Managing 心脏衰竭 Symptoms

Your body and your heart can often respond to effects of 心脏衰竭 so that you never notice any symptoms. Your heart compensates for added strain by working harder. 然而, 随着心力衰竭的恶化, your heart can gradually become less able to keep pumping blood to the body. 另外, when a situation worsens by small degrees over time, you might not even notice the trend. Your sense for what’s normal can become altered.

That’s why it’s important to know the 心衰症状, and take note of any subtle changes in your body’s ability to compensate. Make sure your family members are aware of 心脏衰竭 symptoms too, especially if they are involved in your 心脏衰竭 care. 

Download the Symptom Tracker: 

Self-Check Plan for HF Management PDF
英语(PDF) | 西班牙语(PDF)

Use the HF Checklist to monitor symptoms

Heart failure requires that you, your family and any caregivers pay close attention to any changes in your symptoms. 如果你注意到什么新的, or a sudden worsening of a current symptom, contact your health care professional right away. 在很多情况下, your medical team can make changes to your medication or advise you on lifestyle changes that can help you feel better.

Also, learn to recognize the 心脏病发作的征兆

Which symptoms should I track?

Your health care team will tell you which 心脏衰竭 symptoms you should track. The most common symptoms to track are:

  • 呼吸急促 and or extra fatigue while moving through your regular daily routine.
  • 你的心率 if you feel like your heart is racing or throbbing. 
  • 每日体重. Many people are first alerted to worsening 心脏衰竭 when they notice a weight gain of more than two or three pounds in a 24-hour period or more than five pounds in a week. This weight gain may be due to retaining fluids since the heart is not functioning properly. It’s a good idea to track your weight and check in with your health care professional if you notice sudden changes. Make sure you know the amount of weight gain your health care professional considers to be a problem for you.
  • 任何肿胀 from fluids collecting in your body – most often in the ankles, lower legs and feet – and especially if you notice any increase in swelling.
  • 血压. It’s important to track blood pressure and to know your numbers.
  • Confusion or impaired thinking. These symptoms might be first noticed by others in your family, so it could be helpful to invite their feedback. 
  • 其他因素. You might also be asked to keep track of other factors, 比如食欲, diuretic (“water pill”) use or your ability to sleep. If you have been prescribed oxygen, your health care professional might ask you to track how much oxygen you use.

跟踪的好处

When you’re aware of the changes, you are more likely to take action and make the small changes in your lifestyle and treatment plan that can help you live your longest and healthiest life.

探索资源 on our website and visit the 支持网络 to connect with others living with 心脏衰竭.

心脏衰竭 Warning Signs and Symptoms