Heart Failure

DO

  • Get plenty of rest.
  • Avoid salt in your diet, at the table and in your canned or processed foods.
  • Keep as active as you can.
  • Take all your medicines as directed.
  • Weigh yourself frequently and keep a weight diary – increasing weight can be an early sign of worsening heart failure.
  • Report any change in symptoms to your doctor,
  • Drink alcohol only in moderation or not at all if your doctor directs.
  • Learn about your condition.
  • Obtain yearly flu shots.
  • Control other cardiac risk factors and conditions.
  • Eat a lot of salt (salt leads to fluid retention).
  • Drink excessive fluids — in general no more than 6-8 cups of fluid/day.

DON’T

  • Drink excessive alcohol.
  • Skip your medications or adjust them without the direction of your physician.
  • Take over the counter medications, particularly anti-inflammatory agents, without alerting your physician.

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