Lifestyle and home remedies

Lifestyle changes are an important part of heart health and can help you manage some forms of pulmonary edema.

• Keep blood pressure under control. If you have high blood pressure, take your medications as prescribed and check your blood pressure regularly. Record the results. Ask your doctor for your target blood pressure.
• Manage other medical conditions. Address any underlying medical conditions, such as controlling your glucose levels if you have diabetes.
• Avoid the cause of your condition. If pulmonary edema results from drug use or high altitudes, for example, you'll want to avoid these things to prevent further lung damage.
• Don't smoke. It's always a healthy idea to stop smoking. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor. He or she can provide tips and, sometimes, medications to help you quit smoking.
• Eat less salt. Salt helps your body retain fluid. In some people with severely damaged left ventricular function, getting too much salt may be enough to trigger congestive heart failure. Your doctor may recommend a low-salt diet. If you need help, a dietitian can show you how to determine the salt content in foods and create a nutritious, good-tasting diet. In general, most people should consume less than 2,300 milligrams a day of salt (sodium). Ask your doctor what level is safe for you.
• Choose a healthy diet. You'll want to eat a plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Limit saturated fats and trans fats, added sugars, and sodium.
• Manage your weight. Being even slightly overweight increases your risk of cardiovascular disease. On the other hand, even losing small amounts of weight can lower your blood pressure and cholesterol and reduce your risk of diabetes.
• Get regular exercise. Healthy adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity a week, or a combination of the two. If you're not used to exercise, start out slowly and build up gradually. Be sure to get your doctor's OK before starting an exercise program.