Living with Heart Failure in Brampton: Daily Habits That Help

The words “heart failure” can be frightening. They sound as though the heart has stopped working entirely. In reality, heart failure means the heart is not pumping as effectively as it should to meet the body’s needs. Many people live with heart failure for years, working, travelling, spending time with grandchildren and enjoying life, especially when the condition is well managed.

Heart failure is common, particularly among older adults and people with a history of heart attack, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart valve problems or atrial fibrillation. Management usually involves several medications along with daily habits that help prevent fluid from building up and keep symptoms under control.

This post focuses on the practical, day-to-day side of living with heart failure: monitoring, diet, medications, activity and knowing when to call for help. It is written for patients and for the family members who support them. The pharmacists at Pharmasave BramCentre, 14 - 7910 Hurontario Street in Brampton work with many people managing heart failure and are happy to help.

Understanding what heart failure means

The heart has two main pumping chambers. In heart failure, one or both may be weakened or stiff. Some people have a heart muscle that does not squeeze strongly enough (sometimes described as reduced ejection fraction). Others have a heart that squeezes normally but is too stiff to fill properly (preserved ejection fraction).

Either way, the body tries to compensate. The kidneys hold on to salt and water, and fluid can build up in the legs, abdomen and lungs. This is why people with heart failure may experience swelling, breathlessness and weight gain from fluid. Treatment aims to reduce strain on the heart, manage fluid and improve symptoms and quality of life.

Your healthcare team can explain which type of heart failure you have and what that means for your treatment.

Weigh yourself every morning

One of the simplest and most useful habits in heart failure care is a daily weight. Because fluid adds weight, a sudden increase over a few days can be an early sign that fluid is building up, often before swelling or breathlessness become obvious.

For the most reliable readings:

1. Weigh yourself every morning, after using the washroom and before eating or drinking.
2. Use the same scale, on a hard, flat surface.
3. Wear similar clothing each time, or none.
4. Write the number down in a log.

Your healthcare team will usually tell you how much weight gain over a day or several days should prompt a call. Write that threshold at the top of your log so it is always visible. If you have not been given specific numbers, ask your doctor or nurse practitioner at your next visit.

Salt and fluid: following your plan

Sodium causes the body to hold on to water, so reducing salt is commonly recommended in heart failure. Some people are also asked to limit how much fluid they drink each day. Recommendations vary from person to person, so follow the specific advice of your healthcare team.

Practical tips many people find useful:

• Cook at home more often, with less salt and more herbs, spices, lemon and garlic.
• Limit processed and restaurant foods, which are often high in sodium.
• Be careful with pickles, papad, chutneys, sauces and salty snacks.
• If you have a fluid limit, use a measured bottle to keep track, and remember that soups, tea, milk and juicy fruits count too.
• Check with your pharmacist before using salt substitutes, which often contain potassium and may not be suitable with some heart failure medications.

The medications that work together

Heart failure treatment often includes several medications from different groups, each with a specific role. Depending on your situation, these may include medications that:

• Help the body remove excess fluid (diuretics, sometimes called water pills)
• Reduce strain on the heart and protect it over the long term, such as certain blood pressure medications, beta blockers and newer heart failure medications
• Manage related conditions like atrial fibrillation, high blood pressure or diabetes

It is common for doses to be increased gradually over weeks or months to reach the most beneficial level. This can mean frequent changes to your prescriptions. Keep an updated list, and ask the pharmacist to help you remove old strengths from your home supply to avoid mix-ups.

A medication review at Pharmasave BramCentre is a good opportunity to make sure you understand each medication and how they work together. For complex routines, compliance packs can organise doses by time of day.

Products to check before using

Some over-the-counter and natural health products can worsen heart failure or interact with its treatment. Common examples include:

• Anti-inflammatory pain relievers (NSAIDs), which can cause fluid retention and affect the kidneys
• Decongestants in cold and sinus products, which can raise heart rate and blood pressure
• Effervescent tablets and some antacids high in sodium
• Certain herbal products and supplements
• Potassium supplements or salt substitutes without medical advice

Before choosing any new product, bring it to the pharmacy counter and ask.

Staying active within your limits

Many people with heart failure feel better when they stay appropriately active. Regular, moderate activity can improve energy, strength and mood. Your healthcare team may refer you to a cardiac rehabilitation program, which offers supervised exercise and education tailored to heart conditions.

General tips:

• Start slowly and build gradually.
• Choose activities like walking or light cycling.
• Avoid heavy lifting and straining unless cleared by your doctor.
• Rest when you need to, and pace activities throughout the day.
• In winter, avoid shovelling heavy snow unless your doctor has said it is safe.

Recognising when things are changing

Heart failure can have periods of stability and periods of worsening. Catching changes early can often prevent a hospital visit. Contact your healthcare team promptly if you notice:

• Weight gain above the threshold you were given
• Increasing swelling in the legs, ankles or abdomen
• More shortness of breath with usual activities
• Needing more pillows to sleep, or waking up breathless
• A new or worsening cough
• Feeling more tired or less able to do usual activities
• Dizziness or reduced urination

Call 9-1-1 for severe shortness of breath, chest pain, fainting, a very fast or irregular heartbeat, or coughing up pink or frothy mucus.

Sick days and hot weather

Illnesses with vomiting, diarrhea or fever, and hot summer weather, can affect fluid balance and kidney function in people taking heart failure medications. Some healthcare providers give patients guidance on what to do with certain medications during sick days. If you have not discussed this, ask your prescriber or pharmacist. Do not stop or change medications on your own without guidance.

During Brampton’s hotter summer days, stay in cool places when possible, and follow your team’s advice about fluids. If you feel dizzy, weak or unusually unwell, contact your healthcare provider.

Getting the most from follow-up appointments

People with heart failure often see several providers: a family doctor, a cardiologist, perhaps a heart function clinic, a dietitian and a pharmacist. Each appointment is more useful when you arrive prepared. Before each visit, gather:

• Your daily weight log for the past few weeks
• Home blood pressure and pulse readings, if you take them
• A current list of every medication and supplement, including recent dose changes
• Notes on symptoms: how far you can walk, how many pillows you sleep on, any swelling
• Two or three questions you most want answered

Ask what the next dose change in your plan might be, what blood tests are due, and whom to call between appointments if something changes. Write the answers down, or bring a family member to take notes. If you leave with a new prescription, ask the pharmacy to explain how it fits with what you already take.

It is also worth being honest about the hard parts. If medications are causing side effects, if cost is a concern, or if you feel low or anxious, say so. Heart failure affects mood and energy, and there is often help available.

Support for families and caregivers

In many Brampton households, adult children, spouses or grandchildren help someone with heart failure manage daily care. Family members can help by:

• Encouraging and recording daily weights
• Cooking lower-salt meals for the whole household
• Helping track fluid intake if a limit applies
• Keeping a list of medications and appointments
• Learning the warning signs and when to call

Getting to the pharmacy can be tiring for someone with heart failure. Ask about home delivery and use the prescription refill service so medications arrive before they run out.

Partner with Pharmasave BramCentre for heart failure care

Living well with heart failure is about consistent daily habits, good communication with your healthcare team and a medication routine that works for you. The pharmacists at Pharmasave BramCentre can help you understand your medications, check new products and keep your routine organised.

Stop by Pharmasave BramCentre at 14 - 7910 Hurontario Street, Brampton, ON L6Y 0P6, or call (905) 497-5177. For other ways to reach us, see the contact page. To arrange a focused conversation with a pharmacist, visit the booking page.

This article provides general information about heart failure self-care. Always follow the individual plan your healthcare team has given you.