How to Treat Ascites

Ascites is a disorder in which large amounts of fluid accumulate in the abdominal cavity. Liver disease, mainly cirrhosis, is the leading cause of ascites. Other causes include heart failure, kidney failure and cancer. Symptoms of ascites are an enlarged abdomen and weight gain. Ascites is not deadly, but it is a sign of other potentially fatal diseases.

Things You'll Need

• Water pills
• Scale

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Instructions

• 1

  See your doctor and ask if taking a water pill is necessary. Diuretics help flush out the excess fluid in the abdomen.

• 2

  Get plenty of bed rest and reduce your salt intake. Eat no more than 1500 mg of salt per day.

• 3

  Watch your weight closely. If you have more than a two-pound difference in a single day, consult your doctor immediately. There should be no significant change in your weight. Check your weight at the same time every morning to get the most reliable results.

• 4

  Ask your doctor if a paracentesis is necessary. This is a procedure during which doctors remove the excess fluid from the abdomen with a large syringe. This procedure is only necessary when other techniques fail.