About this topic
Heart failure happens when your heart has trouble pumping the right amount of blood through the body. When the pump is not working well, blood can back up into the lungs. ‚
Diastolic heart failure is one type of heart failure. With this, your heart is too stiff. As your heart pumps, it does not relax and fill with blood the right way. This can cause you to feel tired; have trouble breathing; and cause swelling in your legs, feet, ankles, or belly. ‚
Heart failure is a long-term problem. Doctors work hard to treat heart failure in order to keep it from getting worse over time. ‚
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Be careful that you take your drugs each day as ordered by your doctor.
- Get lots of rest. Sleep when you feel tired. Avoid doing tiring activities.
- Limit how much beer, wine, and mixed drinks (alcohol) you drink.
- Check your weight each morning and write down your weight in a notebook. This will tell you if you are building up too much fluid. Weigh in the morning after you have passed urine. Weigh yourself with clothes on or off but do the same each day. Make sure your scale is on a hard surface, not on carpet. Your doctor will tell you when you should call based on how much weight you gain in a day or over a week. Take your notebook to your doctor on your next visit.
What follow-up care is needed?
Your condition needs to be watched closely. Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. ‚
You may need to have other tests. Your doctors nurse may also call on a regular basis to ask you about your signs and whether your weight has increased. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
Often patients will need to take more than one drug. Together, they will help the heart work as well as it can. Do not take any other prescription drugs, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, herbals, or diet aids without asking your doctor. ‚
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help relax blood vessels. This makes it easier for the heart to work and may also lower your blood pressure. These are ACE inhibitors and ARBs.
- Slow down the heart rate so that it doesnt have to work as hard. These are beta blockers.
- Help the heart beat stronger and better
- Get rid of extra salt and water in the body. These are water pills or diuretics.
Will physical activity be limited?
You may have to limit your activity. You may be able to slowly add to your activities to get back to your normal levels. Talk to your doctor about when you may go back to your normal activities like work, driving, or sex. ‚
What changes to diet are needed?
- Ask your doctor what diet is best for you. The doctor may tell you to limit your salt and fat or how much fluid you drink.
- The DASH diet may be helpful. The DASH diet helps to lower blood pressure. This diet includes lots of fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy foods, and foods that are low in saturated fat, total fat, and cholesterol. Using the DASH diet with a low salt diet may lower blood pressure even more.
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Keep a healthy weight.
- Keep blood pressure, cholesterol, and high blood sugar under control.
- Stop smoking. Do not use nicotine gum or patches unless your doctor says it is OK.
- Exercise regularly. Talk to your doctor about which exercise program is best for you.
When do I need to call the doctor?
Activate the emergency medical system right away if you have signs of a heart attack. Call 911 in the United States or Canada. The sooner treatment begins, the better your chances for recovery. Call for emergency help right away if you have: ‚
- Signs of heart attack:
- Chest pain
- Trouble breathing
- Fast heartbeat
- Feeling dizzy
Call your doctor if you have: ‚
- Problems with swelling and weight gain. These include gaining more than 2 to 3 pounds in a day or 5 pounds in a week; more swelling in your feet, ankles or legs; passing more or less urine than normal; or passing dark urine.
- Feelings of being very tired or weak
- Pain in your arm(s), neck, jaw, belly, or back
- Cough that does not go away or coughing up pink or white foamy mucus
- A pounding heart that is racing very fast or skipping beats
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Helpful tips
- Carry a list of all the drugs you take with you at all times. Include any over-the-counter (OTC) drugs or herbals. If you have an implanted pacemaker or defibrillator, carry the card for the device with you at all times.
- Talk about any concerns with your doctor.
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you what changes I need to make with my diet or drugs.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have signs of a heart attack or problems with swelling and weight gain.
Where can I learn more?
American Heart Association ‚
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartFailure/AboutHeartFailure/About-Heart-Failure_UCM_002044_Article.jsp ‚
Better Health Channel ‚
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Congestive_heart_failure ‚
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute ‚
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/hf/ ‚
NHS Choices ‚
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heart-failure/pages/introduction.aspx ‚
The DASH Diet Eating Plan ‚
http://dashdiet.org/default.asp ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