This is your heart and your life, so you are the one who has to take care of it! Your healthcare team can recommend a treatment plan, but it’s up to you to make it a part of your daily life. Speak up, ask questions and share your concerns about what works for you and what doesn’t. Taking an active role in working with your doctor to create a heart failure management plan can help you be in more control of your heart failure.
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DEVELOPED WITH PATIENTS, PATIENT ORGANISATIONS, AND
CARE PARTNERS FOR THOSE LIVING WITH HEART FAILURE
Get the facts about heart failure
How much do you really know about heart failure? We are here to help you by simply giving you the facts!
Heart failure does not mean that your heart has stopped beating. It’s still pumping, but it struggles to pump all the blood your body needs. You may have heart failure on both sides of your heart or just one side.
These 3 terms are familiar to most people, but often get confused with one another. A heart attack is when blood flow to the heart is blocked, and cardiac arrest is when the heart malfunctions and stops beating unexpectedly. Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle is unable to pump enough blood to support the body’s needs and causes fluid to build up in your body.
Although heart failure is more common in people over 65 years old, children and younger adults can get it. The symptoms and treatment can vary depending on your age.
Globally, the number of people with heart failure is an estimated 26 million, so it’s important to realise you are not alone.
You can’t control your age or medical history, but you can share your family history with your doctor, who will monitor you if you are at risk for heart failure. You can also adopt healthy habits like quitting smoking, eating healthy food, and exercising regularly.
Exercise is part of a heart-healthy life. However, it’s also important that you don’t overdo it. The right amount of exercise can help to improve blood flow and lessen some of your symptoms. Talk to your doctor about what is right for you.
Many people experience a range of emotions after being diagnosed with heart failure. Seeking peer support or professional counselling can help improve your emotional health and your overall well-being.
Although it can be difficult living with a chronic condition like heart failure, many people learn to manage the symptoms and enjoy their lives. Knowledge is power! Building new habits like eating better, tracking and managing symptoms, and exercising (as directed by your healthcare team) can help improve your symptoms and emotional well-being.