What is the importance of Low Sodium Diet on patients with Heart Failure?

- It is important to decrease the amount of sodium you eat when you have heart failure, because heart failure causes the body to hold on to extra sodium. The sodium attracts extra fluid to build up in your body. Which means that the heart needs to work extra harder because of water retention. How can heart work if it's not working properly? This may also result to symptoms such as swelling of the ankles, feet or abdomen, shortness of breath, or weight gain.

A low-sodium diet can help you, even if you do not have symptoms of fluid build up, or if you are already taking a diuretic (water pill).