Education for patients, families and
caregivers
What is Heart Failure?
 Weakness of the heart muscle
 Sometimes also called:
 Congestive heart failure
 Pulmonary edema
 Fluid on lungs
 Retention of fluid
Common Symptoms of
Heart Failure
1. Hard time breathing
2. Swollen ankles, legs,
or abdomen (edema)
3. Feeling weak and
tired
Heart Failure Can Be Treated
 Medications
 Procedures
 Surgery
Heart Failure is Chronic
It requires lifelong treatment.
Heart Failure is Common
More than 5 million Americans have
Heart Failure.
1
American Heart Association. 2008 Heart and Stroke Statistical Update. Dallas, TX: American Heart Association; 2008.
6 Tips to Stay Healthy
1. Take Medications as Ordered by Your
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Doctor
Go to Doctor Appointments
Monitor (watch) Your Symptoms and
Weight
Adapt Diet (eating) and Fluids (drinking)
Get Exercise as Directed
Limit Alcohol, Caffeine and Tobacco
What You Need to Know
Take Medications as Ordered
Medications for heart failure are
necessary even when you are
feeling well.
How to Keep Healthy
Take Medications as Ordered
 Go over your list of medications with your
doctor or nurse
 Make sure you understand how and when to
take them
 Ask about side effects (reactions) or
possible problems with taking medications
with other medications and/or vitamins
How to Keep Healthy
Take Medications as Ordered
 Know how to refill your prescriptions
 Call your doctor’s office a few days before
you run out of your pills
 Make sure you have a way to get your
medications
 How will you get to the pharmacy?
How to Keep Healthy
Take Medications as Ordered
 Bring your medications or a list of
your medications to all of your doctor
appointments
 Tell your doctor about any side effects
or reactions
What You Need to Know
Take Medications as Ordered
Patients who take their medicines live
longer, feel better, and spend less
time in the hospital.
What You Need to Know
Doctor Appointments
 Heart failure is not simple
 The doctor needs to see you
often to keep you well
How to Keep Healthy
Doctor Appointments
 Set up an appointment with your
doctor before you leave the hospital or
other facility
 Set it up on the best day and time for
you
 Make sure you have a ride to your
appointments
How to Keep Healthy
Doctor Appointments
 Bring a friend or family member
 Bring all medications or a medication
list to all appointments
 Ask questions!
What You Need to Know
Doctor Appointments
Patients who go to doctor appointments
live longer, feel better, and spend less
time in the hospital.
Monitor Symptoms
 Common heart failure
symptoms:
1. Hard time breathing
2. Swollen ankles, legs, or
abdomen (edema)
3. Feeling weak and tired
Monitor Weight
 When your body holds extra fluid
(water), your weight goes up
 Weight gain from fluid can start up to
two weeks BEFORE symptoms
 By weighing yourself every day, you
can avoid getting sick
How to Keep Healthy
Watch Your Symptoms and Weight
 Get a scale if you don’t have one
 Make sure you can read the numbers
 Write your weight down every day
 Bring the weight chart to your doctor
appointments
How to Keep Healthy
Watch Your Symptoms and Weight
 Weigh yourself every morning
at about the same time:
 After urinating
 Before having anything to drink
 In the same amount of clothing
 Use the same scale
How to Keep Healthy
Watch Your Symptoms and Weight
 Tell your doctor if you gain:
 3 pounds in one day
 5 pounds in one week
What You Need to Know
Watch Your Symptoms and Weight
By monitoring for symptoms and weight
gain, patients with heart failure can
live longer, feel better, and spend
less time in the hospital
Salt and Water
 Salt = Sodium
 High salt intake will make the body
hold extra fluid (water)
 Extra fluid leads to swelling and heart
failure symptoms
 Eating a low salt diet helps patients
stay well
How to Keep Healthy
Eating and Drinking
 Do not add salt to any meals
 Try to eat less than 2000 mg of
sodium a day
 One teaspoon of salt = 2300 mg of
sodium
 If you don’t buy and cook your own
food, speak to the person who does
Reading a Label
 Check to see how
many servings are
listed on the label
 Eating more than
one serving size
increases salt
intake more than
what is listed on
the label
Common Food Salt Sources




Canned foods
Frozen dinners
Deli meats
Hot dogs
Other Food Salt Sources





Sea salt
Adobo seasoning
Salad dressings
Cheeses
Soy sauce





Jar tomato/pasta sauce
Pickles
Sausages and Kielbasa
Ham and Bacon
French fries
How to Keep Healthy
Eating and Drinking
 If you do eat salt, tell your doctor
 Medications may need to be adjusted
 More doctor visits may be needed
 You may need to talk with a diet specialist
How to Keep Healthy
Eating and Drinking
 Eating out: choose heart healthy foods
 Baked or broiled foods
 Salad dressing, sauce or gravy on the side
 Safe dishes: baked chicken or fish,
steamed vegetables
What You Need to Know
Eating and Drinking
By avoiding salt in your diet, you can live
longer, feel better, and spend less
time in the hospital
Fluid Restriction
 Sometimes doctors will limit the
amount of liquids patients can have
every day
 Foods that count as liquids are: yogurt,
pudding, ice cream, and gelatin
 Some fruits have liquid: 1 orange or ½
Grapefruit = 4 ounces of fluid
Fluid Restriction
 Space your liquids out over the day
 Save liquids to take your medicines
 Some patients can take their medicine
with applesauce instead of a drink
Tips to Battle Thirst
 Use ice chips or freeze juice in an ice
cube tray
 Rinse the mouth
 Use a lemon wedge, gum, frozen grapes,
strawberries or hard candy
Exercise and Activity
 Always check with your doctor. Your
doctor can tell you what is good for
you:
 Exercise: Most of the time is safe and
good for you
 Sex and driving: Most of the time is safe
for you
Alcohol and Caffeine
 You should check with your doctor
about alcohol and caffeine use
 Alcohol is usually okay in moderation
Less than 2 drinks per day for men
 Less than 1 drink per day for women

 Caffeine is usually okay in moderation

Less than 1 or 2 cups per day
Tobacco
 If you smoke, please STOP!
 Bad for anyone, but especially for those
with heart failure
 Makes the heart work harder
 Can lead to heart attacks
 Ask your doctor or nurse about help to
quit smoking
6 Tips to Stay Healthy
1. Take Medications as Ordered by Your
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Doctor
Go to Doctor Appointments
Monitor (watch) Your Symptoms and
Weight
Adapt Diet (eating) and Fluids (drinking)
Get Exercise as Directed
Limit Alcohol, Caffeine and Tobacco
Credits
The Hospital of Central Connecticut
 Shelley Dietz RN, MBA
Qualidigm
 Anne Elwell, RN, MPH
 Michelle Pandolfi, MSW, LNHA
University of Connecticut Heath Center
 Wendy Martinson RN, BSN
 Jason Ryan, MD, MPH
Special Thanks to:
David Lazauski for sharing his experience as a
patient living with heart failure
University of Connecticut Health Center
Dr. Jason Ryan for his dedication to teaching
us all how to live well with heart failure