The staff at the hospital should provide you with information to help you manage
your heart failure symptoms when you are discharged.
Why this is important:
Heart failure is a chronic condition. It results in symptoms such as shortness of
breath, dizziness, and fatigue. Before you leave the hospital, the staff at the
hospital should provide you with information to help you manage the symptoms after
you return home.
The information should include your:
- Activity level (what you can and can't do)
- Diet (what you should and shouldn't eat or drink)
- Medications
- Follow-up appointment
- Daily weight management
- Actions to do if your symptoms worsen.
The chart above shows the percentage of heart failure patients that were given symptom-management instructions when they were discharged from the hospital.