Schedule a follow-up appointment within the first three days after you have been released from the hospital with your physician. This is a critical appointment, during which you can confirm that your medications are working, and discuss and monitor any early warning signs of potential new problems. Call us today if you need assistance.

When you are discharged, your physician (or the nurse) will provide a list of your medications, what they are used for, potential side effects, dose amounts, and the times to take them. You will take some of them for a limited length of time, others you will continue to take until your health care provider tells you to stop.

These medications do a variety of things to help keep you healthy – some help open the arteries and lower blood pressure. Water pills (also known as diuretics) help keep fluid from building up in your body and lungs, and beta blockers help improve blood pressure. Some medications will help your heart pump better, and others are used to lower your cholesterol levels.

Be sure to check with your physician before taking any other prescriptions or over-the-counter medications.

You will be asked to weigh yourself daily. If so, weigh yourself every morning at the same time on the same scale, wearing the same clothing. Make note of your weight in a daily diary. Call your physician if you gain two or more pounds overnight or five pounds in a week.

Smoking increases the likelihood of developing heart disease. Being a non-smoker will slow the progress of heart artery damage, and lower the risk of future heart attacks and heart failure. Ask the hospital staff for information about classes and counseling on learning to quit smoking; they may also have medications and other information to help you to quit.

You may need to change your daily routine to avoid activities that will worsen your symptoms.

For the first two weeks after leaving the hospital, take things slowly, and give yourself plenty of time to complete tasks. You will need to pace yourself to get back to your regular routines. At your first follow-up appointment you ask your physician when it’s safe to return to work, school, and all your regular daily activities.

In the meantime, pace yourself when it comes to social events as you will likely tire easily. Get plenty of rest, especially between periods of activity. Avoid strenuous activities that stress the chest area such as heavy lifting, pushing, pulling, or twisting movements.

Avoid driving as medications may slow your reflexes. Talk to your cardiologist about when it’s safe to resume sexual activity.

Overall, a healthy, well-balanced diet that is low in salt, fat, and sugar is recommended. Ask your physician about salt and fluid restrictions and – possibly – for a referral to a dietician or other professional to help you with any diet restrictions.

You may improve your condition by eating healthy foods. Moderate restrictions on salt, for example, are sometimes necessary.

Too much salt causes your body to hold extra fluid, forcing your heart to pump harder. You can reduce sodium by not adding salt to your food or cooking water, and by eating low-sodium foods.

Some patients with CHF may need to limit fluid intake such as water, juice, ice, soup, etc.

Beer, wine, and liquor need to be avoided as alcohol can weaken heart muscle in CHF patients.

Your transition back into your home is a move in the right direction. Take things slowly, and try not to have unrealistic expectations about your capabilities for the next few weeks.

At first, some patients have difficulty falling asleep or sleeping through the night due to the transition from hospital to home. Try to keep to your normal waking and sleeping times, and sleep on your side if it is more comfortable to do so.

Try to return to your regular routines as soon as you feel up to it. You may feel tired and sad some days, energetic and happy on other days. Ups and downs are part of recovery, so try not to be discouraged, and you will gradually start to feel more like yourself again.