Lifestyle Modification
Although medications are important in the management of heart failure, dietary
and lifestyle changes are essential and recommended to all patients with CHF.
Most of these recommendations are based upon observational studies and
physiologic common sense rationale. Some of the recommendations are:
Smoking Cessation
Dietary restriction of sodium to approximately 2 to 3 grams per day (less
in some cases) to decrease fluid retention
Restriction of alcohol consumption to 1 to 2 standard drinks in men and 1
in women
Indefinite abstinence from alcohol consumption if alcohol is thought to be
the culprit of the heart failure
Daily weight monitoring to detect early fluid accumulation before
symptoms develop in order to prevent the need for hospitalization
Obese people with heart failure should be encouraged to lose weight, with
the target goal of weight within 10% of lean body mass
Routine modest aerobic exercise in stable patients, preferably in a cardiac
rehabilitation program