text stringlengths 0 2.95k |
|---|
Make your sleeping environment as comfortable as possible. |
Your bedroom should be sleep-friendly. A few simple changes to make your bedroom quiet, dark, and comfortable will assist you in remaining calm and creating a positive association between your bedroom and sleep. Close the blinds or curtains. If the room is still too bright, invest in blackout curtains or an eye mask. To block out sounds, you could also use earplugs or a white noise machine. |
Make sure your bed is supportive and comfortable. |
Choose a mattress and pillow that are appropriate for you. |
Limit your daytime naps. |
Short naps can help you regain energy and focus but limit them to 20-30 minutes and no later than mid-afternoon. |
Don’t use electronics or watch TV in your bedroom. |
All electronic devices necessitate focus and attention, which raises your level of alertness. Research has also found a link between the light emitted by these screens and a disruption in circadian rhythm patterns. Turn off all electronics one hour before going to bed. |
Be sure to let your cardiologist know if you are having trouble sleeping. |
SODIUM |
If you have heart failure, one of the most important things you can do to avoid retaining extra fluid is reduce the amount of sodium (salt) in your diet. |
The first step to reducing sodium in your diet is to remove the saltshaker from your table. You should not add any extra salt to your food. |
Most processed foods contain a lot of sodium. Learning how to read and understand food labels is an important skill. |
SODIUM RESTRICTION |
Sodium causes extra fluid to build up in your body, making your heart work harder. This extra fluid can also accumulate in your legs and ankles, as well as in your lungs, making it difficult to breathe. |
What is sodium? |
Sodium is a mineral found in salt. One teaspoon of salt equals approximately 2,300 mg of sodium. Two-thirds of the salt in the Canadian diet is hidden in food. |
What is a low sodium diet? |
It is best to limit the amount of sodium you eat to less than 2,000 mg day. This will help prevent the accumulation of extra fluid in your body. |
READING NUTRITION LABELS |
Of all the salt in our diet, approximately 10% comes from sodium found naturally in foods, 10% comes from salt that is added by us at the table, and 80% comes from food processing. |
It is important to learn how to read the Nutrition Facts panel on food packaging, as these labels can help us determine the sodium content of foods. Food manufacturers may change ingredients over time, so you should make it a habit to regularly revisit nutritional labels. |
What should I pay attention to in food labels? |
Serving Size: Compare the suggested serving size on the package to the amount that you actually eat – this can sometimes be very different. The label lists the amount of sodium in one serving, not the total amount of sodium in the entire package. |
Sodium: Look at the amount of sodium in mg per serving. Try to choose products with less than 200mg per serving or 10% or less of the Daily Value per serving. |
Ingredients: Ingredients are listed in decreasing order by amount. If an ingredient appears earlier in the list, that means there is more of it in the food. If salt or sodium appears in the ingredients list, make sure that it is near the end. Sometimes the salt can be ‘hidden’ – look out for these ingredients: sodium, monosodium glutamate (MSG), brine, sodium nitrite, sodium propionate, baking soda, and baking powder. |
HOW CAN I REDUCE SODIUM IN MY DIET? |
Avoid using salt in your cooking and remove the saltshaker from your table. |
Buy fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables and prepare your meals at home. |
Avoid salted snack foods, such as chips, crackers, and nuts. |
Choose foods labeled low sodium or no salt added. |
Read food labels to see how much sodium is in each serving. |
Avoid processed foods: |
Canned or packaged soups |
Instant foods like oatmeal or puddings |
Processed cheese slices or spreads |
Processed, cured, or smoked meats like sausages, wieners, ham, bacon, or smoked fish |
Canned vegetables, meats, and fish |
Canned tomato and vegetable juices |
Frozen dinners and entrees |
When grocery shopping, try to do most of your shopping in the outer aisles where most of the fresh products are found. Avoid the inner aisles, where the more processed foods are shelved. |
Plan your meals ahead of time. |
Grill an extra chicken breast to use for a sandwich the next day. |
Season foods with lemon juice, vinegar, fresh garlic, herbs, and spices. |
