Heart failure (Advice for patients)

Transcription

1 Heart failure (Advice for patients) Name Date of Birth Hospital no Contact Numbers Macclesfield District General Hospital Page 1

2 What is heart failure? Your heart is a muscle that pumps blood around your body every time it beats. Circulation of the blood is essential to transport oxygen and nourishment to all your tissues and organs. It also transports waste materials to the lungs and kidneys, which then get rid of them from your body. If your heart is not pumping as well as it should, then it cannot keep up with your body's need for oxygen, especially during exercise. This is called chronic heart failure. It can be caused by: Heart attack High blood pressure Heart valves that leak or are too narrow Viral infections Anaemia Thyroid gland disease Heart rates that are too fast, too slow, or irregular Drinking too much alcohol Sometimes the cause is unknown In most cases heart failure cannot be cured, but taking medicines and making some changes to your lifestyle may help you feel and function better. Your doctor or nurse may need to adjust your medication to ensure your heart works more efficiently. This booklet aims to help you understand your condition and tells you what you can do to have some control over it. What are the symptoms of heart failure? Shortness of breath. Sometimes called dyspnoea. This may be more common when you are doing physical exercise (such as walking or climbing stairs) or it may occur when you are lying flat in bed. You may wake from sleep because you are finding breathing difficult. Sleeping with extra pillows may stop this from happening and sitting on the edge of the bed should alleviate any symptoms quite quickly. Page 2

3 Swollen feet, ankles or legs. Sometimes called oedema. It may also extend to the groin and abdomen. This is due to the body retaining salt and water and commonly happens to people with heart failure. Any unexplained increase in your weight may indicate that your fluid levels are increasing. Tiredness and loss of energy. This can occur even after only small amounts of activity and is due to reduced blood flow to the exercising muscles. If you notice any change in your symptoms, contact your doctor or nurse. What is the treatment for heart failure? Chronic heart failure is a serious illness and you will need to take tablets on a daily basis for the rest of your life to make you feel better and to improve your outcomes. Different medications are available for heart failure. You will be advised of the most suitable treatment for you, and your doctor or nurse will explain the benefits and possible side effects. More information on these medications is given in the British Heart Foundation booklet Living with heart failure. Any medications will be reviewed periodically to ensure that you are receiving the most up to date treatment. It is essential that you take your medication on a regular basis and do not stop it without first discussing it with your doctor or nurse. What else can be done to manage heart failure? Weigh yourself every day. Make a note of your weight every morning after going to the toilet, but before breakfast and before you get dressed. Always use the same scales. If you put on 2lbs in 24 hours that stays on for more than 2 days, or 3lbs in a week, you need to tell your doctor or nurse as soon as possible. It may be due to a build up of water in your body. Eat less salt. Your body needs salt but only in minute amounts. Try not to add salt to your food as there is enough natural salt in foods to maintain a healthy heart. An excess of salt will make you retain fluid putting additional strain on your heart. When the heart cannot cope, fluid accumulates causing legs and ankles to swell. Sodium is the harmful part of salt. Try to avoid foods that are labelled as having more than 0.1g/100g sodium. In particular try to avoid cheese, bacon, salted nuts, crisps and sausages. Eat healthily. Try to eat less saturated fat. Choose fish, lean meat and poultry. Increase high fibre foods such as wholemeal bread, pasta, fresh fruit and vegetables. Try to eat fewer biscuits, sweet, cakes and sweet things. Page 3

4 Watch your fluid intake. Diuretics (water tablets) help your body get rid of any build up of water by making you pass water more often. This may make you thirsty but you should try to restrict your fluid intake to about 2½ to 3½ pints (1 ½ to 2 litres) per day. Stop smoking. This is the single most important thing you can do to live longer. If you would like help to stop smoking contact please contact the hospital smoking cessation service or your local practice nurse. Contact numbers are as follows: Hospital Smoking Cessation Service Quitline Drink less alcohol. Large quantities of alcohol can actually be the cause of heart failure. Even moderate amounts can make your heart failure worse. If you are worried about your alcohol intake, discuss this with your nurse or doctor. They will give you further advice. Keep active. Your nurse or doctor will advise you how much exercise you should do. Walking, swimming, cycling, golfing and dancing are all good forms of exercise. Keeping active may help you feel better. Get immunised. Flu or pneumonia may make people with heart failure very unwell. Make sure you have the appropriate immunisations every autumn. Avoid infection. Stay away from friends or people with chest infections. Have plenty of fresh air. Also eating a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruit and vegetables helps ward off infections. Take your medicine. Always take your medications regularly at about the same time every day. If you do not, your heart failure may get worse. Page 4

5 Weight chart Please record your weight on the chart below at least once every week. Date Weight Date Weight Date Weight Page 5

6 Weight chart Please record your weight on the chart below at least once every week. Date Weight Date Weight Date Weight Page 6

7 Breakfast Lunchtime Teatime Bedtime Patient Information Leaflet Medication chart Please keep a record of your current medications. This is particularly important if any are changed or stopped. Start date Medication Comments Page 7

8 This page is reserved for you to make a note of any changes to your condition or to remind you of any questions you may have for your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist Page 8

9 East Cheshire NHS Trust Advice for patients with Heart Failure Name DOB Hosp No Contact numbers Page 9

10 For further information on the references and sources used for this leaflet, please contact Comments, compliments or complaints We welcome any suggestions you have about the quality of our care and our services. Contact us: Freephone: Phone: Textphone: Customer Care, Reception, Macclesfield District General Hospital, Victoria Road, SK10 3BL For large print, audio, Braille version or translation, contact Communications and Engagement on East Cheshire NHS Trust operates a smoke-free policy (including e-cigarettes) For advice on stopping smoking please contact our Stop Smoking Service on East Cheshire NHS Trust does not tolerate any form of discrimination, harassment, bullying or abuse and is committed to ensuring that patients, staff and the public are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. Page 10

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