Here's How to Manage Your Heart Failure (578B)

HOW

here’s

heart failure

Product # 578B

Order this book from : PRITCHETT & HULL ASSOCIATES, INC. 3440 OAKCLIFF RD NE STE 126 ATLANTA GA 30340-3006

or call toll free: 800-241- 4925 Copyright© 2022

by Pritchett & Hull Associates, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be photocopied, reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission from Pritchett & Hull Associates, Inc. This book is written to help you learn about CHF. It does NOT replace your doctor’s advice or treatment.

Throughout this book, where Pritchett & Hull Associates, Inc. was aware of names of products for which a trademark has been claimed, such names have been printed in initial capital letters (e.g., MedicAlert).

Published and distributed by: Pritchett & Hull Associates, Inc. Printed in the U.S.A.

What is Heart Failure?

Heart failure doesn’t mean your heart fails or stops. It means your heart doesn’t pump blood as well as it should.

Heart failure can make it harder to do the things you used to do, but you can still enjoy life. This book can help you learn how.

1

What you can do take medicine as prescribed eat less sodium exercise (if your doctor lets you) reduce stress rest don’t smoke

2

3

Medicine name

Allergies I have:

What I take it for

How much I should take

Ask your doctor to help you fill this in.

When I take it

If you have any questions about your medicines, or if they make you feel worse, talk with your doctor. Do not stop taking them.

Medicine

How to take it

Side effects Comments

Eat less sodium Try to eat less than 1,500 mg (milligrams) a day— that’s less than 1 teaspoon of salt.

Aim for no more than 500 mg of sodium at each meal.

4

Don’t eat high sodium foods, like: fast food cheese spreads or processed cheeses frozen or boxed dinners, deli foods, cold cuts, hot dogs bouillon cubes salted canned vegetables or soups soy sauce meat tenderizers

If you do eat canned food, drain and rinse before eating.

5

Eat healthy Use fresh or dried herbs, or no-salt seasoning.

Choose fresh or frozen, unsalted vegetables.

Bake, broil, steam or poach food. (No breading, butter or sauces.)

Have more fruits, vegetables and whole grain foods.

Use spices, lemons and limes to add flavor.

Have oatmeal or bran cereal.

Read all food labels. Buy foods that have 140 mg of sodium or less.

6

Cook more fish and poultry (light meat).

Drain all meats on a paper towel after cooking.

Cook with vegetable oils (like canola or olive).

Have low-fat salad dressing on the side.

7

Don’t drink a lot of caffeine.

Don’t eat fatty meats or fried foods.

Don’t cook with butter, margarine, lard or bacon.

8

Exercise …most days of the week. Talk with your doctor before you start.

Keep your body strong, but don’t work your heart too hard.

9

If you are too tired to get out of bed the next day, do less exercise.

DO

exercise about 1 hour after eating or taking your medicines ask someone to exercise with you

warm up before you begin, and cool down and stretch after you finish

start slowly and work up a little bit at a time set goals you can reach

10

Caution on’t do exercises that cause you to strain or hold D your breath.

Don’t get too hot or cold.

Don’t place your head below the level of your heart.

Don’t wear tight-fitting clothes that limit blood flow.

11

Exercise chart sk your doctor or nurse A to help you fill this page in.

12

Date

Type of Exercise

How Long

3/15

walking

30 minutes

Stop exercising if you: ●

have chest pain or discomfort

●

are short of breath more than usual

●

are dizzy

●

feel sick to your stomach

!

Call your doctor or nurse if you don’t feel better in 15 minutes.

13

Sex You most likely can enjoy sex as long as: ●

y ou follow the treatment plan your doctor gives you

and ●

14

your symptoms don’t get worse

Do wait at least 1 hour after eating before having sex

stop and rest for a while if you get tired or have a problem pace yourself choose a time when you feel your best

15

Rest Don’t work too hard.

Rest when you feel tired, and get a lot of sleep at night.

Spread harder tasks out over the day.

Learn to do things more slowly.

Sit and work when you can.

Ask for help.

Sometimes it’s ok to do nothing.

16

Reduce your stress ●

I f you feel stressed, stop what you are doing, and find a way to relax.

17

No smoking (or tobacco use) And stay away from others who are smoking too.

Your doctor or nurse can help you find a stop-smoking program to help you quit.

18

Holding fluids With heart failure, your body may hold fluid (water and salt) instead of sending it out in your urine.

You may be holding fluid if you gain: ●

more than 2 pounds in 1 day

or ●

5 pounds in 1 week

!

Your medicines may need to be changed.

Talk with your doctor or nurse.

19

Weigh each morning …after you go to the bathroom but before you eat breakfast. This can help you know if you are holding fluids.

Use this chart to keep a written record.

Date/Time

If your doctor wants you to lose weight, this chart can help you keep track.

20

Weight

Limit fluids Drink no more than 8 cups of fluid* a day. Your doctor will tell you if you need less than this.

1 cup = 8 oz.

* F luids include water, juice, ice cubes, popsicles, coffee, tea, soup and soft drinks.

21

Limit or avoid alcohol If you are allowed to drink, have no more than: ●

2 drinks a day (for men)

●

1 drink a day (for women)

!

One drink is: • 1 ½ shot glasses of 80 proof or 1 shot glass of 100 proof alcohol OR • 1 (5 oz.) glass of wine OR • 1 (12 oz.) bottle of beer

Alcohol can make your heart failure worse.

It can also affect your medicines.

22

* Be sure someone else knows to call your doctor or nurse for you.

Call your doctor or nurse …if you: ●

have a sudden weight gain

●

feel worse after taking your medicine

●

are more short of breath than usual

●

get tired faster

●

c ough all the time, even more when you lie down

●

have a hard time breathing

●

feel tightness, pressure or pain in your chest

●

have dizzy spells or pass out*

Write your doctor’s or nurse’s number here:

23

Manage your heart failure: Heart failure can be mild or severe. It won’t go away, but if you follow your treatment plan, you may help your heart pump better.

Your treatment plan includes: exercise some take your medicines avoid stress relax more quit smoking no second-hand smoke

eat more low-fat, low-sodium foods 24

eat more fresh vegetables and fruits

drink less alcohol and caffeine

weigh each day and lose weight (if needed)

limit fluids and sodium

Ask Questions Here is one to get you started:

Q. W hat kind of exercise can I do?

A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A.

resources American Heart Association heart.org (800) aha-usa1 Heart Failure Society of America hfsa.org (301) 312-8635

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute nhlbi.nih.gov (877) 645-2448

Reviewers: C. Renè Hughes, RN, MS, CV/ANP San Francisco, CA Wendy Dion, RN Mequon, WI

We believe that you have the right to know as much as you can about your health. Our goal is to give you enough facts to get the main points clearly in mind. We do this with medical accuracy, warmth and humor.

The result for you: less tension, more healing and a good idea of what to ask your doctor, nurse or others.

We also have other health information materials on a variety of topics. Call for a free catalog of product descriptions.

Please let us know how this book is helping you (or your patients). Share your comments at

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