If you have heart failure, you might feel bloated around your stomach.

This happens because your body stores extra fluid. Your heart isn't pumping as much blood through your blood vessels as usual. So your body tries to increase the amount of fluid in your blood vessels by holding onto extra fluid.

But your heart can't pump properly, so blood doesn't move around your body as well as it should. This causes the extra fluid to leak out of your blood vessels. The fluid can collect in your liver, in the lining of your stomach or in your intestines.

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.