FreeMD® Congestive Heart Failure Home Care: Self-monitoring

Congestive Heart Failure

cardiac glycosides

questions for doctor

fluid restriction

self-monitoring

Underlying Cause

Congestive Heart Failure Home Care: Self-monitoring

Self-monitoring for congestive heart failure includes:

Monitor your blood pressure:

Use a home blood pressure device every day.
Keep a logbook of your results
Your heart failure may be out of control when your blood pressure is higher than usual.
Your heart failure may be out of control when your blood pressure is lower than usual.

Monitor your pulse:

Take your pulse daily while you are at rest.
Notify your doctor of a persistent, unusually high or low pulse rate.

Monitor your weight:

Heart failure patients should weigh themselves every day.
Obtain a weight at the same time each day and record the weight on paper.
Keeping a log of daily weights is especially important for patients who may have difficulty with their memory.
Your heart failure may be out of control if you gain more than 2 pounds over one day.
Your heart failure may be out of control if you gain more than 5 pounds over one week.

Monitor your diet:

Tightly control salt in your diet.
Avoid fried foods.
Avoid fast food.

Continue to Congestive Heart Failure Home Care: BP Checks

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Last Updated: Oct 11, 2008 References

Authors: Stephen J. Schueler, MD; John H. Beckett, MD; D. Scott Gettings, MD

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