HealthInfo Aoraki-South Canterbury
Self-care for heart failure
There are lots of ways that you can look after yourself if you have heart failure.
Read Staying well with heart failure from the National Heart Foundation.
- Have regular check-ups with your GP.
- Eat healthy foods and learn how to eat less salt.
- Quit smoking.
- If you drink alcohol, keep your daily alcohol intake to no more than one standard drink per day, or if you can, give it up completely.
- Ask your GP about keeping active.
- Have an annual flu vaccination. Flu vaccinations are free for people with serious medical conditions or who are aged 65 or over.
- Find out about what treatments are available for heart failure.
- Learn how to manage breathlessness.
- Check your health every day. Your doctor will explain what checks you should be doing every day, and how to do them. This normally includes checking your weight, checking for swelling, and watching for changes in your breathing. The Heart Foundation's booklet Staying well with heart failure has information and resources you can use for daily checks.
The booklet includes a heart failure action plan with advice about daily checks and what to do if your heart failure symptoms change. You might find it easier to use this booklet, which just contains the action plan and some daily checks record sheets. Ask your doctor or nurse specialist to help you develop your action plan.
- The Heart Foundation has launched a free nurse-run helpline for people with questions about heart health and cardiac conditions and treatments. Phone 0800-863-375 between 9 am and 5 pm, Monday to Friday.
- You may be eligible for significant subsidies for insulation or heating if this is needed to keep you healthy. See Keeping your home warm and dry.
- If you're Māori, consider asking your doctor if you can get support from a Community Māori health provider.
- If you're part of the Pasifika community, consider asking your doctor if you can get support from a Community Pasifika health provider.
For information about funding that your GP might be able to use to reduce the cost of your health care, see Funding schemes at your general practice.
To find out about the disability allowance benefit, see Disability allowance for adults.
Transport and parking has information about mobility parking permits, the Total Mobility half-price taxi scheme, and other transport options.
See the Financial support in palliative care page for information on benefits available to people who have severe heart failure and are being treated palliatively.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Endorsed by GP Liaison, Cardiology. Last reviewed December 2018. Last updated June 2019.
See also:
Acute plans
Review key: HIHFA-27478
