Heart Failure

Summary

Part of the Living With Heart Failure Series.

This reassuring video encourages heart failure patients to stay active in order to feel better. Patients are shown how to begin, under the guidance of their healthcare provider, gradually increasing their activity level and staying motivated. The video suggests different activities heart failure patients can do and stresses that physical activity can help them manage heart failure symptoms. People who actually have heart failure are featured throughout the video.

Details

1. Introduction: When you have heart failure, it is normal to worry about doing too much. Especially if you easily tire or become short of breath. But choosing not to be active at all can actually be worse for your heart failure.
   1. The Activity Cycle
      1. The less active you are, the weaker you become.
      2. This can make your heart failure symptoms worse.
      3. The worse your symptoms are, the less you want to do.
      4. This starts a harmful cycle.
   2. The Benefits of Physical Activity
      1. Physical activity can help keep you from feeling worse.
      2. Increasing your physical activity can help you feel even better.
      3. Physical Activity can help you do more, and reduce some of your symptoms--both of which can help you feel better about yourself.
2. Becoming More Active
   1. Work with your healthcare team to become more active.
      1. They can help you figure out the right amount of activity for you, and increase the things you do a little bit at a time.
      2. They can also give you the support you need to stay active on your own.
   2. Start slowly.
      1. Your body needs to adjust to being more active.
      2. When you start to feel tired, stop and rest.
      3. If you do too much too soon, you could hurt yourself. That can scare you, and make you want to give up.
      4. Your goal should be to gradually work up to at least 20 minutes of physical activity each day. For some people this may take longer then it does for others.
   3. Types of physical activity
      1. For some, the best type of physical activity is exercise, done in a group setting with an instructor.
         1. Aerobic exercises like walking, cycling and swimming.
         2. Resistive exercises like hand and pulley weights.
      2. There are still plenty of things you can do around the house to stay active, like: gardening, taking out the trash, and washing dishes.
      3. You can be physically active almost anytime and anywhere: in the gym, outside, at home, or in special classes with other heart failure patients.
3. Exercising Safely
   1. Exercising has to be done safely.
   2. Warming Up & Cooling Down:
      1. Get your body ready first by stretching or doing some light walking.
      2. Slow down gradually to help cool your body down. You should never suddenly stop.
   3. Do not overdo it. It will not do you any good to push yourself hard one day if it means you have to spend the next few days recovering.
   4. Signs You Are Working At A Good, Safe Level:
      1. Elevated heart rate and breathing rate.
      2. Break a light sweat.
      3. Talk easily while you exercise.
   5. The Perceived Exertion Scale can help you monitor how hard your body is working while you are exercising.
      1. The scale goes from 0 to 10 with 0 representing no effort and 10 representing extreme exhaustion.
      2. Your goal should be between 3 and 5.
   6. Signs of Overexertion:
      1. An extreme increase in heart rate
      2. Extreme tiredness
      3. Chest pain
      4. Nausea
      5. Lightheadedness or dizziness
      6. If you notice any of these, stop the exercise. If these discomforts do not go away with rest, contact your healthcare team right away.
   7. If you have other conditions that could affect your flexibility and movements, such as bursitis, arthritis, and joint replacements, discuss them with your healthcare team before you start an exercise program.
4. Staying Motivated
   1. Find ways to stay interested and excited about physical activity because staying active requires your lifelong commitment.
   2. Tips:
      1. Exercise classes offer you the chance to learn how to exercise under supervision, and talk with others who are dealing with heart failure.
      2. There are also plenty of other places to exercise, like your local community center or gym.
      3. Walking is a great physical activity.
         1. Stay on level ground and walk at a comfortable pace.
         2. A mall stays at a comfortable temperature, and has benches so you can rest every once and a while.
      4. Vary your activities so you do not get bored.
      5. Do things with family and friends.
      6. Ask your healthcare team for other helpful tips and suggestions.
5. Conclusion: Physical activity may be challenging sometimes, but if you stay committed, you can feel better and get more out of life.