Repairing or replacing a leaky heart valve also can sometimes improve heart function. One major goal of heart failure therapy is to prevent further damage to an already weakened heart. Controlling cholesterol and blood pressure , avoiding alcohol, exercising regularly and quitting smoking can all greatly reduce the chance that the heart muscle will suffer additional damage and will help the heart work as efficiently as possible. Although there has been a lot of attention in the press recently about the role of vitamins and other nutritional supplements, there is very little data on the impact of these supplements for people with heart failure. For most people, the addition of a multiple vitamin is safe, but most physicians agree that the best way to stay healthy is to eat a diet that contains adequate nutrients, including vitamins and minerals.
Supplements are no substitute for a healthy diet and, in some circumstances, can even be dangerous.
Certain vitamins taken in large quantities can be toxic. These include vitamins A, D, E and K. People taking the blood thinner warfarin need to particularly be careful about the amount of vitamin K they consume. In addition, some supplements can interact with other cardiac medications, especially digoxin. The role of antioxidant vitamins, especially vitamins C and E, remains somewhat controversial. Some studies show beneficial effects, and some studies show no effect or detrimental effects.