This section provides essential information, tips, and tools to help you understand and manage heart failure more effectively, promoting better health outcomes and quality of life.
Medication Education
Understanding your medications is crucial for effective heart failure management:
- Medication Overview: Get acquainted with the medications prescribed for heart failure and their roles in your treatment plan.
- Common Medications: Delve into detailed information on commonly prescribed medications such as ACE inhibitors (ACEi), Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARB), Beta Blockers, Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2), Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists (MRA), and Angiotensin Receptor-Neprilysin Inhibitors (ARNI).
- Tips for Medication Management: Learn strategies to help you manage your medications effectively, ensuring you take them as prescribed.
- Managing High Potassium: Discover important dietary considerations and tips for maintaining safe potassium levels while on heart failure medications.
Heart Failure Education
Empower yourself with knowledge about your condition and how to manage it:
- Understanding Heart Failure: Learn what heart failure is and how it affects your body.
- Physical Activity Guidelines: Find out which types of physical activity are safe and beneficial for people with heart failure.
- Salt and Diet Management: Gain insights into managing salt intake and adhering to a heart-healthy diet tailored for heart failure.
- Recognizing Symptoms: Understand the signs that indicate your heart failure may be worsening and when to contact your healthcare team.
- Advanced Care Planning: Learn about the importance of advanced care planning and how to start the conversation.
Caregiver Education & Resources
Support and information for those caring for someone with heart failure:
- Caring for Someone with Heart Failure: Access resources and tips to help you provide the best care to your loved one.
- The Ontario Caregiver Organization: Find support services, information, and resources specifically designed for caregivers in Ontario.
- Caregivers Perspectives & Experiences: Read about other caregivers’ experiences and insights in caring for someone with heart failure.
Heart Failure Toolkit
Practical tools to help manage heart failure:
- Heart Failure Green-Yellow-Red Zones: Use this tool to monitor symptoms and understand when to seek help, helping you navigate the different stages of heart failure.
