Managing Congestive Heart Failure 

People who are diagnosed with congestive heart failure should learn as much as possible about their condition. In addition to medication, there are many things patients can do to improve their quality of life.

Treatment for CHF

There are several ways to treat patients with congestive heart failure. The type of treatment recommended will depend on the class of the disease and severity of symptoms.

One of the most important things a person diagnosed with congestive heart failure can do is become educated about the disease. Patients who take an active role in their treatment often will feel more in control. 

Medications used may include vasodilators, which help reduce blood pressure by dilating the blood vessels. Diuretics are also often prescribed in order to decrease fluid retention.

Medication may also be given to improve the strength of the heart’s contraction, making it pump more efficiently. A type of drug called beta-blockers are also prescribed in some cases. Beta-blockers improve blood flow. In order to reduce the development of blood clots, anticoagulants may sometimes be recommended for patients with heart failure.

It is common for people with heart failure to have to take several different medications to reduce symptoms. It is critical patients understand which medications they are taking for what symptoms. Current dosage and possible side effects should be thoroughly discussed. People with congestive heart failure should keep a list of their medications in order to provide a quick reference for medical personnel in an emergency. 

Surgery may be recommended for some people with heart failure. For instance, people who have congenital heart defects, may have surgery to correct the problem.

CHF Lifestyle Changes Van Make a Difference

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with congestive heart failure, your doctor may discuss possible lifestyle changes you can make to decrease your symptoms and prevent the condition from becoming worse. Although lifestyle changes can sometimes be difficult to stick with, making certain changes can greatly improve your quality of life.

Smoking causes your heart to work harder, damages your lungs and can also damage blood vessels. According to the American Heart Association, heart failure symptoms often improve after a person quits smoking.

Maintaining a healthy weight is also critical for people who have been diagnosed with heart failure. If you are overweight, more stress is placed on your heart, which is already weak.

Since fluid retention is often a symptom of heart failure, people with the condition should pay close attention to their fluid intake. Speak to your doctor about recommended fluid restrictions.

See Also: Lifestyle Factors and Immunity: Exercise, Diet, Stress, Social Activity, Vitamins & Steroids

Too much salt can also lead to fluid buildup. If you have congestive heart failure, you need to be aware of not only the salt you add to food, but what foods are naturally high in sodium. Controlling blood pressure through diet, exercise and proper medications is also an important lifestyle change people with congestive heart failure should be aware make.