Home Remedies for Heart Failure

Home care is a vital part of living well with heart failure. It supports, and never replaces, your cardiologist's treatment.

Daily habits

• Weigh yourself every morning after passing urine and before eating, on the same scale, and note it down. A gain of more than 2 kg in 3 days, or 1 kg in a day, needs a call to your doctor.
• Take medicines exactly as prescribed, and never stop them without advice.
• Limit salt as your doctor advises. Avoid adding salt at the table and limit pickles, papad and packaged food.
• Follow any fluid limit your doctor sets. Do not restrict fluids on your own unless advised.
• Check swelling of feet and ankles each day.
• Rest and stay active: balance rest with gentle activity such as short walks.
• Raise your head with extra pillows if breathless lying flat, and raise swollen legs when resting.
• Avoid alcohol and tobacco.
• Get vaccines such as flu and pneumococcal as advised.

Things to avoid

• NSAID painkillers such as ibuprofen and diclofenac, which can worsen fluid retention
• Over-the-counter cough and cold medicines with decongestants unless a doctor agrees
• Unregulated herbal or "heart tonic" products

When to call your doctor

New or worse breathlessness, more swelling, weight gain, a new cough, dizziness or palpitations.

Call 112 or 102 for

Severe breathlessness at rest, pink frothy sputum, chest pain or fainting.

Key point

Daily weights and medicine routine are the most useful home tools.

Before your appointment

Bring your list of medicines and supplements, recent test reports such as echocardiogram, ECG and kidney tests, and your daily weight and blood pressure log. Note any breathlessness, swelling, night-time symptoms or reduced activity, and how much salt and fluid you take. Ask about warning signs and when to call 112 or 102.