How to Prevent and Manage Swelling With ATTR-CM
Updated on April 6, 2026
It’s common to experience swelling and fluid retention when you have transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM). The condition causes your heart muscle to become stiffer, making it difficult to pump blood effectively. As a result, blood and fluids can build up in your legs, ankles, and feet, making them look puffy and feel heavy.
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
Compression socks or stockings place pressure on your legs, ankles, and feet to help prevent blood and fluid buildup. They can make a meaningful difference in reducing swelling and discomfort.
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
Sodium encourages your body to hold onto excess fluid, which worsens swelling, so ask your cardiologist if you should be limiting your intake. For some people with ATTR-CM, restricting salt consumption to 1,500–2,300 milligrams (mg) per day can have a significant impact.
You can slash your sodium consumption by eating more home-cooked meals and flavoring food with salt-free seasoning options like fresh herbs, spices, garlic, citrus juices, or vinegar. When buying packaged foods, check the nutrition facts to see how much sodium you’re getting. Steer clear of products that are known to be very salty like processed or cured meats and sauces, or instant products like flavored rice and ready-made pastas.
5. Pay Attention to Your NSAID Use
Talk with your cardiologist about limiting or avoiding nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drugs like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen sodium (Aleve), and aspirin (Bayer). These medications can cause the body to retain sodium, which in turn can contribute to swelling.
“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
Make a point to take short movement breaks throughout the day, even if it’s just to walk to the mailbox. Physical activity helps move fluid buildup away from your legs and back up to your heart, which can reduce swelling and help you feel more comfortable.
A consistent exercise plan can also make a difference. Talk with your cardiologist to figure out what type of physical activity is safe for you before starting an exercise plan, says Ashesh Parikh, DO, a cardiologist with Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano and Texas Health Physicians Group. “It’s best to start with cardiac rehabilitation so exercise programs can be individually tailored to the patient,” he says.
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.
Resources We Trust
- Cleveland Clinic: Living With ATTR-CM: Your Questions Answered
- Mayo Clinic: Managing ATTR-CM: Your Guide to Current Treatment Options
- American Heart Association: Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM)
- ATTR-CM Companion: Why Does ATTR-CM Cause Leg Swelling?
- Amyloidosis Foundation: Patient Resources
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
- Understanding the Heart Disease Aspect of Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM). Mayo Clinic. February 13, 2026.
- Foot, Leg, and Ankle Swelling. MedlinePlus. May 19, 2025.
- Edema. Mayo Clinic. July 28, 2023.
- Compression Therapy. Cleveland Clinic. July 11, 2022.
- Urbanek T et al. Compression Therapy for Leg Oedema in Patients With Heart Failure. ESC Heart Failure. October 2020.
- Heart Failure - Fluids and Diuretics. MedlinePlus. July 7, 2024.
- Tips for Reducing Sodium Intake. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. January 31, 2024.
- Kaye AD et al. Cutaneous Dermatologic Manifestations of Cardiovascular Diseases: A Narrative Review. Cureus. October 24, 2024.
- Fu MR et al. The Effects of Exercise-Based Interventions on Fluid Overload Symptoms in Patients with Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Biomedicines. May 11, 2022.
- Self-Check Plan for HF Management. American Heart Association. November 2024.
Meet Our Experts
Chung Yoon, MD
Medical Reviewer
Chung Yoon, MD, is a noninvasive cardiologist with a passion for diagnosis, prevention, intervention, and treatment of a wide range of heart and cardiovascular disorders. He enjoys...
Marygrace Taylor
Author
Marygrace Taylor is an award-winning freelance health and wellness writer with more than 15 years of experience covering topics including women’s health, nutrition, chronic conditi...