By making lifestyle and activity changes, you can take
an active role in treating your heart failure and can help improve your health.
Now that I feel better, when can I return to my regular activities?
You can resume your regular activities as soon as you
feel better, but follow your doctor’s or nurse’s activity guidelines. Increase
your activities slowly and always listen to your body so you know when it’s time
to take a rest break.
Returning to work.
If you have been in the hospital for your heart
failure, your doctor or nurse will tell you how soon you can return to work
after you go home. Your return to work will be based on your overall health,
symptoms and your rate of recovery.
You should try to work as long as you are able. If you
have a job that requires a lot of physical work, you may need to change some of
your job-related activities. This may involve job re-training or taking
disability.
Talk to your doctor or nurse about the type of job you
have. Your doctor can help you decide if your job will affect your heart
condition and if you need to make changes.
Plan periods of rest.
Be sure to get plenty of rest. You may need to plan at
least one rest period every day. When you rest, keep your feet up to keep the
swelling down. Also make sure that you rest during any non-work activities.
Conserve your energy.
Using less energy with daily tasks can help you have
more energy to do more activities during the day. You may need to cut down on
some of your activities or use energy-saving devices or techniques. If daily
self care or home care activities are too tiring, discuss this with your doctor
or nurse.
Here are some energy-conserving tips:
- Simplify your tasks and set realistic goals. Don’t
think you have to do things the same way you’ve always done them.
- Plan your activities (chores, exercise, and
recreation) ahead of time. Do not schedule too
many things to do in one day. Do the things that take more energy when you are
feeling your best.
- If necessary, rest before and after activities.
- If you become tired during an activity, stop and
rest. You may need to finish it on another day or when you feel less tired.
- Do not plan activities right after a meal.
- Get a good night’s sleep. Be careful not to nap too
much during the day or you might not be able to sleep at night.
- Ask for help. Divide
the tasks among family and friends.
- If needed, use devices and tools that assist you
such as a walker, shower chair, hand-held shower head, bedside commode, or
long-handled tools for dressing (such as a dressing stick, shoe horn or sock donner).
- Wear clothes that have zippers and buttons in the
front so you don’t have to reach behind you.
- Do all of your grooming (shaving, drying your hair,
etc.) while sitting.
- If your doctor or nurse says it’s ok, you may climb
steps. You may need to rest part of the way if you become tired. Try to arrange
your activities so you do not have to climb up and down stairs many times during
the day.
- Avoid extreme physical activity. Do not push, pull,
or lift heavy objects (more than 10 pounds) that require you to strain.