Living with heart failure
By Jodie Bessinger, RN, MSN

For more information about heart failure and the Heart Failure Clinic, please call: 704-384-8888

It may seem overwhelming when you or a loved one receive a diagnosis of heart failure or are told you are at higher risk for developing the disease. From dietary changes to new medications to limitations on daily activity, learning to live with heart failure can seem challenging, but it can be done! By following medical advice and being surrounded by a support system, you or your loved one can go on to manage the disease and live a normal life.

The name “heart failure” sounds scary, but it doesn’t mean your heart stops working. Heart failure means your heart is not able to pump blood very well, which can result in a buildup of fluid in the body. This fluid could cause swelling in your legs, feet, ankles or stomach – a key indicator of the disease. While there is no cure at this time, learning to manage your heart failure day in and day out is essential to living with the disease.

A major component of living with heart failure is properly taking and managing medications. The majority of people living with the disease are on several types of heart failure medications. Each type helps the heart in a different way:

• Beta blockers and ACE inhibitors improve the way the heart pumps.
• Diuretics or fluid pills help relieve heart failure symptoms and keep you out of the hospital.

Taking your medications correctly will help your heart pump better and can make you feel better and live longer. However, managing heart failure is more than just taking medicines – it requires taking an active role in your treatment by weighing daily, watching your salt and fluid intake, exercising, managing your symptoms and calling your provider when you experience weight gain or worsening health.

Your healthcare team can help answer your questions and relieve your concerns about living with heart failure. While this is important, remember, it will take time to adjust to the lifestyle changes needed to live with the disease. That is why Novant Health Heart & Vascular Institute has a clinic dedicated to helping those who have the disease learn to live and adjust. At the Novant Health Heart Failure Clinic, a nurse practitioner provides an educational session that includes a diet consultation, as well as information on our cardiac rehabilitation and pulmonary rehabilitation programs. Our team of dietitians, nurse practitioners and case managers work with your doctor to develop a treatment plan customized to you.

For more information about heart failure and the Heart Failure Clinic, please call 704-384-8888.