Beingdiagnosed with heart failure also called congestive heart failure can be downright scary.
It all falls under the umbrella of self-care for heart failure.
Self-care can go a long way in managing heart failure.
The following strategies can get you started on the right path.
Recognizing the symptoms of heart failure is also important.
Some of the most common symptoms include:
These symptoms can range from mild to severe.
While they can sometimes come on slowly over time, they can crop up suddenly, too.
Its also good to understand the cause of your heart failure, because it can affect symptoms.
Causes include:
2.
Understand Your Treatment Plan
Learn more about self-care for heart failure from our partners at MedPage Today.
When it comes to taking your meds on schedule, find a system that works for you.
Limit Your Salt Intake
Salt, or sodium, is associated with fluid retention.
you could reduce salt in your diet by cooking your own meals.
Swap out salt with herbs, onion, or garlic to season foods.
When you go out to eat, ask if there is a low-salt alternative to the dishes you order.
ensure you include all liquids in that amount, not just the water you drink.
Recording these numbers will help you get more in tune with your body on a day-to-day basis.
Monitoring weight is a great way for individuals to double-check theyre not holding onto extra fluid, says Jessup.
If you gain more than 3 to 5 pounds in 3 days, alert your doctor.
A controlled blood pressure makes less work for the struggling heart, says Jessup.
Its like physical therapy for your heart, Hoffman explains.
Its usually supervised by an exercise physiologist and sometimes by a cardiologist.
Youll gradually increase the intensity while being monitored.
Anyone with a heart failure diagnosis should not be drinking or smoking, says Hoffman.
Drinking alcohol can also lead to extreme fluid retention.
Its also good to stay away from recreational drugs, including marijuana.
The impact of most recreational drug usage in people with heart failure is unknown.
Theirsleep is frequently interruptedby the need to urinate or trouble breathing.
This can be especially important, because many people with heart failure have undiagnosed sleep apnea, notes Hoffman.
In fact,research showsthat sleep apnea can increase the risk of heart failure by a whopping 140 percent.
Schedule Regular Checkups
Find a cardiologist you like, and stick with them.
Heart failure requires very close follow-up with your cardiologist or your heart failure provider, says Hoffman.
So, follow-up is very important to keep people out of the hospital.
Yes, its important for everyone to get immunized, but this goes double for people with heart failure.
This can help prevent symptoms from getting worse or hospitalization.
Not only will your heart failure symptoms improve, but so will your quality of life.
