NUTRITION

PAH and Swelling

Why PAH can cause swelling

Important: Along with your treatment regimen, good nutrition is important for helping to manage PAH.

Have the rings on your fingers become tight? Or have you noticed your shoes feeling more snug than usual? You’re not imagining things—PAH and PAH medications like Letairis may cause swelling.

Swelling can occur when you have too much fluid in your body. The hearts of people with PAH cannot pump as much blood as usual, which can cause fluid to collect, leading to swelling.

Swelling can be a major problem for people with PAH, especially in the hands, legs, ankles, and feet. If swelling becomes uncomfortable or severe, it’s important to see your doctor right away.

Ways to help manage mild swelling

Reduce your salt intake

One way to help manage swelling associated with PAH is to make changes to the amount of salt in your diet.

Having too much salt is one of the major causes of swelling, because salt helps regulate the balance of fluids in your body. When you have too many fluids in your body, swelling can occur. While it can be very difficult to avoid salt altogether, you can make a big difference by cutting back as much as possible.

Here are ways you can limit your salt intake:

• Read the labels on all the food you buy and opt for food with less salt: The American Heart Association recommends you have less than 1500 mg of salt a day
• Don’t add salt when you cook: Instead, use alternatives to salt such as lemon juice, garlic, and fresh herbs when seasoning cooked meals
• Avoid salty snack foods: Chips, pretzels, pickled foods, and condiments such as ketchup and soy sauce are high in sodium
• Avoid packaged food: Be aware that many packaged meats, sauces, and frozen foods are high in salt, so check the labels before you buy them

Limit your fluid intake

Another way to help manage swelling associated with PAH is to limit your fluid intake. Many people with PAH are put on fluid restriction, so check with your PAH doctor to find out what is right for you.

One of the best ways to limit your fluid intake is to keep track of all the liquids you drink during the day. And keep in mind that foods such as soup, sherbet, and Jell-O^® count as fluids, so take that into account when you are planning your day.

If you find yourself thirsty, eating fresh fruit like oranges or melon—anything with water in it—may help curb thirst while limiting your actual fluid intake. Talk to your doctor about eating fruit when you’re thirsty.