The years to come

With the right care and teamwork, heart failure should not keep you from doing most of the things you enjoy. Your future health depends on how well your heart muscle functions, how well and how often you and your doctor work together to control and treat your symptoms, how well you follow your treatment plan, and how well your heart responds to care.

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Whatever your medical condition—whether you and your heart are healthy or are beset by long-term, chronic heart failure—you should discuss with your doctor, family, and lawyer the kind and amount of intensive medical care you want when your life is ending. An "advanced directive" or "living will" is a good way to let everyone know your wishes. A living will spells out what medical treatments you do or don't want to prolong your life. Preparing and signing a living will while you are fully competent is in your best interests. There is always a possibility that you could be unable to make such decisions down the road. For help in this area, one good resource is the nonprofit group Aging with Dignity at agingwithdignity.org