You eat too much salt

The majority of salt in our diet comes from processed foods, not the salt shaker. Extra sodium and fluid buildup from overwhelmed kidneys can cause swollen ankles, puffiness, a rise in blood pressure, shortness of breath, and/or fluid around your heart and lungs, according to the National Kidney Foundation. Read food labels carefully and choose those foods low in sodium that contain 35 mg of sodium or less per serving.