Heart failure is a chronic health complication that often requires immediate medical attention. Have you or your loved one experienced heart failure? Then you know how scary this condition is scary. Heartburn and a sharp, burning sensation around your chest are notable signs of heart failure. Fortunately, there are plenty of techniques you can try to manage your heart condition and prevent the symptoms from getting worse.
If you suffer from heart failure, your healthcare provider may recommend certain lifestyle changes, reduce salt intake and maintain a healthy diet. In this post, we will look at the different ways to manage your heart failure at Life Imaging Fla.
Maintaining a Healthy Weight
The sudden gain in weight is one of the notable signs of heart failure. This means that your body is retaining excess fluid. If you have heart failure, you should weigh yourself daily and keep a record to note any changes. Contact your physician immediately if you gain more than five pounds in one week because this can affect the treatment plan and prevent frequent hospitalization. If you notice gaining sudden weight, check your abdomen, legs, and ankles for signs of swelling. This could also signify excess fluid accumulation in your soft tissue, which requires immediate medical treatment.
Regulate your Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is another potential trigger of heart failure. An increase of pressure in your blood tends to strain your heart vessels over time and can affect its normal functioning. If you have heart failure, you are advised to have your body’s blood pressure checked out at least every year. Your physician may recommend more frequent blood pressure measurements if you have a history of heart disease or your blood pressure is often higher than normal. You may also be required to make frequent doctor visits to enable your healthcare provider to closely monitor your blood pressure.
Reduce your Salt Intake
Regulating your salt intake is essential for managing your heart failure. Most healthcare providers recommend people consider healthy, whole meals and avoid eating food items such as salted butter, bacon, fried soup, fast foods, and canned soup. Salt can cause heart failure or worsen symptoms by accelerating fluid buildup in your body tissue. You can help reduce your salt intake by buying frozen or canned foods with no or low salt content.
Take your Prescribed Medications
It is vital for patients with heart failure to take their prescribed medications to manage their symptoms. Your physician may recommend medications such as beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors, depending on your heart condition and the immediate cause of your heart failure. If you know, you can easily forget your prescriptions, set up reminders to help you remain on track.
Develop a Healthy Sleep Routine
People dealing with heart failure often have difficulty sleeping. As your heart failure symptoms worsen, the frequency of sleep apnea increases. Getting enough sleep is important in maintaining good overall health. To help improve your sleep, you are advised to create a bedtime routine where you go to sleep and wake up at the same time all days of the week.
Contact a Cardiologist Today
How frequent heart failures happen usually depends on how well you manage the symptoms. Taking proper care of yourself should be a priority when dealing with heart failure. This may involve making certain lifestyle changes, taking your prescribed medication, eating a healthy diet, and maintaining a healthy weight. For better management of your heart failure symptoms, contact a cardiologist today who will work closely with you to come up with the most suitable treatment option.
