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    Managing heart failure

    Find out about day-to-
    day heart failure
    management and how
    friends and relatives
    can support

    Following a heart failure (HF) diagnosis, your healthcare professional will discuss with you how your HF can be managed. This may include treatment options, as well as changes you can make to your lifestyle and the availability of support services to help you control your symptoms.

    HF treatments 

    There are many types of medicines that are currently used to treat HF and associated conditions and significant advances have been made recently.

    Your healthcare professional will recommend the right medicines for you and preform regular tests to monitor your condition, which may include blood test and monitoring your blood pressure.They may also ask you to check your weight, as weight change is the earliest sign of a problem with fluid balance. Fluid in your blood stream makes it harder for your heart to function properly.

    There are a number of different types of medications to treat HF, which work in different ways.,,, Visit 'Further support and glossary' to learn more.

    Find out more

    Remembering to take your medicine 

    You may be prescribed more than one HF medicine and you may need to take them at different times of the day. It’s important to take your medicine exactly as prescribed by your healthcare professional, including any dosing changes they recommend, so that the medication can work properly, control the condition and help you continue doing the things you enjoy.

    At the start of your treatment, your healthcare professional may gradually adjust the dose of medication you are taking. This is normal and is an important step to ensure your body gets used to the new medicine you are taking, so that you get the most out of your treatment.

    • medicine
      It can be a good idea to let family or friends know about what medicines you are meant to take and when, so that they can help you and remind you.
    • clock
      You could also try integrating taking medicines alongside your daily routine or existing habits to help you remember, for example after you brush your teeth or before you eat your breakfast.
    • mobile
      Smart phone apps or alarms can also be helpful tools to remind you to take your medicine.

    Tracking symptoms and noticing  any changes

    Following your diagnosis, you will be advised on how to monitor your HF symptoms.

    It can be really helpful to your healthcare professional if you and the people close to you look out for any changes in your symptoms or your ability to perform normal daily tasks.

    Over time, you may become accustomed to symptoms and so you may not notice if they worsen gradually. A change in symptoms is a warning signal from the body and may be a sign of a worsening HF event.

    If you notice any of the following, or have any concerns about your symptoms, contact your healthcare professional, so that they can adjust your medication if necessary.,,

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    Lifestyle changes 

    Beyond taking medicines as prescribed by your healthcare professional, there may be lifestyle changes you can make to reduce symptoms, prevent your HF progressing and help you to continue doing the things you enjoy.

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    Modifying your diet

    Eating a healthy diet can help relieve symptoms and stop your HF becoming worse.

    Ask your healthcare professional for advice on the right diet for you and what to avoid. They may recommend reducing the amount of salt, alcohol and fat in your diet, and losing weight, if you are overweight.

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    Exercising regularly

    Gentle physical activity is recommended for most people with HF.

    It can relieve symptoms and increase your wellbeing. Your healthcare professional can suggest ways to incorporate healthy movement into your daily routine.

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    Stopping smoking

    Smoking impacts the heart’s ability to work properly in many ways.

    Smoking can worsen existing damage to the heart muscle, making it much more difficult for the heart to transport blood around the body. If you smoke, consider speaking to your healthcare professional about ways to quit. It is never too late to benefit from stopping smoking.

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    Getting social and emotional support

    Living with HF can be worrying and may lead to feelings of uncertainty and fear. It’s important to remember that there are things you can do to help you relax and feel in control of your condition.

    As well as helping you to stick to your treatment plan and make lifestyle changes, friends and family can help you come to terms with your HF. Maintaining social connections can be a great way to reduce stress and anxiety and talking to those close to you about how you feel can be an important source of support.

    If you think it might help, ask your healthcare professional for details of support groups in your area where you can connect with others who have HF. It can be helpful to remember you are not alone and there are others going through a similar experience.