Helpful Tips
Heart failure does not mean that your heart has stopped working. It means that your heart is not working as well as it should to keep blood moving through your body. Blood may, therefore, back up into your lungs causing breathing problems. Heart failure won't go away, but it can be managed.
Signs/symptoms of heart failure
Call your doctor if you experience any of the following:
- Shortness of breath (either when you're at rest or active)
- Dry, hacking cough
- Swelling in your ankles, feet, legs or stomach (you notice that your shoes, rings or pants/belts feel tighter than usual)
- Being very tired and weak
- Loss of appetite
- Weight gain (3 or more pounds in a day, 5 or more pounds in a week)
- Having to sleep propped up on pillows
Things you can do to manage heart failure
- Weigh yourself daily first thing in the morning (after you go to the bathroom but before you eat breakfast; try to wear the same amount of clothes). Write down your weight every day and if you notice a three-pound gain in a day or a five-pound gain over a week, call your physician.
- Pace yourself through activities. Don't allow yourself to become too tired.
- Try to limit the amount of salt (sodium) in your diet. Take the salt shaker off the table as a way to start getting use to the flavor of foods without so much salt. Be careful when using salt substitutes and spices; they may contain other forms of salt. Avoid foods that are high in sodium. As a rule, most processed foods (canned, frozen or boxed) are high in sodium. The American Heart Association lists foods that are low in sodium.
- Learn more about your risks with the American Heart Association global cardiac risk calculator or BCN's body mass index calculator.
Medications
You doctor may prescribe medications to help reduce the amount of work your heart has to do. It is important to take all your medications as your doctor prescribes. Use a pill organizer or chart to help you remember to take your medicine. Ask your doctor to review your medicine with you so you know what each pill does.
- ACE inhibitor: keeps blood vessels relaxed and open and lowers blood pressure
- Digoxin: makes your heart pump better and helps control heart rate
- Diuretic: helps your body get rid of extra water and sodium
- Vasodilator: keeps blood vessels relaxed and open and lowers blood pressure
If you are concerned about side effects, talk to your doctor. Do not stop taking the medications without discussing with your doctor.
Beta-blockers after a heart attack
Beta-blockers are drugs that protect the heart muscle and reduce the chance for another heart attack. If you've suffered a heart attack (acute myocardial infarction), you should probably be on beta-blocker medication. Studies have shown that beta-blockers make it easier for the heart to beat normally and may reduce your risk of another heart attack.
Your physician will determine if you are a candidate for this treatment since beta-blocker therapy is not indicated for all patients. But if you have been placed on beta-blockers, do not stop without discussing it with your physician. Beta-blockers should be taken for life.
Beta-blocker medications
| Acebutolol | Carvedilol | Levatol® | Tenormin | Ziac® |
| Atenolol | Coreg® | Lopressor HCT® | Sotalol | |
| Atenolol with chlorthalidone |
Corgard® | Lopressor® | Tenormin® | |
| Betachron® | Corzide® | Metoprolol | Tenoretic® | |
| Betapace® | Inderal® | Nadolol | Timolol | |
| Betaxolol | Inderide® | Normodyne® | Timolide® | |
| Bisoprolol | Inderide LA® | Penbutolol | Toprol XL® | |
| Blocadren® | Inderal LA® | Pindolol | Trandate® | |
| Carteolol | Kerlone® | Propranolol | Visken® | |
| Cartrol® | Labetalol | Sectral® | ZeBeta® |
page modified 05/04/2008