Understanding heart failure and making some changes in your lifestyle will help improve your health. You should be aware of how you usually feel and tell your health care provider of any changes. This will allow him or her to help prevent your condition from getting worse. Keep a record of your weights and notify your health care provider if you gain more than 3 to 5 pounds from your last visit or from the weight you and your health care provider have agreed on. Possible changes include lowering how much salt you eat, limiting alcohol, adjusting the amount of fluid you drink, and taking a vitamin.
Regular exercise is very important for people with heart failure.
Aerobic exercise such as walking can provide the most benefit. You should talk to your health care provider before starting an exercise program. Your level of exercise should be slowly increased, based on how you are feeling and how easily you can breathe. Always exercise at a level that allows you to talk while you are exercising. It is also important to schedule periods of rest throughout your day.