You and your care team will create a plan to help keep your heart failure from getting worse. You get to help decide how much you can do. However, there are 5 important steps you can take that will help you live your healthiest life possible. We call this the MAWDS-HF plan:

  • Take your MEDICINES as prescribed. Water pills can help you manage fluid build-up. Other medicines will help improve your condition.
  • Be ACTIVE in some way, every day.
  • Check your WEIGHT every day, and write it down. Do this at the same time each day, wearing the same clothes, to better see how your body is changing from day to day.
  • Change your DIET by eating less than 2,000 milligrams (1 teaspoon) of sodium (salt) in all foods combined and drinking or eating less than 64 ounces (1/2 gallon) of liquid each day.
  • Know your SYMPTOMS and when to call your provider for advice.

Besides these 5 steps, your care team will help you manage any other medical conditions that may make your heart failure worse. Your providers may also recommend certain procedures to treat your heart failure.

Learn More About Managing and Treating Heart Failure

physician-with-older-male-patient

Heart Failure Management

Heart failure management is a comprehensive approach (medications, lifestyle changes, procedures, etc.) that improves the quality and length of your life with heart failure.

coronary-artery-disease

Bypass Surgery

Bypass or coronary artery bypass surgery uses a vein or artery to bypass a coronary artery.

menopause-care

Pacemaker Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator

Pacemakers and Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator is a small device placed in the chest to help control your heartbeat.
heart-transplant

Heart Transplant Surgery

A heart transplant replaces a severely diseased heart with a new heart from a human organ donor.
physician-care

Ventricular Assist Devices

Ventricular assist devices are implantable pumps for patients with heart failure.