Congestive heart failure is a common condition that affects millions of
people every year. If not controlled, it can progress, leading to
disability and sometimes death.
Thanks to advances in medicine, healthcare providers can help patients
control heart failure. For most patients, treatment consists of
medications and adopting healthier life habits. This includes eating a
healthy, balanced diet and regular physical activity.
For a lot of patients, taking daily medication is important in
controlling heart failure. Medication should be taken as prescribed and
any side effects should be reported immediately to the doctor.
You should also learn when you should contact your healthcare provider
or seek emergency medical attention. It is important to recognize the
signs of heart failure so that you can get help early.
Your healthcare providers are available to help you select lifestyle
changes that fit your needs.
Introduction
Congestive heart failure is a common condition that affects millions of
people every year.
It is possible to control this disease of the heart. If not successfully
controlled, heart failure can cause serious disability and death.
This patient education program explains congestive heart failure, how to
manage your medications and how to help control congestive heart
failure with lifestyle changes.
Heart Failure
The heart is responsible for pumping blood to all the organs in the
body. It is a highly specialized muscle that is expected to work
continuously, without rest, for a lifetime!
Heart failure is a condition where the heart is not able to pump blood
to the rest of the body at a normal rate.
When the heart cannot pump all the blood it receives, excess fluid could
back up into the lungs and other parts of the body.
The lack of blood being supplied to the body in addition to the buildup
of fluids causes symptoms of heart failure. When fluids collect in the
lungs, it is called congestion. That is why this disease is called
congestive heart failure.
If not controlled, congestive heart failure can be very debilitating,
causing a person to feel tired after very simple activities, such as
walking or eating.
Leaving the Hospital
If you were hospitalized, your nurse will review your discharge
instructions before you leave the hospital. It is important for you to
understand your doctor’s recommendations about:
- Your medications
- Weighing yourself daily
- Diet and fluid restrictions
- The activity level that is right for you
- Your follow-up appointments
- What to do if your symptoms get worse
Following your discharge instructions will help you to manage your heart
failure more effectively.
Share your discharge instructions with your primary care or family
doctor. Make sure to give his or her name and address to the doctors you
saw in the hospital and ask them to send a discharge summary to your
primary care or family doctor.
Call your doctor if you experience:
- Sudden weight gain (2 pounds in 1 day or 5 pounds in 5 days)
- Worsening shortness of breath
- Increased swelling of your feet, legs, or abdomen
- Needing more pillows or sleeping in a recliner
Call your doctor if you experience:
- Waking from sleep to catch your breath
- New or worsening dizziness
- A cough that does not go away
- New or increasing irregularities in your heart rate
- Any problem with heart failure medications
If symptoms get worse, they need attention! Ask someone to drive you to the Emergency Room or call 911 if you experience:
- Severe shortness of breath
- Coughing up pink, frothy sputum
- Chest discomfort, pain, or pressure not relieved by rest and/or nitroglycerine
Treatment with Medication
Your doctor will base your medicine treatment on the type of heart
failure you have, how severe it is, and your response to certain
medicines.
A patient should tell their doctor about any medication they are
currently taking, including non-prescription medications, vitamins, or
dietary supplements. This way, he or she can ensure that the best
combination of medication is prescribed to treat the heart failure.
The doctor or healthcare provider will explain the possible side effects
of the prescribed medication. The doctor should be notified if any side
effects are noticed. When picking up a new medication, the patient
should ask for a consultation with the pharmacist.
Tips for remembering to take medications: Learn the name, dose, and
reason for each medication.
Make a simple chart for your medications.
Update your chart as the medications change, especially if you have been
in the hospital.
Set a regular routine for taking medications, such as meal time or bed
time.
Do not skip doses; if you do miss a dose, do not take two doses at once.
Set an alarm on your watch to remind you.
Use a pill box to help you organize your daily medications.
Lifestyle Changes
The following 10 healthy life habits help control heart failure.
Do not eat salt.
Salt causes fluid to build up in the body. By reducing the amount of salt that you eat, you can reduce swelling and fluid buildup in the lungs. Frozen foods, canned foods and processed meats contain a lot of salt. You should limit salt to less than 2,000 milligrams per day. You should not add salt to food. Be physically active.
Try to be as active as possible, but stay within what your health condition allows. Talk to your doctor about the type of activities you can do. Heart failure usually affects the ideal level of activity for most patients. Lose weight if you are overweight.
Check with your healthcare provider about the resources available to help you lose weight, including, dietitians, classes, and health education materials. Eat a healthy, balanced diet that is rich in fiber and low in fat and salt. Check your blood pressure regularly.
If it is high, keep it under control by avoiding foods that are high in salt and taking prescribed medication. Do not smoke. Check with your healthcare providers about available resources to help you quit smoking. Check and control your cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Do not use illegal drugs and avoid alcohol entirely. Get enough sleep at night and rest frequently. Manage stress in your life. Ask your healthcare providers about resources that are available to manage stress.
Salt causes fluid to build up in the body. By reducing the amount of salt that you eat, you can reduce swelling and fluid buildup in the lungs. Frozen foods, canned foods and processed meats contain a lot of salt. You should limit salt to less than 2,000 milligrams per day. You should not add salt to food. Be physically active.
Try to be as active as possible, but stay within what your health condition allows. Talk to your doctor about the type of activities you can do. Heart failure usually affects the ideal level of activity for most patients. Lose weight if you are overweight.
Check with your healthcare provider about the resources available to help you lose weight, including, dietitians, classes, and health education materials. Eat a healthy, balanced diet that is rich in fiber and low in fat and salt. Check your blood pressure regularly.
If it is high, keep it under control by avoiding foods that are high in salt and taking prescribed medication. Do not smoke. Check with your healthcare providers about available resources to help you quit smoking. Check and control your cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Do not use illegal drugs and avoid alcohol entirely. Get enough sleep at night and rest frequently. Manage stress in your life. Ask your healthcare providers about resources that are available to manage stress.
Summary
Heart failure is a serious disease that affects millions of Americans.
If not controlled, it can progress, leading to disability and sometimes
death.
Thanks to advances in medicine, healthcare providers can help patients
control heart failure. For most patients, treatment consists of
medications and adopting healthier life habits.
For a lot of patients, taking daily medication is important in
controlling heart failure. Medication should be taken as prescribed and
any side effects should be reported immediately to the doctor.
Your healthcare providers are available to help you select lifestyle
changes that fit your needs.
