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Ways To Improve Your Quality Of Life With Heart Failure


If you have heart failure (HF), there are several things you can do to improve your quality of life, which includes

Regular Exercise- A regular cardiovascular exercise program, prescribed by your healthcare provider will not only help improve your strength and make you feel better, but may also decrease heart failure progression.

Prevent Respiratory Infections- Consult with your doctor regarding flu and pneumonia vaccines.

A Healthy Diet- Limit your sodium consumption to less than 2000 milligrams or 2 grams each day. Consider eating foods high in fiber, and limit foods high in trans fat, cholesterol and sugar. If necessary, reduce total daily calorie intake to lose weight.

Do Not Go Overboard- Try and plan your activities and include rest periods during the day. Activities like pushing or pulling heavy objects and shoveling may worsen heart failure and its symptoms.

Take Medications Exactly As Prescribed- First contact your doctor, only then should you be taking your medications.

Get Support If Needed- HF can be difficult for the whole family. Ask your doctor or nurse if you have questions. For emotional or psychological support, social workers, psychologists and heart failure support groups are a phone call away. Your doctor or nurse can point you in the right direction.

What About Surgery To Treat Heart Failure?
Surgery, in HF may sometimes prevent further damage to the ticker and improve its functioning. Here’s a list of the procedures:

Heart Valve Surgery- Diseased heart valves can be treated both non-surgically and surgically.

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery- Bypass surgery is the most common surgery for HF caused by coronary artery disease. Surgery is more risky for people with HF, but new strategies before, during, and after surgery have reduced the risks and improved outcomes.

Implantable Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD)- For patients who haven’t responded to other treatments and are hospitalized with severe systolic heart failure, the LVAD is known as the “bridge to transplantation”, which helps your heart to pump throughout the body, and allows you to be mobile, sometimes returning home to await a heart transplant.

Heart Transplant- When HF is so severe that it doesn’t respond to all other therapies but the individual’s health is otherwise good, a heart transplant is considered.



It should be noted that HF management is a team effort with you being the key player on your team. Your cardiologist will prescribe your medications and manage other medical problems; other team members like nurses, pharmacists, exercise specialists, and other social workers will help you achieve success, but it is up to you to take your medications, live a healthy lifestyle, make dietary changes, keep your follow-up appointments, and last, but not the least be an active member of the team.

Heart failure, with the right care may not stop you from doing the things you enjoy. Your outlook for the future will depend on your symptoms, how well your heart muscle is functioning, and how well you respond to and follow your treatment plan. Everyone with a long-term illness, especially with HF should discuss their desires for extended medical care with their doctor and family.

Learn the life-saving CPR procedure, comprising chest compressions and rescue breaths, to handle out-of-hospital cardiac emergencies efficiently. You cannot predict the occurrence of a cardiac arrest, it can be life-threatening. Prompt treatment is what the victim would need for survival.

For a CPR class at CPR Tampa in Palm Harbor, either register online or call on 727-240-9404 to sign up for a course. If you cannot find the class day/time that fits your schedule, check out our Tampa location- 5396 Primrose Lake Circle, Conference Room, Tampa, FL- 33647.

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