Lifestyle Changes:

Up to half of patients hospitalized for heart failure are back in the hospital within 6 months. Many people return because of lifestyle factors, such as poor diet, failure to comply with medications, and social isolation.

Rehabilitation

Programs that offer intensive follow-up to ensure that the patient complies with lifestyle changes and medication regimens at home can reduce rehospitalization and improve survival. Patients without available rehabilitation programs should seek support from local and national heart associations and groups. A strong emotional support network is also important.

Monitoring Weight Changes

Patients should weigh themselves each morning and keep a record. Any changes are important:

• A sudden increase in weight of more than 2 - 3 pounds may indicate fluid accumulation and should prompt an immediate call to the doctor.
• Rapid wasting weight loss over a few months is a very serious sign and may indicate the need for surgical intervention.

Dietary Factors

Salt Restriction. All patients with heart failure should limit their salt intake to less than 1,500 mg a day, and in severe cases, very stringent salt restriction may be necessary. Patients should not add salt to their cooking and their meals. They should also avoid foods high in sodium. These salty foods include ham, bacon, hot dogs, lunch meats, prepared snack foods, dry cereal, cheese, canned soups, soy sauce, and condiments. Some patients may need to reduce the amount of water they consume. People with high cholesterol levels or diabetes require additional dietary precautions. [For more information on diet and heart health, see In-Depth Report #43: Heart-healthy diet. ]

Here are some tips to lower your salt and sodium intake:

• Look for foods that are labeled “low-sodium,” “sodium-free,” “no salt added,” or “unsalted.” Check the total sodium content on food labels. Be especially careful of canned, packaged, and frozen foods. A nutritionist can teach you how to understand these labels.
• Don� ' t cook with salt or add salt to what you are eating. Try pepper, garlic, lemon, or other spices for flavor instead. Be careful of packaged spice blends as these often contain salt or salt products (like monosodium glutamate, MSG).
• Avoid foods that are naturally high in sodium, like anchovies, meats (particularly cured meats, bacon, hot dogs, sausage, bologna, ham, and salami), nuts, olives, pickles, sauerkraut, soy and Worcestershire sauces, tomato and other vegetable juices, and cheese.
• Take care when eating out. Stick to steamed, grilled, baked, boiled, and broiled foods with no added salt, sauce, or cheese.
• Use oil and vinegar, rather than bottled dressings, on salads.
• Eat fresh fruit or sorbet when having dessert.

Exercise

People with heart failure used to be discouraged from exercising. Now, doctors think that exercise, when performed under medical supervision, is extremely important for stable patients with stable conditions. Studies have reported that patients with stable conditions who engage in regular moderate exercise (three times a week) have a better quality of life and lower mortality rates than those who do not exercise. However:

• Exercise is not appropriate for all patients with heart failure. If you have heart failure, always consult your doctor before starting an exercise program.
• People who are approved for, but not used to, exercise should start with 5 - 15 minutes of easy exercise with frequent breaks. Although the goal is to build up to 30 - 45 minutes of walking, swimming, or low-impact aerobic exercises three to five times every week, even shorter times spent exercising are useful.

Studies report benefits from specific exercises:

• Progressive strength training may be particularly useful for patients with heart failure since it strengthens muscles, which commonly deteriorate in this disorder. Strength training typically uses light weights, weight machines, or even the body's weight (leg raises or sit-ups, for example). Even performing daily handgrip exercises can improve blood flow through the arteries.
• Patients who exercise regularly using supervised treadmill and stationary-bicycle exercises can increase their exercise capacity. Exercising the legs may help correct problems in heart muscles. Exercise has also been associated with reduced inflammation in blood vessels.

Bed Rest

Some people with severe heart failure may need bed rest. To reduce congestion in the lungs, the patient's upper body should be elevated. For most patients, resting in an armchair is better than lying in bed. Relaxing and contracting leg muscles is important to prevent clots. As the patient improves, a doctor will progressively recommend more activity.

Stress Reduction

Stress reduction techniques, such as meditation and relaxation response methods, may have direct physical benefits. Anxiety can cause the heart to work harder and beat faster.

Herbs and Supplements

Patients with heart failure may resort to alternative remedies. Such remedies are often ineffective and may have severe or toxic effects. Of particular note for patients with heart failure is an interaction between St. John's wort (an herbal medicine used for depression) and digoxin (a heart drug). St. John's wort can significantly interfere with this drug.

Fish Oil Supplements. Some research shows that a daily capsule of fish oil may help improve survival in patients with heart failure. Fish oil contains omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, a healthy kind of fat. However, while evidence is not conclusive, some studies have suggested that fish oil supplements may not be safe for patients with implanted cardiac defibrillators.

Coenzyme Q10 and Vitamin E. Small studies have suggested that coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) may help patients with heart failure, particularly when combined with vitamin E. CoQ10 is a vitamin-like substance found in organ meats and soybean oil. More recent studies, however, have found that CoQ10 and vitamin E do not help the heart or prevent heart disease. In fact, vitamin E supplements may actually increase the risk of heart failure, especially for patients with diabetes or vascular diseases.

Other Vitamins and Supplements. A wide variety of other vitamins (thiamin, B6, and C), minerals (calcium, magnesium, zinc, manganese, copper, selenium), nutritional supplements (carnitine, creatine), and herbal remedies (hawthorn) have been proposed as treatments for heart failure. None have been adequately tested. There is no evidence that a particular vitamin or supplement can cure heart failure. In any case, vitamins are best consumed through the food sources contained in a healthy diet.

Generally, manufacturers of herbal remedies and dietary supplements do not need FDA approval to sell their products. Just like a drug, herbs and supplements can affect the body's chemistry, and therefore have the potential to produce side effects that may be harmful. There have been several reported cases of serious and even lethal side effects from herbal products. Always check with your doctor before using any herbal remedies or dietary supplements.