Daily weight should be recorded. Aerobic exercise should be a fundamental part of the daily regimen. Ideally, the more exercise the better, with the recommendation to achieve at least 30 minutes of exercise, five days a week. Patients should consult their physician to obtain a prescription for individualized exercise and stress reduction programs. Diuretics increase the elimination of urine and salt from the body, thereby relieving lung and leg congestion.
Digoxin works to increase the strength of the heart muscle.
ACE inhibitors dilate the blood vessels to reduce the work of the heart and improve the efficiency of blood supply to the body. Beta blockers are a proven class of drugs, which have found a new indication for the treatment of heart failure. They work to counteract the body's own adverse neurohormonal system that is worsening the symptoms of heart failure. These last two classes of medications have been shown to decrease the chance of death by 20 to 40 percent. Heart transplantation is available as a last resort to selectively few patients at specialized heart failure centers.