Mr. Jones has heart failure. What sodium intake is appropriate for him given he has no CAD or increased CHD risk?

For a patient with heart failure who has no coronary artery disease (CAD) or increased coronary heart disease (CHD) risk, a sodium intake of 2 grams is generally considered an appropriate recommendation. This moderate restriction helps manage fluid retention and supports heart function without being overly prohibitive, which is important for quality of life and adherence to dietary recommendations.

In the context of heart failure, sodium restriction is often advised to help reduce blood volume and alleviate symptoms like edema and shortness of breath. However, when there is no CAD or heightened risk for CHD, the level of restriction can be less stringent compared to patients with those conditions. Using 2 grams of sodium as a guideline allows for a balance—maintaining some dietary sodium to prevent nutrient deficiencies while still promoting better outcomes in heart failure management.

Options recommending either 1 gram of sodium or no sodium restriction may not align with best practices for managing heart failure symptoms. A very low sodium intake might be too restrictive and lead to malnutrition, whereas no restriction could lead to fluid overload and worsened heart failure symptoms. Thus, the recommended intake of 2 grams represents a reasonable and evidence-based approach for this patient scenario.