HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEART IF YOU HAVE HEART FAILURE
Taking care of yourself increases your chances of living a long and healthy life. Here is information about ways you can take care of your heart. Important information for patients with heart failure Call your doctor if you experience any of the following: 1. Increasing shortness of breath 2. Lack of sleep due to shortness of breath or difficulty breathing 3. Swelling or increased swelling in your legs and feet 4. Fainting or near blackouts 5. Chest discomfort (heart pain) that is more frequent or more severe If you experience chest discomfort (heart pain) that is not promptly relieved by rest, take nitroglycerin every five minutes for three doses. If the chest discomfort (heart pain) is not relieved by nitroglycerin or if the chest discomfort lasts longer than 20 minutes, call 911. You may be having a heart attack. What is heart failure? Heart failure occurs when your heart is not able to pump as much blood as your body needs. This inability to pump enough blood may be ca