3. Swelling and Weight Gain
Your abdomen, ankles, and feet are all body areas that can swell. It’s possible to experience some swelling on a very hot day or after a workout. You may notice that your shoes or clothes feel tight, or that you’ve gained weight quickly or unexpectedly. When swelling occurs, it’s called edema.
As blood circulation out of the heart slows, blood flowing through the veins towards the heart backs up, resulting in fluid retention in the tissues. The kidneys are also affected—they are less able to dispose of water and sodium, also causing fluid to build up in the tissues.
The whole process puts a lot of pressure on the heart, which releases chemicals that tell the body to hold onto fluid.
