Lifestyle Changes

When you live with heart failure, you must take steps to make your health a priority. Adopting healthier habits can help support you heart health. That means finding ways to:

• Eat low salt, low-fat foods
• Exercise regularly
• Not smoke
• Lose weight if you need to
• Monitor your fluid intake (ask how much water or fluid you can drink each day)
• Keep other conditions in check – many people with heart failure also have other health issues such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Cardiac Rehabilitation

Cardiac rehabilitation provides you with a supervised exercise program that's geared toward your fitness level and health needs. It also provides a support system to help you adopt lifelong healthy behaviors and monitor your progress.

Cardiac rehab is approved for some patients living with heart failure. Participating in this program can help you feel better, make your heart stronger and may reduce your need to go to the hospital.