Heart failure can cause abdominal distension, mainly because heart failure causes gastrointestinal stasis. Stasis of blood. In addition, water and sodium retention reduces the amount of blood returned to the heart, and insufficient arterial blood perfusion can also lead to digestive system dysfunction and abdominal distention. In addition to abdominal distension, the digestive symptoms of heart failure patients may include loss of appetite, indigestion, nausea, and vomiting.