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 How
is heart failure treated?
The goals of treating
heart failure include the following:
How to decrease the likelihood of disease progression if you have heart failure
- Keep
your blood pressure low. In
heart failure, the release of hormones cause the blood vessels to constrict
or tighten. The heart must work hard to pump blood through the constricted
vessels. It is important to keep your blood pressure as low as possible,
so that your heart can pump effectively without extra stress.
- Schedule regular visits with your heart failure doctor or nurse to monitor your progress
- Monitor
symptoms.
- Check
for changes in your fluid status
(daily weights and checking for swelling).
- Schedule
regular follow-up visits with your special team of doctors and nurses.
If you have questions, write them down and bring them to your appointment.
Call your doctor if you have urgent questions. (Click
here to find a doctor who treats heart failure)
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What
to bring to your doctor visit:
Medication list
Daily weights
List of symptoms - what they are, when they occur, how long
they last, and what relieves them
Test and lab results
Records from all doctor or emergency room visits
Questions
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Notify
all your doctors about your heart failure, medications and any restrictions.
Check
with your heart failure doctor about any new medications prescribed
by another
doctor.
- Keep
good records and bring them with you to each doctor visit.
- Decrease
risk of further heart damage
How to lessen symptoms of heart failure
How
to improve your quality of life
- Eat
a healthy diet
- Eat
less than 2,000 milligrams (2 grams) of sodium each day.
- Eat
foods high in fiber and potassium. See potassium guidelines for heart failure.*
- Reach
and maintain a healthy weight (you may need to fewer calories per day).
- Limit
foods high in fat, cholesterol and sugar.
- Manage
your fluids
- Weigh
yourself daily.
Keep your weight within four pounds (two pounds lower or higher) than
your dry weight.
- Limit
fluid intake to 2 liters or less per day.
- Be
creative in managing your thirst.
- See
Monitoring Your Health When You Have Heart Failure. *
- Exercise
regularly
A
regular cardiovascular exercise program, prescribed by your doctor,
will help improve symptoms, strength and your sense of well-being. It
may also decrease heart failure progression. See Heart Failure Exercise
Guidelines.
- Avoid
heavy exercise or activities
Activities,
such as pushing or pulling heavy objects, shoveling, or strenuous occupations,
may worsen heart failure and its symptoms.
- Prevent
respiratory infections
Ask
your doctor about flu and pneumonia vaccines.
- Take
your medications as prescribed
Do
not stop taking them without first contacting your doctor.
- Get
emotional or psychological support – if you need it
Heart failure can
be difficult for your whole family. If you have questions, ask your doctor
or nurse. If you need emotional support, social workers, psychologists,
clergy and heart failure support groups are a phone call away. Ask your
doctor or nurse to point you in the right direction.
Heart
Failure Management Program
You may benefit from
a heart failure disease management program. As part of this program, doctors
and nurses provide frequent contact with you (through office visits, telephone
calls or home monitoring) to alleviate symptoms, prevent symptoms from
recurring and decrease the need for emergency care or hospitalization.
In this program, emphasis is placed on increasing your knowledge of heart
failure and helping you self-manage your condition. Ask your doctor about
Heart Failure Management Programs he or she may be affiliated with. At
the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, call 216-444-4604.
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