How to Treat or Cure Heart Failure

Heart failure cannot usually be cured, but treatment can greatly improve symptoms, reduce hospital stays and help people live longer.

Emergency care

Call 112 or 102 for severe breathlessness at rest, pink frothy sputum, chest pain or fainting. In hospital, treatment may include oxygen, intravenous diuretics, medicines to improve heart function and treatment of the trigger such as infection or an abnormal rhythm.

Long-term treatment

1. Medicines: combinations such as ACE inhibitor, ARB or ARNI, beta blocker, mineralocorticoid antagonist, SGLT2 inhibitor and diuretics as needed.
2. Treat the cause: control blood pressure and diabetes, treat blocked arteries, repair or replace damaged valves, treat rhythm problems.
3. Devices and procedures: defibrillators, cardiac resynchronisation, and in advanced cases ventricular assist devices or heart transplant.
4. Self-care: daily weights, salt and fluid limits as advised, medicine routine and symptom monitoring.
5. Cardiac rehabilitation: supervised exercise improves ability and quality of life.
6. Vaccination and regular follow-up with blood tests.
7. Palliative care: can be offered at any stage to improve comfort, alongside active treatment.

What to expect

Many people feel much better within weeks of the right medicines. Treatment is lifelong, and doses are adjusted gradually.

Supportive approaches

Ayurveda and yoga may be used as adjuncts only with your cardiologist's agreement, never as a replacement for medicines.

Key point

Consistent treatment and monitoring keep most people stable and active.

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.