Sodium helps your body keep the right amount of fluids in it. When water builds up in your tissues, a common problem for people with PH, your heart also has to pump more blood. One of the best ways to eliminate this problem is to reduce the amount of salt you eat.
If the swelling is severe or a low-salt diet doesn’t help, your pulmonary hypertension specialists may suggest a low-sodium diet. Not all foods that are low in salt are also low in sodium. This article gives you the information you need to know about salt and water intake in patients with pulmonary hypertension.
What is the pulmonary hypertension condition referred to as?
The right side of the heart and the pulmonary arteries are negatively impacted by pulmonary hypertension, a form of high blood pressure.
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is when blood vessels in the lungs become narrow, blocked, or die. Because of the damage, blood flow through the lungs slows down, and blood pressure in the lungs’ arteries increases. To get blood through the lungs, the heart has to work harder. The extra work causes the heart muscle to weaken and fail over time.
The symptoms that might indicate that you might be affected with pulmonary hypertension:
Pulmonary hypertension takes a long time to show signs and symptoms. You might not see them for a long time, even years. As the disease gets worse, so do the pulmonary arterial hypertension symptoms.
Some signs and symptoms of pulmonary hypertension are:
- Blue lips and skin
- Pressure or pain in the chest
- Dizziness or fainting
- Fast pulse or pounding heartbeat
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Swelling in the ankle (edema)
Why are water and salt restrictions important in patients with pulmonary hypertension?
Because of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, the body holds on to too much fluid. This is a big problem because the heart’s right ventricle is already working hard and can’t handle more blood. The fluid builds up and causes edema, swelling in the ankles and legs, shortness of breath, tiredness, and sometimes pain in the chest.
A person with pulmonary hypertension will feel better if they cut back on how much salt and water they take in. Check with your Neonatology Specialist in Coimbatore to find out what restrictions you have to follow.
Two-gram salt restriction:
Most of the time, people with pulmonary hypertension are told to eat less or less than two grams of salt daily. At first, it may be challenging, but over time, your body will get used to the new diet, and you will crave salt less. It would help everyone in the family to eat the same way so that the person with pulmonary hypertension doesn’t have too many things to choose from. It is important to read food labels. You need to read the label to know that some foods have a surprising amount of salt until it’s too late.
Two-liter fluid retention:
Many people with pulmonary hypertension are told to limit their total fluid intake to less than two liters, or 2000cc per day. Reducing the amount of fluid a person drinks can avoid swelling and fluid retention. Patients are often surprised to learn that they can drink too much water because they have been told that drinking lots of water is the key to staying healthy.
Not just water needs to be measured, but also gelatin, ice, soda, coffee, and anything else that is liquid at room temperature. It’s helpful to always drink from the same size cup and know how many cups equal 2 liters. This will help you figure out how much fluid you’ve had and how much more you can have for the rest of the day so you can make plans.
The treatment options that can help get rid of pulmonary hypertension:
Pulmonary Hypertension Treatments can help improve the disease’s signs and symptoms and slow the disease’s progress.
It can take a while to figure out the best way to treat pulmonary hypertension. The treatments are often hard to understand and require much care afterwards.
When another disease causes pulmonary hypertension, it is best to treat the disease that is causing it.
Medications:
Some medicines can help ease the symptoms of pulmonary hypertension and slow the disease’s progress.
Surgery and other procedures:
Surgery may be suggested if the signs and symptoms of pulmonary hypertension can’t be controlled by medicine. The following surgeries are involved in pulmonary fibrosis treatment:
Atrial septostomy:
This open-heart surgery may be suggested if medicines don’t help control the signs and symptoms of pulmonary hypertension. In an atrial septostomy, a surgeon makes a hole between the heart’s upper left and right chambers (atria) to relieve pressure on the right side of the heart. Problems with the heartbeat could be a problem (arrhythmias).
Lung or heart-lung transplant:
Some people with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension, especially younger people, may be told to get a lung or heart-lung transplant.
The organ being rejected and getting a severe infection are two major risks of any transplant. To lower the chance of rejection, prescribed medications must be taken for life.
It’s always possible to make changes that are good for your health, like giving up smoking, eating less salt, and eating a healthy diet. Pulmonary hypertension might not get worse if these changes are made. Seek help from a pulmonologist specialist in Coimbatore if you are dealing with pulmonary hypertension.