Living With Heart Failure

Heart failure is a long-term (chronic) condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood through the body. When this happens, parts of the body do not get the blood and oxygen they need.

There is no cure for heart failure at this time, so it is important for you to take good care of yourself and follow the treatment plan set by your health care provider. If you are living with heart failure, there are ways to help you manage the disease.

Follow these instructions at home:

Living with heart failure requires you to make changes in your life. Your health care team will teach you about the changes you need to make in order to relieve your symptoms and lower your risk of going to the hospital. Follow the treatment plan as set by your health care provider.

Medicines

Medicines are important in reducing your heart’s workload, slowing the progression of heart failure, and improving your symptoms.

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
• Do not stop taking your medicine unless your health care provider tells you to do that.
• Do not skip any dose of your medicine.
• Refill prescriptions before you run out of medicine. You need your medicines every day.

Eating and drinking

• Eat heart-healthy foods. Talk with a dietitian to make an eating plan that is right for you.
  • If directed by your health care provider:
    • Limit salt (sodium). Lowering your sodium intake may reduce symptoms of heart failure. Ask a dietitian to recommend heart-healthy seasonings.
    • Limit your fluid intake. Fluid restriction may reduce symptoms of heart failure.
  • Use low-fat cooking methods instead of frying. Low-fat methods include roasting, grilling, broiling, baking, poaching, steaming, and stir-frying.
  • Choose foods that contain no trans fat and are low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Healthy choices include fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, fish, lean meats, legumes, fat-free or low-fat dairy products, and whole-grain or high-fiber foods.
• Limit alcohol intake to no more than 1 drink a day for nonpregnant women and 2 drinks a day for men. One drink equals 12 oz of beer, 5 oz of wine, or 1½ oz of hard liquor.
  • Drinking more than that is harmful to your heart. Tell your health care provider if you drink alcohol several times a week.
  • Talk with your health care provider about whether any level of alcohol use is safe for you.

Activity

• Ask your health care provider about attending cardiac rehabilitation. These programs include aerobic physical activity, which provides many benefits for your heart.
• If no cardiac rehabilitation program is available, ask your health care provider what aerobic exercises are safe for you to do.

Lifestyle

Make the lifestyle changes recommended by your health care provider. In general:

• Lose weight if your health care provider tells you to do that. Weight loss may reduce symptoms of heart failure.
• Do not use any products that contain nicotine or tobacco, such as cigarettes or e-cigarettes. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
• Do not use street (illegal) drugs.
• Return to your normal activities as told by your health care provider. Ask your health care provider what activities are safe for you.

General instructions

• Make sure you weigh yourself every day to track your weight. Rapid weight gain may indicate an increase in fluid in your body and may increase the workload of your heart.
  • Weigh yourself every morning. Do this after you urinate but before you eat breakfast.
  • Wear the same type of clothing, without shoes, each time you weigh yourself.
  • Weigh yourself on the same scale and in the same spot each time.
• Living with chronic heart failure often leads to emotions such as fear, stress, anxiety, and depression. If you feel any of these emotions and need help coping, contact your health care provider. Other ways to get help include:
  • Talking to friends and family members about your condition. They can give you support and guidance. Explain your symptoms to them and, if comfortable, invite them to attend appointments or rehabilitation with you.
  • Joining a support group for people with chronic heart failure. Talking with other people who have the same symptoms may give you new ways of coping with your disease and your emotions.
• Stay up to date with your shots (vaccines). Staying current on pneumococcal and influenza vaccines is especially important in preventing germs from attacking your airways (respiratory infections).
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

How to recognize changes in your condition

You and your family members need to know what changes to watch for in your condition.

Watch for the following changes and report them to your health care provider:

• Sudden weight gain. Ask your health care provider what amount of weight gain to report.
• Shortness of breath:
  • Feeling short of breath while at rest, with no exercise or activity that required great effort.
  • Feeling breathless with activity.
• Swelling of your lower legs or ankles.
• Difficulty sleeping:
  • You wake up feeling short of breath.
  • You have to use more pillows to raise your head in order to sleep.
• Frequent, dry, hacking cough.
• Loss of appetite.
• Feeling more tired all the time.
• Depression or feelings of sadness or hopelessness.
• Bloating in the stomach.

Where to find more information

• Local support groups. Ask your health care provider about groups near you.
• The American Heart Association: www.heart.org  

Contact a health care provider if:

• You have a rapid weight gain.
• You have increasing shortness of breath that is unusual for you.
• You are unable to participate in your usual physical activities.
• You tire easily.
• You cough more than normal, especially with physical activity.
• You have any swelling or more swelling in areas such as your hands, feet, ankles, or abdomen.
• You feel like your heart is beating quickly (palpitations).
• You become dizzy or light-headed when you stand up.

Get help right away if:

• You have difficulty breathing.
• You notice or your family notices a change in your awareness, such as having trouble staying awake or having difficulty with concentration.
• You have pain or discomfort in your chest.
• You have an episode of fainting (syncope).

Summary

• There is no cure for heart failure, so it is important for you to take good care of yourself and follow the treatment plan set by your health care provider.
• Medicines are important in reducing your heart’s workload, slowing the progression of heart failure, and improving your symptoms.
• Living with chronic heart failure often leads to emotions such as fear, stress, anxiety, and depression. If you are feeling any of these emotions and need help coping, contact your health care provider.