Diagnosed with Heart Failure

The most important factor in your recovery and care is you.  Taking steps to manage your health immediately will help you live a longer, healthier life.

• Stop smoking - Do not use tobacco in any form. If you smoke, join a smoking cessation support group. Your doctor can refer you to groups in your area or visit Atlantic Health’s classes and events search.  You can also talk to your doctor about nicotine patches and oral medications that help people quit smoking to find a method that works for you.
  
  
• Weigh yourself daily - Weight gain is the first indicator that your body is holding on to fluid, which can weaken your heart. You can gain several pounds before you even notice it.  Often the first sign you will notice is swollen ankles.  Weigh yourself at the same time every day wearing the same amount of clothing and record your weight.  If you gain two pounds in one day or five pounds in three to four days, call your doctor.
  
  
• Report changes in symptoms - Call your doctor immediately if you experience increased shortness of breath when walking or lying flat, or wake suddenly at night; are unable to tolerate usual activity; or develop unusual swelling.  These are signs that your heart failure is worsening. 
  
  
• Bring your medications - When you go to see your doctor, bring your medications or a list of medications you are taking.  Many medications have both generic and brand names, creating confusion and possibly double dosages.
  
  
• Stay active - It’s important to get exercise and keep active.  However, if you feel weaker than usual the following day, cut back on your activity a bit – you’ve probably been doing too much. 
  
  
• Follow your prescribed diet -Your doctor will ask you to restrict your fluid and sodium intake. Usually this is hard at first and gets progressively easier. Stay with it, as the results are amazing. You may be given a diet for other conditions such as: obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes or renal problems.
  
  
• No alcohol, no drugs - Alcohol is a cardiac depressant. Anyone with decreased cardiac function should refrain from alcohol. Abusing any substances is dangerous to your health. 
  
  
• Take your medications -The medications your doctor has prescribed have shown to help people with heart failure live longer, stay out of the hospital and feel better. Many drugs require a gradual increase to a target level, to allow your body to adapt to the drugs. During the adjustment period, if you experience any side effects or other problems, call your doctor.  You may need a different dose or a different medication.
  
  
• Call your doctor if any of your other medications change - Heart failure usually occurs in older patients with other illnesses. Often, people will be prescribed medications for diabetes, gout or arthritis that affect the heart and cause setbacks. Even though your doctor may be aware of the condition, he or she may not be aware of the medication interaction.
  
  
• Defibrillators and cardioverters -Today a large number of heart failure patients have an implantable cardioverter/defibrillator. This device monitors the heart for potentially life threatening rhythm changes and corrects them. If you have such a device and feel it has gone off, call your doctor who put it in. His or her name will be on the ID card you received with the device.
  
  
• Be encouraged - A positive attitude can help you overcome difficult times. Many people with heart failure can lead active happy lives with positive changes to their lifestyle.
  
  
• Heart-healthy diet and sodium restriction -Elevated levels of sodium cause your body to retain water in order to dilute the salt and help eliminate it, and too much fluid is dangerous for people with heart failure.  In fact, eating too much sodium in just one meal can lead to hospitalization.  Your heart must work harder if it has extra water to pump. You will notice swelling in your feet, legs and abdomen, and possibly increased difficulty breathing if you take in excessive sodium. 

Most Americans consume more than 10 times the sodium they need. Begin by taking the salt shaker off the table and limit your sodium intake to 2,000-3,000 mg per day. This includes sodium in foods and beverages.

Tips for reducing sodium:

• • Stay away from processed, cured and canned foods unless they are low in salt or sodium
  • Eat fresh fruits, vegetables, grains and fresh meats
  • Use fresh herbs and spices without salt
  • Do not use salt when preparing food
  • Take the salt shaker off the table
  • Do not use salt substitutes
  • Allow your taste buds time to adapt; your taste will change
  • Read labels; select sodium-free, low sodium or very low sodium
  • Avoid prepared, “quick” or “fast” foods
  • When you eat out ask that your food be prepared without salt; baked, broiled, steamed or poached methods are best
    
    
• Fluid restriction -Restricting fluid intake is one of the more difficult tasks of living with heart failure. Several glasses of water each day is not healthy for patients with heart failure. You should not exceed more than two and one half quarts of liquid per day. You may take diuretics in order to reduce the fluid in your body. Often, diuretics will make you feel thirsty even when you have sufficient fluid in your body.
  
  
• Other dietary concerns - Diet involves the whole patient and not just heart failure issues. A restricted calorie diet is important if you are obese. In fact, there are several small studies showing weight loss alone helped people with heart failure exercise longer and feel better. Cholesterol and lipids are also important and should be addressed in your diet planning as well.