Heart Failure

Summary

Part of the Living With Heart Failure Series.

Through the testimony of other heart failure patients this video helps patients see how heart failure is affecting them emotionally. It covers accepting the condition and its symptoms, the physical stress cycle, depression, coping with lifestyle changes, coping with relationships and the importance of formally planning advanced directives. Patients are encouraged to seek support from family, friends, and outside support groups. Coping with the symptoms and emotions of heart failure is shown as an attainable goal. The video shows scenes from an actual support group.

Details

1. Introduction: It is normal to get upset from time to time when you have heart failure. But if you do not deal with these feelings they can make it harder to manage your heart failure, and even be harmful to your health.
2. Emotions and Heart Failure
   1. The Stress Cycle
      1. When you get upset your body releases adrenaline, a chemical that tightens your muscles, and makes your heart beat faster.
      2. You begin to breathe harder and faster, which can make you feel short of breath and tired – just like heart failure can make you feel.
      3. That can upset you even more, starting the whole cycle over again.
   2. Other symptoms of stress:
      1. A loss of appetite
      2. Headaches
      3. Tension in your back, shoulders, and neck
      4. Return to bad habits, like smoking, inactivity, and eating poorly
   3. Learning to cope with feelings that upset you can help you avoid these problems and feel a whole lot better.
3. Coping With The Challenges Of Heart Failure
   1. Coping With Lifestyle Changes:
      1. Making lifestyle changes can be one of the most frustrating parts of living with heart failure.
      2. Strategies:
         1. Ask your healthcare team for help.
         2. Write down the pros and cons of making the change.
         3. Reward yourself when you reach your goals.
         4. Do not let the occasional slip up bring you down.
   2. Coping With Symptoms:
      1. Heart failure symptoms are sometimes unavoidable.
      2. Strategies:
         1. Do not panic when symptoms appear.
         2. Getting upset will not make them better, but could make them worse.
         3. If you are out of breath, slow down, or stop what you are doing and rest for a moment.
         4. If symptoms continue, call for help.
   3. Coping With Relationships:
      1. It is not uncommon for Heart Failure to lead to hurt feelings, anger, and arguments.
      2. Common reactions:
         1. Fear
         2. Overly protective
         3. Ignore your illness altogether
         4. Trouble performing sexually
      3. Strategies:
         1. Talking about your heart failure can actually help both you and your loved ones feel a lot better.
         2. Share your treatment plan with your family and talk about how it will affect all of your lives.
         3. You and your loved ones may also find comfort in beginning to plan for the future by making out Advances Directives — instructions about the kind of medical care you wish to receive if there comes a time when you can no longer speak for yourself.
4. Seeking Support
   1. Accept help from your family and friends to help you help yourself.
   2. Support options in the community:
      1. Many hospitals and treatment centers offer support groups.
      2. Ask your healthcare team about the support groups that are available in your area and how you can become involved.
      3. Religious or other social groups in your community.
      4. The internet can also be a great link to others living with heart failure.
      5. Your healthcare team is always available to address any questions or concerns that you may have.
5. Coping With Depression
   1. If you cannot stop feeling frustrated or hopeless, it could be a sign of depression.
   2. You should contact your healthcare team if you experience any of the following symptoms:
      1. Poor concentration
      2. Anger
      3. Sleeping too little or too much
      4. Loss of appetite
      5. Not caring about how you look, or about things you used to care about
      6. Repeated thoughts about death and dying
   3. Depression can be treated, and your healthcare team can help.
6. Conclusion: You may not always be able to avoid getting upset when you have heart failure, but there are steps you can take to deal with those feelings so you can continue enjoying your life.