Lifestyle-related goals

Treating heart failure requires a team effort, which includes a commitment to adhering to a healthful lifestyle. Making these changes will help to improve symptoms, slow the progression of heart failure, and improve your daily life. The following are general guidelines; members of your healthcare team will discuss with you specific recommendations.

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Diet:

1. Restrict the sodium in your diet to less than 2,000 mg per day. Remove the saltshaker from the table, and learn to read food labels to make the best low-sodium choices. Many frozen, processed, and precooked foods from the supermarket as well as restaurant fast foods are high in sodium and fat.
2. Increase your consumption of fiber by eating more whole grains, vegetables, and fruits.
3. Carefully follow your fluid management guidelines. The general rule is to drink no more than 8 cups of fluid daily, including semiliquid foods such as yogurt and pudding, even if you feel thirsty.
4. Eat a variety of foods to get all the nutrients you need.
5. Consider consulting a dietitian or nutritionist to help with menu planning.

Weight: Maintain a healthy body weight. Drop extra pounds, and keep them off by limiting your total daily caloric intake, following a low-fat diet, and exercising on most days.

Alcohol: Your doctor may recommend limiting or avoiding alcohol. If alcohol is permitted, make it red wine, and have no more than 4 ounces a day (red wine has heart benefits).

Exercise: Regular exercise has many benefits. But always check with your doctor before starting an exercise program. Find out how often you should exercise, and ask for a list of exercises and activities that would be appropriate for you. If you feel more comfortable beginning to exercise in a supervised setting, ask your doctor for a cardiac rehabilitation program near you.

Enjoy life: Stay in touch with friends, and plan daily activities to get out of the house. Still, keep your activities within the limits set by your doctor. Listen to your body so you know when it is time to rest and rebuild your energy.

Tobacco: Do not smoke or chew tobacco. Tobacco increases your risk of heart disease by causing your blood pressure and heart rate to rise.If you need help to quit smoking, ask your healthcare team.

Control additional risk factors: If you have high blood pressure or diabetes, work with your healthcare team to achieve your goals.

Monitor your health: Weigh yourself at the same time every day, using the same scale, preferably in the morning after urinating and before dressing. Record your weight in a diary for your doctor to review at every visit. Call your doctor if you gain more than 3 pounds in one day or 5 pounds in one week.

Get the flu shot and pneumonia vaccine: Talk to your doctors about getting a pneumococcal vaccination every five years and an annual flu shot. Complications of respiratory problems can worsen heart failure.

Stay emotionally healthy: Learning that you have heart failure may provoke feelings of anxiety or depression. These feelings should fade as you begin to take charge of your health and make positive lifestyle changes. But if the negative feelings continue or prevent you from enjoying life, talk to your doctor.