Fitting your Heart Failure Action Plan into your life

[MUSIC PLAYING]

A heart failure plan is a written guide that helps you manage your condition and tells you what to do in your heart failure is under control,

when symptoms are getting worse, and when you're having an emergency. Think about it like any other healthy habit just like choosing a salad instead of fries or water

instead of a soda. It's important to review your heart failure plan at least once a year with your doctor or when your symptoms or treatment

changes. A heart failure plan is generally broken into three sections-- green, yellow, and red kind of like a stoplight.

You're in the green zone when your heart failure is controlled. Your weight and breathing are stable. You can do daily activities and don't

have signs of other illness. The green zone means all clear. It contains your daily heart failure plan,

how to take your meds as directed, and how often to check your weight and blood pressure. You'll also see reminders to help manage your heart failure

like checking your feet, hands, and waist for swelling, managing stress, and following lifestyle advice. You're in the yellow zone when your heart failure symptoms

are worsening. Your heart failure may be getting worse. And you may need to change your add medication. The yellow zone means caution.

It contains a sick plan, which tells you to continue your prescribed meds and what symptoms of worsening heart failure to watch out for.

It also contains a warning zone. Call your doctor right away if you have urgent symptoms like trouble breathing.

The red zone is the emergency zone. It means call 9-1-1 now. It gives you information on emergency symptoms

that mean get help now like a sudden increase in difficulty breathing, fainting, or chest discomfort unrelieved

by rest or medication. Your heart failure plan also has a section where you can write questions for your health care provider and a lifestyle section with tips

on healthy eating and exercising with heart failure. [MUSIC PLAYING]