How to Stay Out of the Hospital if You Have Congestive Heart Failure - April 15, 2001

Please note: This information was as current as we could make it on the date given above. But medical information is always changing, and some information given here may be out of date. For regularly updated information on a variety of health topics, please visit familydoctor.org, the AAFP patient education Web site.

An article on this topic is available in this issue of AFP.

How to Stay Out of the Hospital if You Have Congestive Heart Failure

I have congestive heart failure. What is it?

Your heart has lost some ability to pump blood. This can cause shortness of breath, weakness and fluid retention. Congestive heart failure (CHF) is serious, but many treatments can help you feel better. If you know a lot about CHF, you have a good chance of staying out of the hospital.

What causes CHF?

The most common causes of CHF are:

Uncontrolled high blood pressure

Heart attacks

Too much alcohol

Viral infection of the heart

What can I do to help my CHF?

Salt and salty foods (like canned vegetables or soups, chips and pizza) in your diet can cause your body to retain water. Talk to your doctor about salt substitutes because they contain potassium and may not be a good idea for you to take. This will depend on your kidney function and what drugs you are taking. Some people need extra potassium but other people don't.

Although drinking a small amount of alcohol (one drink a day) seems to be helpful in some people with heart disease, drinking too much may cause heart failure and interfere with medicines. Ask your doctor if it's safe for you.

Keep your blood pressure well controlled. High blood pressure strains your heart. The strain can further weaken it.

You'll be healthier if you exercise. Ask your doctor to recommend an exercise program for you.

Talk to your doctor before you take any medicine. Standard arthritis medicines like naproxen (brand name: Naprosyn) and ibuprofen (brand name: Advil) can cause fluid retention.

When should I call my doctor?

Talk to your doctor if you have any of the following:

Shortness of breath that gets worse

A gain of more than 5 pounds in one week

Leg swelling that is new for you

Coughing or wheezing in the night, or needing to sleep propped up or sitting up

Chest pain or a heavy feeling in your chest

Side effects from the medicine

Failure to lose weight even though you take more water pills

Where can I get more information?

Check these Web sites:

http://health.yahoo.com/health/dc/000158/0.html

http://www.americanheart.org/chf

This handout provides a general overview on this topic and may not apply to everyone. To find out if this handout applies to you and to get more information on this subject, talk to your family doctor.

Visit familydoctor.org for information on this and many other health-related topics.

Copyright © 2001 by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Permission is granted to print and photocopy this material for nonprofit educational uses. Written permission is required for all other uses, including electronic uses.

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