Congestive heart failure is a condition that occurs when the heart can’t pump enough blood to meet your body’s needs.
If you are caring for someone living with congestive heart failure, it’s important to know how to care for them and what they need from you.
You want the best for your loved one and we understand that completely. That’s why we’ve created this guide so that you have all of the information necessary in order to make sure they are comfortable and healthy throughout their treatment.
1. Advocate and listen
While it may be difficult to see your loved one in this condition, they rely on you more than ever. It is important for you in your role to spend time with them and listen closely to what they are saying.
They need someone who will listen when they need somebody to talk to. You can show that you care by simply spending quality time with your loved one.
2. Promote exercise and physical activity
Promoting physical activity is one of the easiest ways you can help someone who has congestive heart failure. Encourage the person to get up and walk around, go out for a stroll, or try some other form of exercise.
If they are feeling up to it, encourage them to jog in place or do sit-ups. The more active they are, the less likely they’ll be to feel fatigued. Make sure they get up and walk/stretch several times a day, especially after a long period of sitting or lying down.
If possible, consider taking the person on walks around your neighborhood or to a place where they can get some exercise.
3. Understand how to manage medications
Although some people do recover from congestive heart failure, most people who have it will need to manage it for the rest of their lives. Some of the most important strategies for managing the condition are taking medications correctly and carefully monitoring their health at home with simple tests that can help you avoid a trip to the hospital.
When it comes down to medication, it is going to be your job to manage your loved one’s medications. This means they are relying on you to give them the correct dosages in order to keep them feeling better.
4. Know how to monitor symptoms
Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition in which, due to poor heart function and high blood pressure, the individual’s fluid levels become too excessive. The person may experience shortness of breath and swelling in both legs and feet.
For the best heart failure care, you need to monitor your loved one for these signs and symptoms.
Want to know more about living with congestive heart failure?
Living with congestive heart failure is not easy and requires the right care. That is why it is so important for caregivers and loved ones of a heart failure patient to know how best to care for them.
This blog post has provided you with 4 actionable steps and we hope that this article will help you provide the best possible care for your loved one.
For more information on living with heart failure and being a heart failure caregiver, please visit our website or check out our blog!
