney
chick peas, lentils, or 4
bean mix.
Do not drink less than your fluid
& allowance
Do not add unprocessed bran or
psyllium-based products
(Metamucil, Nucolox) to your diet as
they require large volumes of fluid
to work.
Discuss suitable alternatives with
beans, your pharmacist if constipation
continues.

Things I can do to improve my fluid National Heart Foundation of Australia.

control are: (2012). Living well with Chronic Heart
Failure. From
1. www.heartfoundation.org.au/sitecollectiondoc
uments/Living-with-chronic-heart -failure.pdf
2.
National Heart Foundation of Australia.
(n.d.) Managing fluid and
3.
decompensation. Retrieved from
www.heartonline.au/HFM/risk-and-
4.
symptom-management/pages/Managing-
fliud-and decompensation.aspx.

For further information contact your

Dietitian or
Nutritionist:__________________________

This is a consensus document from Dietitian/ Nutritionists from the Nutrition Education Materials Online, "NEMO", team.
Disclaimer: http://www.health.qld.gov.au/masters/copyright.asp Reviewed: March 2015
Due for Review: March 2017