Heart Failure Lifestyle Questions

Helpful Highlights

• Write down questions a few days in advance to make sure all concerns are included.

• Do not limit yourself to these questions; ask others as you think of them.

If your loved one has been diagnosed with heart failure, you both will likely have a lot of questions. Your first resource should be the healthcare team, as they can help navigate any confusion or uncertainty. Asking the most relevant questions will help you know what to anticipate and how to take action.

Use this list to help prepare questions for the provider ahead of time. This will help you make the most of your loved one's next appointment.

Lifestyle changes

• Does my loved one need to lose weight?

• Do they need to change what they eat, when, or how much?

• Is there a specific diet recommendation? 

• Do they need to restrict salt intake?

• Do they need to restrict fluid intake?

• Can they drink alcohol? If so, how much?

• My loved one is a smoker, can you suggest any support to help them quit?

• Can they still smoke? If so, how much?

• How many hours a day do they need to sleep?

• What kind of exercise can they do and how often should they do it?

• Are there any off-limits activities?

• Can they do regular activities like driving, going to work, climbing steps, and doing laundry?

• Is it okay to be sexually active? Is it safe to use sildenafil (Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra), or tadalafil (Cialis) for erectile dysfunction?

• How do I explain the condition to my friends, family, and co-workers?

• Can you let me know where I can get additional emotional or mental support for myself and my loved one?

• How will lifestyle need to change to accommodate the progression of heart failure?

No content in this app, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.