From the Guidelines
Good goals for a heart failure patient include maintaining a stable weight, following a low-sodium diet, taking prescribed medications consistently, and engaging in appropriate physical activity, as these measures can help reduce morbidity and mortality, and improve quality of life 1. To achieve these goals, patients should aim to:
- Monitor their weight daily and report any sudden changes to their healthcare provider
- Follow a low-sodium diet, typically less than 2,000 mg per day, to reduce fluid retention and cardiac workload
- Take prescribed medications consistently, which may include ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, diuretics, and SGLT2 inhibitors, as these medications have been shown to reduce the risk of death and hospitalization in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) 1
- Engage in appropriate physical activity, as recommended by their healthcare provider, to improve cardiovascular health and reduce symptoms of heart failure
- Attend all scheduled medical appointments to monitor their condition and adjust their treatment plan as needed Additionally, patients should aim to recognize and promptly report symptoms of worsening heart failure, such as increased shortness of breath, swelling in the legs or abdomen, or sudden weight gain, to their healthcare provider 1. Self-care goals should also include:
- Smoking cessation, as smoking can exacerbate heart failure and reduce life expectancy
- Limiting alcohol consumption, as excessive alcohol consumption can worsen heart failure symptoms and reduce the effectiveness of medications
- Managing stress, as chronic stress can worsen heart failure symptoms and reduce quality of life
- Maintaining good sleep habits, as poor sleep quality can worsen heart failure symptoms and reduce quality of life By achieving these goals, patients with heart failure can reduce their risk of morbidity and mortality, and improve their quality of life, as supported by the most recent and highest quality study on the topic 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Short-term Goals for Heart Failure Patients
- Relieving symptoms such as shortness of breath, decreased exercise tolerance, and lower-extremity edema 2
- Improving functional capacity and quality of life 2
Long-term Goals for Heart Failure Patients
- Decreasing mortality 2
- Slowing or reversing the underlying cardiac structural abnormalities of heart failure 2
- Preventing further left ventricular dysfunction by inhibiting neurohormonal processes and ventricular remodeling using ACE inhibitors, nitrates and hydralazine, or beta blockers 2