Steps I Can Take

Discover practical steps to manage your condition and stay well.

Daily Self-Management

Steps I Can Take – Checklist

Step 1: Print or view your Symptom Tracker
Step 2: Print or view your Heart Failure Action Plan or Self-Check Plan
Step 3: Watch these 3 video tutorials On click, take user to Symptom Tracking and “Heart Failure Action Plan” section with embeded videos
Step 4: Track and Act to feel your best

Symptom Tracking and “Heart Failure Action Plan”

One of the most effective ways to keep well is to monitor for symptoms of heart failure.
Watch these videos to learn more:

Print or review the “Heart Failure Action Plan”, click here. This provides a guide to assess symptoms and know when to get medical help.
Symptoms can be tracked and recorded using this symptom and event diary.

For a list of warning signs that may indicate your heart failure is getting worse, click here. For a printable version, click this link.

Daily Weights

Monitoring your weight every day is one of the most effective ways to stay healthy and catch potential issues early. Acting quickly when you notice a sudden change makes it much easier to prevent other symptoms from developing.

Embed Heart Failure: Checking Your Weight Daily” video (myhealth alberta).

For a printable daily weight tracker, click here.

A Note About Fluid Restriction

In some cases, you may be told by your cardiology team to restrict your fluid intake for a period of time. Most people with heart failure, however, are encouraged to drink to thirst. If you have been advised to limit your fluids, click here to learn more.

Alcohol

Research shows that even small amounts of alcohol can negatively impact your health. The more you drink each week, the greater the risks and long-term effects. In some cases, alcohol is the cause of heart failure. In these cases and others, abstinence is recommended. Speak to your healthcare team for further recommendations. Click here to review the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction guidelines for low-risk alcohol recommendations.

Lifestyle and Long-Term Actions

Heart failure is a chronic condition, which means it needs long-term management. Learning to make positive changes to your lifestyle in areas such as diet, exercise and stopping smoking, will help to improve your symptoms, prevent the progression of your heart failure and improve the quality of your daily life.

Lower Your Salt Intake

Even if you feel your diet is generally healthy, you may still benefit from cutting back on salt.

Embedded video: Heart Failure: Limiting Sodium (myhealthalberta healthwise)

For more information about adjusting the amount of salt in your diet, click here. For further support, consider reaching out to your healthcare team to be connected to a dietitian.

To learn more about nutrition recommendations, click here Link to “Living Your Life” nutrition section.

Click here to learn more about getting started with eating less salt.

For tips on cooking without salt, click here.

Quit Smoking

It’s never too late to stop smoking – your heart will thank you for it. There are many strategies to help you quit. Don’t hesitate to reach out for support; there are various groups and resources available to assist you. Not every approach will work for everyone, but with persistence, you’ll discover what works best for you.

Embed AlbertaQuits Support Services video (myhealthalberta)

Visit AlbertaQuits for more information.

Immunizations

Your immune system may be weaker if you have heart failure. You’re more at risk for serious complications if you get infections like the flu, pneumonia, COVID-19, RSV, or shingles. Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to lower your risk from infections and illness. To learn more about recommended vaccines, speak to your healthcare team.

For additional information, visit “Our Heart Hub- Vaccines”.

HeartLife Academy offers a free course about vaccines and your heart- click here to register

Sick Day Rules for Medications

Flu-like symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, or fever can quickly cause dehydration. When you are dehydrated, some heart failure medications can become harmful and may need to be paused temporarily to avoid side effects. Your heart failure team will restart them once you are feeling better and hydrated. Learn more about how to manage sick days.

Communication and Care Coordination

Prepare For Your Appointments

Before your appointment, consider what you’d like to know. Click here for suggested topics to discuss with your healthcare team.

Your Care Choices: Present and Future

Heart failure is a chronic condition that can worsen over time. Because its progression can be unpredictable, it’s important for you and your family to talk about what care you want if you become very ill and can’t make decisions yourself.

Learning about advance care planning can help. It’s a tool to help you decide and document the type of healthcare you want now and in the future. It’s helpful for everyone, especially people with chronic illnesses, multiple health conditions, or cognitive changes. The best time to create a plan is when you’re feeling well, before there’s an urgent need for one.

For a printable list of questions to ask your care team about your condition, click here.

For step-by-step guidance on how to make an advance care plan, click here.

For an overview on Advance Care Planning and Goals of Care Designations, click here.

HeartFailureCare.ca