If you have heart failure—also known as congestive heart failure—your heart likely isn’t in imminent danger, but the long-term threat to your health is serious. Your body depends on the heart for oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood, but with heart failure, the muscle can’t pump enough blood to keep up with demand. Heart failure can sap your energy, make breathing difficult and cause swelling throughout the body. All of these symptoms tend to worsen over time.
Heart failure can be deadly—it contributed to 1 in 8 deaths in the U.S. in 2017, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s estimated that heart failure robs individuals of nearly a decade of life, the American Heart Association reports. More than 50 percent of people with the disease die within five years of diagnosis.
Researchers haven’t found a cure for heart failure, so the goal of treatment is to preserve quality of life and prevent the condition from worsening to the point of needing hospitalization. How patients manage the condition at home is crucial.
Here are five ways to do your part for your heart.
1. Stick to the (treatment) plan.
For early-stage heart failure, your cardiologist will develop a treatment plan that may include medications to reduce your blood pressure or help the body filter excess sodium. He or she may recommend that you attend cardiac rehabilitation and follow a heart-healthy diet, exercise, lose weight, or, if applicable, quit smoking. It’s important to follow your cardiologist’s instructions closely to reduce symptoms, maintain independence and allow your heart to derive the most benefit.
For late-stage heart failure, a pacemaker or an implantable cardioverter defibrillator may be necessary to help the heart beat normally. Some individuals need a left ventricular assist device to aid with pumping blood, or, in the most severe cases, a heart transplant.
2. Watch out for (and report) worsening symptoms.
Recognizing signs of a heart failure flare-up, such as swelling in your legs or having difficulty breathing at rest, and notifying your cardiologist quickly keeps you safe. It may also help you avoid hospitalization. Your cardiologist may be able to adjust your treatment to get symptoms under control without the need for higher-level care.
3. Know your numbers.
Statistics such as pulse rate, blood pressure and weight can reveal a lot about the status of heart failure and how your heart is functioning. Check these numbers daily and log them in a notebook. If you notice any significant changes, such as rapid weight gain, tell your cardiologist right away.
4. Take steps to avoid respiratory infections.
Flu, pneumonia and COVID-19 can be more dangerous for people with heart failure. Reduce your risk of respiratory infection by washing your hands frequently, coughing into your sleeve and avoiding touching your face. Guard against COVID-19 specifically by practicing social distancing and wearing a face mask when you have to be around others in public. Be sure to get the flu vaccine this fall, and ask your primary care physician if you should get the pneumonia vaccine.
5. Build a support network.
Living with heart failure can take an emotional toll. To guard against depression, stay connected and share your feelings with friends and family, or ask your cardiologist for a recommendation for a virtual or in-person heart failure support group.
