Having just come off of 19 days off work, a week in the hospital, 2 months of feeling like crap, and finding out what every cardiology test on the planet feels like, I give the following words of wisdom.
SALT is the enemy of the heart, and it makes you retain fluid you don't even know is there. If your trying to be heart healthy look at all those LOW FAT foods and dressings. They are loaded with sodium. ANd healthy cereals are a myth that I will bust right now. Kelloggs Bran Flakes are higher in sodium and calories per 1 cup serving than the new Chocolate Lucky Charms, which my doctor found stunning. So read the labels and beware "health foods" that really aren't that healthy for you. In case your wondering, I had a virus attack my heart and it now only operates at 20% ejection rate, compared to the normal 65%, and had lungs, legs, and feet filled with fluid back up due to the infection weakening the heart over time. No damage to the heart, no cholesterol issues, no diabetes, just a weak heart now. So low sodium is my new best friend and loosing some weight. I dropped 26 pounds in less than 6 days on Lasix fluid pills, and can't believe how much energy I have with a weak heart now that I am following the diet and medication.

Agreed!

efaubert1, is there a specific diet program you're following?  I quit smoking 6 weeks ago and am paying alot more attention to things like this.  Which is easy to do, since there's more of me to pay attention to since quitting.