How to Avoid Heart Failure
- 1). Eat healthy foods. Your diet plays a significant part in your endeavor to avoid heart failure. Limit or eliminate foods that contribute to high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low- or non-fat dairy products and lean selections of meat. Reduce your intake of fat, especially saturated and trans fat.
- 2). Increase fiber. You should eat between 25 and 35 grams of fiber daily. Fiber helps improve digestion and control blood glucose levels, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
- 3). Monitor sodium. Don't consume more than 2000 mg of sodium daily. Sodium causes water retention, which causes additional work for the heart.
- 4). Keep an eye on your potassium. If you are taking diuretics, your potassium levels could drop. Severe thirst, fatigue, weakness and changes in heart rate are signs of low potassium. Discuss any of these symptoms with your physician.
- 5). Monitor fluid intake. Excess fluid causes the heart to work harder. You should aim for 64 ounces a day. If you sweat during exercise, you can have an additional 8 ounces. Pay attention to your breathing and any swelling, and adjust fluids accordingly.
- 6). Keep your blood pressure as low as possible, so the heart can pump blood without added stress.
- 7). Maintain a healthy weight. Lose weight, if necessary, because extra weight makes the heart work more.
- 8). Get active. Regular exercise improves your overall health, including heart health. To achieve maximum benefits, aim for cardiovascular exercise lasting 20 to 30 minutes three to four times a week.
- 9). Protect yourself against respiratory illnesses. Ask your doctor about influenza and pneumonia vaccines.
