The best way to reduce the symptoms of ATTR-CM is to follow your prescribed treatment plan and seek further guidance from your cardiologist. But there are also several strategies you can use at home to control swelling, experts say.
1. Elevate Your Lower Body
Prop your legs and feet above heart level with a few pillows when you’re lying down or sitting in a reclined position. When your lower extremities are elevated, gravity helps naturally drain excess fluid from the area.
“Elevating the legs for 30 minutes at a time, a few times a day, can help,” says Kevin Shah, MD, a cardiologist and the program director of heart failure outreach at MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute at Long Beach Medical Center in California.
Elevating your legs and feet can feel especially good at the end of the day, when more fluids have built up. You can also do it while you’re sleeping to keep swelling pain from intensifying overnight.
2. Wear Compression Socks
Low-pressure compression stockings are available over the counter at drugstores and online, but do check with your doctor before using them, says Karishma Patwa, MD, a cardiologist with Manhattan Cardiology in New York City. Compression stockings aren’t safe if you also have peripheral artery disease, signs of neuropathy, or if your heart failure symptoms are suddenly worsening, she says.
3. Weigh Yourself Daily
Keeping close tabs on the scale won’t improve swelling on its own, but it’s an easy way to tell if your swelling is getting worse, so you can let your doctor know and take steps to get the problem under control before it worsens further, says Dr. Patwa.
Make a habit of stepping on the scale first thing in the morning, ideally before eating and after using the bathroom. Write down the number every day so you can track any changes. An increase of more than 2 to 3 pounds (lb) in a day or 5 lb in a week warrants a call to your doctor.
4. Reduce Your Salt Intake
5. Pay Attention to Your NSAID Use
“Consider alternate [pain relief] agents such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) when possible,” since they don’t pose the same swelling risk, says Dr. Shah.
6. Take Care of Your Skin
The skin on your legs, ankles, and feet needs extra care when you’re swollen. Excess fluid buildup can stretch your skin and make it dry, cracked, or tight, leading to itching and making your skin more prone to injuries and infections.
Apply moisturizer once or twice a day to keep dry, swollen skin healthier and more hydrated, says Shah. Wear socks and shoes — even around the house — to protect yourself from injuries.
7. Get Up and Moving
8. Tell Your Doctor
New or worsening swelling may be a sign that your ATTR-CM is progressing and shouldn’t be ignored.
Call your doctor if you experience sudden weight gain, visibly worse swelling, new or worsening shortness of breath when you’re active, abdominal swelling or discomfort, or a dry, hacking cough. You may need to make an adjustment to your treatment plan.
Call 911 if your swelling or weight gain is accompanied by symptoms like shortness of breath when you’re at rest, new or worsening dizziness or confusion, loss of appetite, or new trouble sleeping or an inability to lie flat. These symptoms are signs that your heart is seriously struggling and needs emergency medical attention.
The Takeaway
- People with ATTR-CM can manage fluid retention at home by elevating their legs above heart level, wearing compression stockings, and staying physically active to help move fluid away from the lower body.
- Dietary and lifestyle adjustments, such as limiting sodium intake and avoiding NSAIDs, can also help prevent the body from holding onto excess water.
- Maintaining skin health through moisturizing and monitoring daily weight is essential, as an addition of 2 to 3 lb in a day can signal that the condition is worsening.
- While home strategies are effective, any sudden increase in swelling, shortness of breath, or significant weight gain should be reported to a doctor immediately.
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