🫁 Sodium & Fluid Restriction Dietary Simulator

Sodium Restriction Target

Placeholder: limiting sodium reduces fluid pull into tissues.

• <2 g: Daily sodium limit (placeholder guideline)
• ~3.4 g: Typical Western intake (placeholder figure)
• ~2.3 g: Sodium in 1 tsp salt (placeholder reference)
• outcomes: Adherence improves (placeholder note)

Why sodium matters

Placeholder: sodium draws water into the bloodstream and tissues.

Reading food labels

Placeholder: processed foods hide large hidden sodium amounts.

Fluid Restriction Target

Placeholder: fluid limits reduce circulating volume and congestion.

• 1.5–2 L: Daily fluid limit (placeholder guideline)
• soups, ice: Includes (placeholder note)
• recommended: Daily weight check (placeholder note)
• >1 kg/day: Sudden gain flag (placeholder threshold)

Tracking fluids

Placeholder: all liquids and liquid-like foods count toward the limit.

Thirst management

Placeholder: small sips and ice chips ease restriction discomfort.

Dietary Indiscretion Event

Placeholder: one salty, high-fluid meal can spike retention fast.

• ~3–5 g: Restaurant meal sodium (placeholder figure)
• hours–days: Onset of symptoms (placeholder range)
• fast food: Common triggers (placeholder note)
• days: Recovery time (placeholder estimate)

What triggers a spike

Placeholder: canned soup, cured meats, and takeout are common culprits.

Immediate effects

Placeholder: rapid weight gain and swelling can follow quickly.

Fluid Retention Accumulation

Placeholder: repeated excess intake compounds fluid buildup over time.

• gradual: Edema onset (placeholder note)
• legs, lungs: Common sites (placeholder note)
• rising: Weight trend (placeholder indicator)
• ankle swelling: Early warning (placeholder sign)

How fluid accumulates

Placeholder: the heart cannot clear the extra volume efficiently.

Monitoring signs

Placeholder: daily weights catch accumulation before symptoms worsen.

Decompensation Risk Threshold

Placeholder: crossing the threshold risks acute hospitalization.

• #1 in HF: Hospitalization cause (placeholder rank)
• ~25%: Readmission rate (placeholder figure at 30 days)
• dyspnea: Key symptom (placeholder sign)
• strict diet: Prevention (placeholder note)

Crossing the threshold

Placeholder: congestion overwhelms the heart's compensatory reserve.

Avoiding the crisis

Placeholder: consistent adherence keeps retention below danger levels.