Don’t use spices that contain salt or sodium, like garlic salt or onion salt |
Avoid using salt substitutes like No Salt® and Half Salt®. |
Seasoning herb blends which are best to use include Mrs. Dash, President’s Choice no salt added seasoning blends, David’s Condiments™ salt free products, McCormick’s® salt-free products, and Club House® La Grill salt free seasonings. |
Make salad dressing with fresh garlic, olive oil, and flavoured vinegar. |
Search online for low sodium recipes. |
Try a new low sodium cookbook. |
Helpful resources include Canada’s Food Guide and unlockfood.ca. |
SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT |
Heart failure is a progressive condition. Its effects are highly variable, and the condition is often not diagnosed until symptoms occur and people seek medical attention. |
As the condition progresses, there may be changes to the structure and function of your heart. These changes may be easy to notice or happen in small steps over time. You may not recognize the presence or severity of symptoms as they develop. |
That’s why it’s critical to be aware of the symptoms of heart failure and its effects on your day-to-day life. |
Your family or friends may notice changes in your health before you do. It’s important to make sure they are also aware of the symptoms of heart failure – especially if they are involved in your care. |
WHAT SYMPTOMS SHOULD I TRACK? |
Your healthcare team will advise you on which heart failure symptoms to monitor. The most common things to monitor: |
Any shortness of breath. |
Your energy level and ability to perform your regular activities. |
Your pulse rate and if you experience heart palpitations and/or racing or throbbing heartbeats. |
Your daily weight and whether you gain more than two pounds in a 24-hour period or more than five pounds in a week. Make sure you understand how much weight gain your doctor considers to be a problem for you. |
Any swelling (or worsening swelling) in your ankles, lower legs, feet, or stomach. |
Feeling confused, dizzy, or lightheaded. |
Having problems with your memory or with thinking clearly. |
Your care team may also ask you to keep track of other factors, such as your appetite, diuretic use, or sleeping ability. If you’ve been prescribed oxygen, your doctor may ask you to keep track of how much you’re using. |
HEART FAILURE ZONES |
The Heart Failure Zones created by the BC Heart Failure Network and available from Heart & Stroke will help guide you in your self-management. |
Determining in which “zone” you are helps you to understand if your heart failure is under control and when to speak to your health care provider or seek emergency care. |
THE HEART AND BLOOD FLOW |
The heart circulates blood throughout the body. |
It is divided into the right side and left side and composed of four chambers: two right and left top chambers (atria) and two right and left bottom chambers (ventricles). Valves separate the atria, ventricles, and arteries. |
ATRIA AND VENTRICLES |
The atria are responsible for collecting blood, while the ventricles are responsible for pumping the blood to the lungs or the body. |
Deoxygenated blood returned to the heart from the body is collected in the right atrium. It then empties into the right ventricle, which pumps the blood to the lungs, where it receives oxygen. |
The oxygenated blood is then returned to the left atrium and emptied into the left ventricle, which pumps the oxygenated blood to the body. |
While all the chambers in the heart are important, the main pumping chamber to circulate the blood to the body is the left ventricle. |
VALVES |
There are four valves in the heart whose function is to ensure one-way blood flow. |
On the right side, the tricuspid valve separates the right atrium from the right ventricle. The pulmonary valve separates the right ventricle from the pulmonary arteries, which carry blood to the lungs. |
On the left side, the mitral valve separates the left atrium from the left ventricle. The aortic valve separates the left ventricle from the aorta, which moves oxygenated blood to the body. |
REGURGITATION |
Valves may become leaky (called regurgitation), meaning they don’t close properly and allow blood to flow, or leak, backwards. |
STENOSIS |
Valves may also become narrowed (called stenosis). This means they do not open fully, restricting or blocking blood flow. |
Problems with the valves may be congenital (a problem you were born with) or an acquired condition. |
THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OF THE HEART |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.