Heart failure usually cannot be cured and you will likely have to take medication for the rest of your life. It is important that you know that your symptoms may get worse over time. As your symptoms get worse, you may not be able to do many of the things that you did before you had heart failure.
Treatment can relieve your symptoms and make it easier to do some of the things that you like to do. Treatment can also reduce the chance that you will have to go to the hospital. For these reasons, it is very important that you follow your treatment plan. You must:
Take all of your medications as your doctor prescribed
Make all of the lifestyle changes recommended by your doctor
Keep all of your doctor's appointments.
Common causes of worsening of symptoms that can lead to a crisis or even a hospital visit are:
Forgetting to take your medicines
Not following your diet (such as eating salty foods)
