HEART SUCCESS GUIDE FOR CHF

JANUARY TIPS FOR HEART SUCCESS  WEIGH DAILY & RECORD  CALL MD IF MORE THAN 2 POUNDS  USE SAME SCALE  WEAR SAME CLOTHING  USE SAME SURFACE

FEBUARY TIPS FOR EART SUCCESS EARLY SIGNS  NEW OR INCREASING SORTNESS OF BREATH  PERSISTANT COUGH OR FEELIN CONGESTED  LACK OF APPETITE  DIZZINESS OR CONFUSION  SWELLING OR ANKLES OR FEET  NEEDING TO SLEEP SITTING UP  WEIGT GAIN  FAST/IRREGULAR HEART BEAT/PALPATATIONS

MARCH TIPS FOR HEART SUCCESS WHEN TO CALL FOR HELP  PERSISTANT CHEST PAIN  SEVERE SHORTNESS OF BREATH  FEELING LIKE YOU ARE GOING TO FAINT OR PASS OUT  CALL MD OR 911

APRIL TIP FOR HEART SUCCESS MAINTAIN LOW SODIUM DIET  RESTRICT SODIUM TO 2000MG/DAY  STOP ADDING SALT TO COOKING OR AT TABLE  KEEP TRACK OF SODIUM INTAKE DAILY  USE SALT SUBSTITUTES  IDENTIFY SODIUM CONTENT ON LABELS  MAKE INFORMED COICES WHEN EATING OUT

MAY TIPS FOR HEART SUCCESS  SHOPPING SKILLS & LABEL READING- START IN KITCHEN CHECKING ALL LABELS; WATCH SERVING SIZES; MSG COTAINS SODIUM  SHOP WITH LIST OF FOODS TO BUY & NOT TO BUY  LOOK FOR WAYS REDUCE SODIUM INN FAVORITE RECIPES  SODIUM CONTENT DESCRIPTIONS (NOTED ON LABEL); SODIUM FREEI IS LESS THAN 5MG; VERY SODIUM 35MG OR LESS; LOW SODIUM 140MG SODIUM OR LESS; REDUCED SODIUM IS 25% LESS THAN REGULAR PRODUCT

JUNE TIP FOR HEART SUCCESS EATING OUT ON LOW SODIUM DIET  AVOID BUFFET OR FAST FOOD  ETHNIC FOODS ARE OFTEN HIGH IN SODIUM  ASK TO HAVE MEAL PREPARED WITH LOW/NO SALT  ORDER DRESSING/SAUCES ON THE SIDE  CHOOSE GRILLED WITHOUT CONDIMENTS  FRESH TURKEY OR CHICKEN  USE MUSTARD OR MAYONAISE SPARINGLY

JULY TIPS FOR HEART SUCCESS TREATMENT PLAN WHEN TRAVELING  PLAN TRAVEL AROUND DIET & MEDICATION NEEDS  REFILL ALL PRESCRIPTIONS BEFORE YOU LEAVE  KEEP MEDOCATION LIST WITH YOU  STAY ON MEDICATION AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE  TAKE LOW SODIUM SNACKS  IF YOU HAVE SYMTOMS WHILE OUT OF TOWN CALL YOUR DOCTOR, DON’T PUT IT OFF UNTIL YOU GET HOME

AUGUST TIPS FOR HEART SUCCESS COPING WITH YOUR FEELINGS  MENTAL : DO TINGS AT YOUR PACE, EDUCATE YOURSELF ON HEART FAILURE, AVOID STRESSFUL SITUATIONS  EMOTIONAL / SPIRITUAL : SUPPORT GROUPS, PRAYER, MEDITATION,  PHYSICAL : MAINTAIN TREATMENT PLAN, BALANCE LIFE WITH ACTIVITY,EXERCISE & REST

SEPTEMBER TIP FOR SUCCESS SAVE YOUR ENERGY  PACE YOURSELF, ALLOW FOR FREQUENT RESTS  KEEP FREQUENTLY USED ITEMS CLOSE  ELIMINATE UNNECESSARY TASKS  WARM UP BEFORE ACTIVITIES  AVOID STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES

OCTOBER TIP FOR SUCCESS EXERCISING SAFELY  GRADUALLY INCREASE ACTIVITY TO INCLUDE DAILY EXERCISE ROUTINE  BEGIN WITH WARM UP & END WITH COOL DOWN  IF YOU CAN NOT CARRY ON CONVERSATION SLOW PACE  EXERCISE INDOOR IN EXTREME TEMPERATURES  DO NOT EXERCISE RIGHT AFTER YOU EAT  STOP IF YOU HAVE CHEST PAIN, GET SHORT OF BREATH, FEEL DIZZY OR HAVE IRREGULAR HEARTBEAT

NOVEMBER TIP FOR HEART SUCCESS MEDICATIONS  KEEP TO A MEDICATION SCHEDULE; TRY NOT TO SKIP DOSES  ALWAYS CARRY A CURRENT LIST OF MEDICATIONS  REFILL MEDICATIONS WHEN YOU HAVE ONE WEEK LEFT  TAKE MEDICATIONS WITH YOU TO THE DOCTOR  KEEP MEDICATIONS PROPERLY LABELLED & STORE IN COOL DRY PLACE  BECOME FAMILIAR WITH YOUR PHARMACIST & CONTACT WITH QUESTIONS

DECEMBER TIP FOR SUCCESS PLAN HEALTHY HOLIDAY  REPLACE OR MODIFY FAVORITE RECIPES  EAT LOW SODIUM SNACK BEFORE PARTIES  CHECK RESTAURANTS MENUS BEFORE YOU ARRIVE  ALCOHOL MAY HAVE ADVERSE EFFECTS ON YOUR HEART, CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR