How Can Heart Failure Be Prevented?
You can take steps to prevent heart failure. The
sooner you start, the better your chances to avoid it or to stay healthier
longer.
For People Who Have Healthy Hearts
If you have a healthy heart, you can take action to
prevent heart disease, which helps prevent heart failure. To prevent heart
disease:
- Follow a heart healthy diet that focuses on
fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat diary products, and lean meat. It
also should be low in salt, fat, saturated fat, trans fat, and
cholesterol. Examples of healthy eating plans are the National Heart, Lung, and
Blood Institute's
Therapeutic
Lifestyle Changes (TLC) diet and the
Dietary
Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan.
- Quit smoking if you smoke. Avoid exposure to
secondhand smoke.
- Lose weight if you're
overweight
or obese.
- Get regular physical activity. Aim for at least
30 minutes on most, and preferably all, days of the week.
- Avoid using illegal drugs.
For People Who Are at High Risk for Heart Failure
Even if you're at high risk for heart failure, you
can take steps to reduce your risks. People at high risk include those who have
high
blood pressure,
coronary
artery disease, or
diabetes, or people who are obese.
- Follow all of the steps listed above.
- Treat and control any conditions that cause heart
failure. Take medicines as your doctor prescribes.
- Avoid drinking alcohol.
- See your doctor for regular followup visits.
For People Who Have Heart Damage but No Signs of
Heart Failure
If you have heart damage but no signs of heart
failure, you can still reduce your risks. In addition to taking the steps
above, take all of the medicines your doctor prescribes to reduce your heart's
workload.
If you have side effects from a medicine, tell your
doctor. You should never stop taking medicine without asking your doctor first.
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