Heart Failure refers to the health condition where the heart no longer pumps adequate blood to meet the body’s needs – either because it doesn’t fill itself with enough blood or because it isn’t strong enough to pump blood throughout your body efficiently. In some cases, heart failure may be caused due to both these reasons.
Although the term ‘Heart Failure’ itself may sound scary, it is possible to continue living a healthy life despite being diagnosed of this condition. Here are 8 simple things you can do every day to make sure that everything remains in control.
Weigh Yourself Every Day
Weight gain is one of the earliest warning signs to watch out for if you are a person living with heart failure condition. If you observe a sudden weight gain – more than three pounds in one day or five pounds in one week – it means trouble! Immediately check your abdomen, legs and ankles for swelling which could be caused by edema (build-up of fluid in tissues).
We recommend that you maintain a chart and update it on a daily basis to monitor your weight and contact your doctor as soon as you find a sudden change.
Watch out for Other Symptoms
If you notice any of the following new or worsening heart failure symptoms, contact your doctor immediately. We don’t want to scare you, but waiting until they worsen may land you in need of emergency care!
- Shortness of breath – increased more than usual, more often or when you are at rest
- Dizziness, lightheadedness, confusion
- Discomfort in the chest discomfort while active, that may be relieved while at rest
- Fluctuations or changes in heart beat – faster than normal (more than 120 beats per minute at rest) or irregular heartbeat
- Poor appetite, nausea or vomiting
- Respiratory infection along with coughing at night
Monitor Your Blood Pressure
High blood pressure can put a strain on your heart by weakening heart muscles in the long run. Therefore, it is important that you keep monitoring your blood pressure on a regular basis and seek your doctor’s advice.
A home blood pressure monitor may come in handy for your use.
Dress for Heart Health
It is advised that you skip socks and other clothing with tight circumferences out of your wardrobe. This is to ensure that blood flow is not restricted to any part of your body, putting you at the risk of blood clotting.
Dressing in layers is also a good idea, so that you can continue to stay comfortable by adding or removing layers, as needed.
Limit Liquids
As strange as this sounds, the intake of too many fluids can worsen heart failure. This is because heart failure can also affect your kidneys and make them less efficient in disposing sodium and water from the body.
You may need to reduce the consumption of beverages like tea, coffee, juice and soft drinks, and also foods like soup, watermelon and ice-cream that are high in water content.
Reduce Your Salt (Sodium) Intake
Salt leads to the build up of additional fluids in the body. Like we just mentioned above, these fluids are not good for your heart.
The recommended limit for sodium in your diet is between 1,500 and 2,000 milligrams per day.
Don’t Miss Your Medication
Whatever medication your doctor prescribes for you – depending on the cause and severity of your heart failure – take them as per his/her instructions without fail.
Don’t skip it because you are feeling better or because of a change in symptoms, unless the doctor tells you to do so.
Stay in Touch With Your Doctor
Schedule regular appointments with your doctor and follow through.
This will help you notify your doctor as and when you experience changes in your health and stay in control of your heart.
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