Congestive Heart Failure

Summary

This video provides an overview of the information patients need to manage their congestive heart failure. The video covers risk factors, symptoms, medications, sodium and fluid restrictions, balancing activity and rest, stress, and regular weight monitoring. Types of medications are explained along with cautions about side effects, and the importance of taking medications exactly as prescribed. The video helps patients distinguish those problems for which they should call the healthcare team.

Booklet – A 16 page full color booklet, sold separately, is designed to complement the video. It can be personalized with your facility's name and logo for a small additional charge. The booklet can stand alone but follows the same information as the video.

Details

Heart failure means that your heart has weakened and can no longer effectively pump blood through the body.

Common causes of heart failure:

• coronary artery disease
• heart attack
• faulty heart valves
• cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle

Symptoms of heart failure:

• fatigue
• shortness of breath, especially at night
• coughing or wheezing
• swelling in the feet, ankles or abdomen
• sudden weight gain
• increased heart rate

Cause of symptoms:

• heart isn’t pumping effectively
• supply of blood to your body is reduced
• kidneys don't get enough blood they hold onto fluid
• excess fluid builds up and begins leaking out into the lungs (pulmonary edema)
• seeps into other tissues causing swelling

Medications:

• help relieve symptoms
• improve the heart's pumping ability

There are several medications that you may be prescribed. They include ACE Inhibitors, diuretics, beta-blockers and digitalis. Depending on your condition, you may be prescribed one or several.

ACE Inhibitors:

• help widen the blood vessels
• make it easier for the heart to pump
• may prevent further weakening of the heart
• can cause a persistent cough

Diuretics:

• help kidneys eliminate sodium and fluid from the body
• may remove potassium so supplements may be needed

Beta-Blockers:

• prevent the heart from beating too fast
• helps keep blood pressure down

Digitalis:

• increases the strength of the heart's contractions
• can cause harmful side effects

Side effects to watch for:

• dizziness
• increased weakness or fatigue
• nausea
• poor appetite
• changes in vision
• contact your health care provider

Take your medication exactly as prescribed.

Develop a system to keep track of your medications.

Prevent fluid from building up in your tissues:

• reduce salt (sodium) in your diet
• cut back on salt when cooking
• don’t add salt at the table
• try non-salt seasonings
• check with your health care provider about salt substitutes
• choose foods low in salt
• low salt or low sodium versions of your favorite foods

Reducing liquid intake:

• make sure you include the amount contained in foods you eat
• know how much your cups and bowls can hold

A dietitian can also be helpful if you need to develop a weight loss plan. By lowering your weight, you can decrease the workload of your heart.

Regular exercise:

• improves your flexibility
• helps increase your endurance
• can relieve symptoms and strengthen the heart

Talk to your health care provider about what activities are best for you. They can help you develop a safe and appropriate exercise program.

Joining a cardiac rehabilitation program is a great way to begin.

Avoid substances harmful to the heart like alcohol and tobacco. If you have not already quit smoking, then quit now.

If you experience shortness of breath, coughing, swelling in the feet, ankles or abdomen, fatigue and sudden weight gain, or if any of these symptoms become worse, notify your health care provider.

In order to monitor for weight gain, you may be asked to weigh yourself daily. This should be done at the same time every day, with the same scale, and the same amount of clothing.

Report to your health care provider: any weight gain of two to four pounds that occurs in one to three days. Sudden weight gains like these could be signaling the build-up of fluid in your body.