Heart failure: lifestyle and dietary rules to follow

Heart failure can follow simple rules of hygiene life to avoid worsening of their condition, according to a practice to document patients issued by the Regional Union of Health Insurance Funds (URCAM) Ile-de- France.
Heart failure is a very common condition that affects between 0.4 and 2% of the general population in Europe (one million people in France), with an increasing trend can be explained in part by the increased longevity.

We talk to heart failure when the heart can no longer provide its pump working properly. This lack of "pumping" leads to water retention in the body that causes shortness of breath, fatigue, cough and edema (at the ankles and lungs).

An investigation into the management of this disease produced by the Regional Union of Health Insurance Funds (URCAM) Ile-de-France showed that nearly 6% of patients forget to take their treatment and they 35% are to be late. Only 11% of heart failure weigh themselves once a month and most importantly, a little more than one in two patients continued to salt the cooking water.

This led the URCAM to develop a simple leaflet outlining practical advice given to the patient by the physician.

Firstly, it is recalled that must take medication daily respecting doses and times taken. Do not stop treatment on vacation or when you feel good. Do not take other medicines without consulting their doctor.

"Stop salt on the plate," as also the flyer. It is particularly important to avoid foods high in salt as aperitif biscuits, crisps, bread and crackers, sausages, cured meats, preserves, ready meals, pizzas, prepared fish, cheeses, shellfish or yet soft saline waters.

To eat well without salt, URCAM lists some ideas: use spices to add flavor without salt, eat fruits that are among the least salt foods, toast bread or replace it with crackers without salt, cook steamed vegetables or water with a low volume so as not to dilute the flavors too.

The brochure also lists the warning signs of worsening shortness of breath, swelling of the ankles and legs, rapid weight gain, fatigue, palpitations, chest pain, cough.