Other Ways to Protect Your Heart

Immunization
The flu and pneumonia may seriously aggravate heart failure. Getting immunized against both can further protect you from becoming sick. For more information about immunization programs, visit the Public Health Agency of Canada’s website.

Quitting Smoking
People with heart failure should not smoke as it causes further damage to the heart. Smoking is a major killer of people with heart disease. Quitting smoking is the most effective way that you can improve your health. Quitting smoking will also save you money and improve your sense of taste and smell, as well as increase the amount of exercise you can do.
Here are some useful websites to help you get started:


Decrease Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol consumption can have many negative effects on the health of your heart. Therefore, decreasing or eliminating this can serve to be very beneficial for heart failure patients. It is also important to eliminate addictive or harmful drugs as these can also negatively impact your heart’s health.

Tips for Coping
Controlling the anxiety you may be feeling after being diagnosed with Heart Failure is very important to your overall well-being. There are many ways to control anxiety. Here are some suggestions:

  1. Write a list of your worries or causes of anxiety. Sometimes just putting pen to paper will help ease your concerns and put things in perspective.
  2. Try to think of solutions in keeping with the requirements and restrictions of your illness. For example:
    • Surround yourself with positive people
    • Learn relaxation techniques – such as deep breathing or meditation
    • Talk about your frustrations with those you love and trust
    • Consult a resource person – your clinic nurse, social worker or counsellor
  3. Know and accept your limitations: learn to say no without feeling guilty
  4. Indulge yourself without feeling guilty. Fulfill a desire in keeping with your lifestyle and pocketbook – for example, go to the theatre, take a holiday, buy an item of clothing or object you’ve been craving
  5. Join a support group. Having the chance to meet with other heart failure patients can be a comforting experience in knowing that you are not alone in your anxiety. These groups can also serve as a useful source of information. Ask your doctor if they know of a local group in your area.

Follow-up Care (See Doctors Regularly)
If your heart failure has been determined to be stable, you should be visiting the heart failure clinic every three to six months, or you may be asked to see your family doctor. Your doctor or nurse will tell you how often you should visit the clinic. During these visits certain procedures will be done, including:

If your heart failure has been determined to be unstable, you should be visiting the heart failure clinic daily or weekly. Your doctor or nurse will tell you how often is appropriate. During these visits certain procedures will be done, including:

The clinic’s main aim in seeing you frequently during this time is to ensure you don’t have to be admitted to hospital, and to help you function better at home.

Your clinic's 'telemanagement' program: Telemanagement means that should you need to call your clinic with any questions or concerns, feel free to do so at any time. A clinic nurse will be available to assist you.
Your clinic’s telephone support hotline number is: ____________________
Should you need to call after hours, the pager number is: ________________

Your clinic support group: Your HF clinic has started a support group to help you meet other patients and to learn more about your disease from health care experts.
The next support group meeting will be held: _______________________
The speaker will be: ______________________________________
She/he will be speaking about: ________________________________
We look forward to seeing you there!