Heart Failure

Watching Your Weight – Fluid Restrictions

Daily Weights

It is very important that you weigh yourself each morning after voiding (urinating). Weigh yourself wearing approximately the same amount of clothing each time.
Keep track of your weight on a chart
Follow the rule of "3's". Call your doctor or nurse if you gain 3 lbs. in 3 days. This could mean that you are retaining fluid. Sometimes you may be instructed to take an extra water pill.

Fluid Restriction

Some doctors suggest that people with heart failure limit their total fluid to 8 cups per day. This includes fluids taken with medicines. This is to help keep your body from retaining fluid. Here are some examples of fluids and foods that count as part of your fluid total:

Fluids: Water, Juice, Coffee, Ice cubes*, Soup, Milk
Foods: Yogurt, Pudding, Ice Cream, Jell-o, Juices in fruits (1 orange or ½ Grapefruit counts as 4 oz. of fluid)

Keeping Track of your Fluid Intake

Many people find it helpful to fill a pitcher with 48 ounces of water in the morning. Each time you drink any fluid, pour that amount out of the pitcher. When the pitcher is empty, you have used up all of the fluids you should have for the day.

Measuring Fluid Intake

1 cup = 8 oz = 240 cc
4 cups = 32 oz = 1 qt = 1000 cc = 1 liter
8 cups = 64 oz = 2 qts = 2000 cc = 2 liters
1 ml = 1 cc
1oz. = 30 cc

What You Can Do When Thirsty

Being thirsty is very common. This does not mean that your body needs more fluid. Some substances in your body when you have heart failure "fool" you to think you need water; you have to be careful not to replace the fluid that diuretics have helped your body to get rid of. Here are a few tips for dealing with thirst:

Use ice chips or just rinse your mouth
Freeze juice in an ice cube tray
Use a lemon wedge, hard candies, chewing gum, frozen grapes or strawberries instead of drinking
Remember to save some fluids to take with your medicine

High Salt Drinks

Avoid drinks high in sodium, such as: tomato or vegetable juice.
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Last Reviewed: Feb 11, 2009

Ileana L Piña, MD
Professor, VA Quality Scholar
Louis Stokes VA Medical Center
School of Medicine
Case Western Reserve University