Manage Heart Disease with In-Home Care
Currently over 90% of our nation’s healthcare expenditures (over $3.8 trillion) are spent of people with chronic conditions.
1 out of 3 deaths is from heart disease including CHF and strokes. Heart Disease has contributing factors and is linked with diabetes.
Contributing Factors to Heart Disease Include;
- Sedentary Lifestyle
- Poor Diet and Nutrition
- Smoking (Nicotine Consumption)
- Drinking (Alcohol Consumption)
What is heart failure or congestive heart failure (CHF)?
A diagnosis of heart failure means that one’s heart is not pumping as strongly as it should be. Sometimes the terms “heart failure” and “congestive heart failure” (CHF) are used interchangeably, although CHF has the added meaning that a backup of blood is causing swelling (congestion, or edema) in body tissues.
HF/CHF is a chronic disease that cannot be cured, but with timely health care, it can be well managed to slow the progression of symptoms and extend the length and quality of life.
In-Home Care with Alliance Senior Care allows you to live better, longer with heart failure
HF/CHF can make everyday activities more difficult and cause common symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and cough.
One thing that can make a big difference is the support of family, friends, and/or professional home caregivers who understand heart failure, its warning signs, and HF/CHF management. There are many things an individual can do at home to feel better and live longer.
Ways to Manage Heart Failure at Home
Daily management of this chronic disease is important not only to feel as good as possible but to prevent adverse events, serious complications, and recurring hospitalizations. Vital signs must be checked every day, and specific lifestyle changes can help individuals with HF/CHF continue to enjoy a full, independent life.
Alliance Senior care In-Home Care can help with managing these Steps:
- Monitor Your Weight and Weigh yourself Daily.
Sudden weight gain is one of the first signs of new or worsening heart failure. It means you are retaining fluid. Weigh yourself after the first urination of the day, every day, and keep a record. If you gain three or more pounds in one day, or five or more pounds in one week, call your doctor right away, because they can intervene with treatment that can prevent an adverse event or hospitalization.
- Monitoring blood pressure.
Over time, high blood pressure puts a strain on your heart. Ask your doctor or nurse for advice on which monitor is best and how to use it.
- Reduce salt intake.
Limiting salt is the #1 dietary recommendation for people with HF/CHF. Choose healthy, whole foods and avoid unhealthy items like bacon, canned soup, fried foods, salted butter, and fast food. Resist the urge to pick up the salt shaker, too.
- Take medications as directed.
It’s critical for people with heart failure to take medications as prescribed by their doctor. Reminders can be a big help.
- Be comfortable and dress loosely in layers.
Avoid clothes that can restrict blood flow from the lower part of your body to your heart, especially socks or hosiery with a tight band at the top. Controlling your body temperature is also important in managing heart failure. Dress in layers so you can add or remove clothing as needed to stay comfortable.
- Develop good sleep habits.
Congestive heart failure makes getting good rest even more critical. People with heart failure have a high incidence of sleep-disordered breathing, and as heart failure worsens, so does the frequency of sleep apnea. It’s important to manage both conditions.
How Alliance Senior Care Can Help Your Loved One
Professional home health care services are an extension of your doctor’s care and the most cost-effective way to ensure that heart failure is comprehensively managed on a regular basis.
If you have heart failure, Alliance Senior Care can help you with:
- Managing diet and lifestyle changes with Nutrition Support
- Giving medication reminders and managing medication schedules
- Monitoring vital signs and changes in symptoms such as swelling, heart rate or palpitations, cough or wheezing.
- Providing respiratory therapies and ensuring that oxygen and medical supplies are always available
- Helping with getting to and from Doctor’s appointments
- Providing support and education for client and family members about chronic illness and the purpose, side effects, and interactions of medications
To learn more about how In-Home Care can help improve your loved ones’ quality of life, call Alliance Senior Care at 248-274-2170. It’s not just In-Home Care, it is Integrated Care.
Home Care are an excellent resource for family caregivers and seniors alike.
Alliance Senior Care Home Care services offer a wide range of services providing healthcare, daily living assistance, transportation to and from Doctor’s appointments and tailored care services for additional circumstances.