Patient's Guide to Heart Transplant Surgery

Fluid and Sodium Restriction

Salt is made up of two minerals - Sodium (Na+) and Chloride (C). It is the sodium portion of salt that we are concerned with in your diet. Sodium must be restricted in your diet because it causes your body to hold fluids.

You must also control your sodium and fluid intake since Prednisone causes your body to hold both of these. The result of holding fluid and sodium is that extra fluid builds up in your veins and arteries. To avoid this fluid and sodium build up, you should cut down on both.

To cut down on fluids, choose solid foods instead of liquids; for example, eat fruit instead of drinking juice. To cut down on salt, your doctor may prescribe a sodium-restricted diet for you. Your diet order may read: "No added Salt" or 3 to 4 gram Na+ diet. The doctor may also prescribe a water pill to help get the sodium and fluid out of your system.

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