What causes weight gain in heart failure

What Does Congestive Heart Failure Do to Your Body?

Congestive heart failure can cause:

• Shortness of breath: This happens when fluid collects in your lungs. It's also called pulmonary edema. It may be worse when you're lying down or when you're active. If you're having a hard time breathing, call your doctor or 911 right away.
• Coughing: Like shortness of breath, this is usually caused by extra fluid in your lungs.
• Tiredness: With heart failure, your body doesn't pump out enough blood to keep your cells healthy. That can make you tired. You might find it hard to do everyday things like climb stairs.
• Swelling (also called edema): This happens when there's too much fluid in your tissues. Your legs and ankles are the most likely places to swell. But other areas of your body, like your arms or belly, can also swell.
• Weight gain: This is caused by extra fluid that doesn't get flushed from your body the way it should.
• A need to pee more often.

Causes

Anything that damages your heart muscle or makes it work too hard can lead to congestive heart failure. Some examples include:

• Diabetes: This causes high blood sugar. That can damage your heart muscle over time.
• High blood pressure: Blood pressure is the force of your blood as it pushes against the walls of your arteries. Too much pressure eventually will weaken your heart muscle.
• Other forms of heart disease, including heart valve disease, congenital heart defects, and coronary heart disease.
• Certain medical treatments, including cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation.
• Thyroid disease.
• HIV and AIDS.
• Alcohol or drug abuse.

It’s About Location

Belly fat, also called visceral fat, is closer to internal organs, says Sonya Angelone, a cardiovascular nutrition expert in San Francisco.

This type of fat can be related to hormones, like those that kick in at menopause. That's when many women start seeing their tummies thicken.

Tension Plays a Role, Too

Your body also makes a "stress hormone" called cortisol, “which increases belly fat,” Angelone says. It narrows blood vessels and raises your BP to boost blood flow. Your body needs this in times of high stress. But too much cortisol can lead to blood vessel damage and plaque buildup, so it’s hard on your heart.

It can also lead to weight gain. The process draws fat from storage and sends it to your midsection. This has an inflammatory effect that can lead to heart problems, too.

It's a good idea to keep your stress levels down. Stay calm the best way you know how, or try out calming techniques like yoga and meditation.

Make Over Your Diet

These ticker-friendly tips can also help you watch your weight:

Look out for sneaky sugar. Did you know there's some in booze, for instance? “Alcohol is sugar,” Goldberg says. Same goes for sodas and sports drinks.

Swap fruits. Go for strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries instead of high-sugar bananas and grapes. They can quell your cravings just as well.

Watch the whites. Avoid bread and white-flour foods, like white rice. Brown rice and multigrain versions are better for you, but eat them in moderation, Goldberg says.

Try a Mediterranean-style eating plan. The diet is good for your heart and can lower blood sugar. You’ll eat more fruits, grains, beans, and nuts, along with healthy fats like olive oil.

Think spicy instead of sweet. For instance, use vanilla or cinnamon to flavor oatmeal and other foods instead of brown sugar and fatty cream. Try a dash of cinnamon in black coffee, too.

Avoid fads and quick fixes. Trendy diet kits and breath-stopping waist cinchers will always crowd store shelves. But there are no special exercises, devices, or diets that target belly fat. “As you lose weight, the weight will come off the belly, also.”

Eat healthy for the long haul. You might try a hard-core, fat-melting program, and you may pair it with a weight-loss drug. “But it’s not something that works for long term,” Goldberg warns. “People have to learn good habits. There’s no way around it.”

To help map out the approach that’s best for you, ask your doctor or dietitian to test your body fats. You can find out your chances of getting heart disease and learn what foods your body needs. You can also get checked for inflammation, diabetes, and other things that could affect your health. “Personalized care is the best option, and now with the testing available, is the best way to go to ensure success,” Angelone says.

Get a Move On

Stay active. Get up from your desk and take brief walks throughout the day, or while you make phone calls.

“Being more active all during the day will burn more calories than just going for a run once a day,” although focused exercise is important too, Angelone says.

Get out your bike, treadmill, or running shoes. Or just crank up the dance music.

“There are other ways to move than what we normally think of as exercise,” Goldberg says.

You can try aerobic-based DVDs or subscribe to an exercise channel or two. Smartphone apps are handy for keeping track of your fitness as well.

Whether you're young or older, you can lower your odds of getting heart disease if you don't smoke and you find ways to add exercise into your days.

In short, “people need to get up and move,” Goldberg says.