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Learning to recognize changes in the symptoms of heart failure is an important step in your treatment. The common symptoms discussed here can be managed. By knowing what the symptoms are and what causes them, you can help prevent problems and become an effective "manager" of your condition.
Shortness of Breath
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When the left side of the heart doesn’t pump well, blood backs up in the lungs. This forces fluid to leak into the lungs, causing a condition known as pulmonary congestion. |
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Changes in breathing may be gradual or abrupt. |
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You may notice that it is harder to breathe when you lie down. |
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You may not be able to sleep unless you have pillows to prop you up or you may even sleep sitting up in a chair. |
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You may wake up in the middle of the night feeling like you can’t breathe |
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You may notice that you get short of breath while doing regular activities like bathing, working, cleaning, or climbing stairs |
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You may feel especially tired and have difficulty doing the things you normally do. That’s because your heart does not pump efficiently therefore your body gets less blood. |
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It is normal for you to feel tired, because your body is working harder to pump blood. |
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When blood doesn’t circulate well throughout the body, it can back up in the veins. This forces fluid to leak into tissues that cause your feet and ankles to swell. This swelling is known as edema. |
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You may feel your socks and shoes becoming too tight, or you may feel actual pain. |
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Your skin may feel “tight” |
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You may also notice swelling in your stomach area or fingers. |
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Persistent dry cough due to fluid in the lungs. Increases when lying down |
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Chest pain, tightness, or pressure |
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Dizziness from lack of adequate oxygen |
Salt contains sodium, an element that can cause you to retain fluid. Most of the sodium in the average American diet comes from table salt, which is 40 percent sodium. Too much sodium can cause your body to hold excess fluid, thereby increasing workload on the heart and making heart failure worse. This results in symptoms such as shortness of breath and edema. Your body needs only about 500mg of sodium/day to stay healthy. We add about 15 percent of our daily sodium during cooking or at the table. The remaining 75 percent comes from processed foods.
How does the medicine help my heart failure?
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You may take medicine that helps keep fluids from building up and/or medicine that helps the heart pump more easily or more strongly. |
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The kinds of medicines you’ll need depend on the cause of your heart failure and how strong your heart is. |
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Some of the most common medicines prescribed for people with heart failure:
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Heart failure is hard to live with. It demands a number of lifestyle changes. And it definitely takes hard work on your part to feel your best. |
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The stress of these demands can bring on the blues, which can sometimes lead to depression. |
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For some, the blues lift, allowing you to get back to the business of getting better. For others, the blues may not fade |
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Up to half of patients diagnosed with heart failure will experience depression |
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Ongoing sadness, crying, difficulty sleeping, fatigue, an inability to concentrate and a change in weight are all symptoms of depression |
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The difference between the blues and depression is the intensity of the symptoms and the length of time they persist |
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If feelings of sadness or worry have been with you almost all the time for two weeks or longer, it’s time to talk with your doctor. |
Shortness of Breath
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Take breaks in your activity. For example, if you are climbing stairs, rest at each flight, or as often as you need to. |
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If walking makes you short of breath, try starting out with shorter distances and stop every so often. |
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Don’t overdo it—only go as far as you feel able. |
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Stop if you feel light-headed, dizzy, confused, or if you get chest pain. |
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If shortness of breath disturbs your sleep, try propping yourself up with extra pillows. Some people even sleep in a comfortable chair. |
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Changes in sleeping may mean changes in your condition. So if it gets harder for you to sleep because of shortness of breath, tell your doctor right away. |
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Reduce the salt in your diet to reduce your symptoms! |
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Plan rest periods during the day; even 5 to 10 minutes can give you and your heart a break. |
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Your heart is burdened with the demand of helping to digest food after a meal. Have a period of rest after eating. |
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Don’t eat a big meal close to bedtime. |
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Limit caffeine intake, especially close to bedtime. For some people, caffeine taken even in the early afternoon can make it hard to go to sleep hours later! |
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Listen to your body. If you’re feeling tired or uncomfortable it’s time just to stop and take it easy for a few minutes. |
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Avoid napping in the evening; evening naps can make it harder to sleep later. |
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You’ll feel much better during the day if you get enough sleep, at least 7 or 8 hours a night. |
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If you have to get up in the middle of the night to urinate, ask your doctor if you can change your schedule for taking your diuretic. |
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Report "frequent" nighttime urination to your doctor. |
Edema
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Take your medicine as prescribed |
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Stick to your low-sodium diet. |
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For short-term relief, it may help to raise your feet on a cushioned stool or pillow. |
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If you are wearing shoes unlace them or take them off. |
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Don’t wear regular socks that are tight around the top. |
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Your doctor may want you to wear support hose, which can help reduce swelling and improve circulation in your legs. |
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Remember, any unusual swelling should be reported to your physician. |
Medicine
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Never lower or skip a dose and always refill your prescriptions prior to running out. |
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If your symptoms get worse while you are taking your medicine, your doctor may want to adjust your medicine. Call your doctor to discuss the next steps |
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You will tend to take your medications as directed if you understand what you are taking and why. Ask your doctor to explain what you are taking and how it works. |
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Make it a habit to take your medicine at the same time every day. |
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Make sure your doctor knows all of the medicine that you are taking including the nonprescription medication. |
Mental Health
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The most important step you can take in battling depression is asking for help. |
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Medications and talk therapy used alone or together can relieve the anxiety, worry and other symptoms brought on by depression. |
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Your doctor may prescribe medication and may also recommend becoming involved in a support group or a visit to a psychologist to help you through the difficult times. |
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When you do things that make you feel good, you counteract the results of stress and recharge your body and mind. |
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Spend a few minutes thinking about what you really enjoy. Is there something that you wish you had more time for? Make the time! Here are a few ideas to get you started. |
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Consider a new hobby like painting, drawing, knitting, crafts, or woodworking. |
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If your symptoms cause you to tire too easily, there are other ways to enjoy romance. Kissing, snuggling, and simply spending time together are ways of showing your love and affection, too. |
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While recreation can be relaxing, you also want to create some mental quiet time every day. |
Weigh yourself daily
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With heart failure, "rapid" weight gain is usually from extra fluid—not from extra calories—and water weight gain is what you should be watching for. |
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Rapid weight gain means that you have gained 2 or more pounds in 24 hours or 3 to 5 or more pounds in a week while eating normally. |
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Rapid weight gain may result from an excess amount of salt in your diet. |
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Call your doctor right away or follow his or her instructions if you notice a rapid weight gain. |
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It may mean that your condition is getting worse. |
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The best way to know is to weigh yourself every day. |
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To be accurate, weigh yourself first thing in the morning—before eating, after emptying your bladder, wearing similar clothes, and using the same scale. |
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Make sure you take your water pill as your doctor prescribed to avoid gaining water weight. |
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Keep a log of how much you weigh. |
Most of all, keep your doctor informed of any changes in your condition and be sure to discuss any questions you may have with your healthcare team.
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