Living with heart failure
Depending on how far your condition has progressed by the time you are diagnosed, and how soon you start receiving care, treatment and making any necessary lifestyle changes, you may be able to delay the progression of your heart failure.1
If you have been diagnosed with heart failure, we want to assure you that it is perfectly normal to feel anxious, afraid or alone. But it is important to remember you are not alone.
Due to COVID-19, it may be more difficult to visit your specialist team in person, but it is important for you to know how to seek medical help, if needed. There may be different solutions in place such as virtual consultations.
Knowing how to look after yourself and monitor your condition is essential. Keeping track of your symptoms is one important aspect of this. Use the symptom tracker here to monitor your condition.
Once your diagnosis is confirmed, you might be introduced to a specialist heart failure team, which is known as a multidisciplinary team or MDT, who often work with your primary care team (e.g., your GP). Heart failure teams and their individual roles may vary in different areas.
Specialist teams can include:2
A DOCTOR
A specialist
heart failure nurse
A healthcare professional
If the specialist team needs to involve other people in your care, they will let you know who you will see and why.
Your heart failure specialist may be a cardiologist, a specialist heart failure nurse (hospital or community) or a pharmacist.
Even if the primary care team looks after your routine management, there are certain situations where the specialist MDT might be best placed to provide care. This won’t always be the case, so sometimes your primary care team will continue to provide full management of your care.
Examples include optimising treatment, initiating therapies that require specialist supervision, referral to other services such as cardiac rehabilitation and others
Your team should also make sure your condition is regularly monitored. The frequency of monitoring will depend on how stable your condition is but should be at least every six months.2 This may be done as part of a long-term conditions review if you have any other chronic conditions.
Your HCP team should create your care plan. A care plan includes:
You should seek medical support from your GP or HCP team if you’ve noticed any of the symptoms associated with heart failure. If you’re already diagnosed, you should seek support if you notice any deterioration or change in your symptoms.
Sunil, Sandra, Bob and Ruth have all had a heart failure diagnosis. Read each of their stories to find out the impact heart failure has had on their lives and discover what they have been doing to fight the condition.
In August 2018, Sandra returned from participating in a theatre production in the US and began to struggle with breathlessness on the final leg of her journey from Victoria Station. During her first night’s sleep she experienced excessive sweating which continued for a week. This did not cause major concern for Sandra, but she decided to visit her local GP just in case. Read Sandra’s story to find out more about the impact of heart failure.
Sandra's StorySunil lived with heart failure for over six years. Watch his documentary or read his story to learn about his experiences and the impact heart failure had on his and his family’s lives.
Sunil's StoryIn 2009, Bob from Leeds was diagnosed with heart failure. He was participating in a Crown Green Bowling match as Captain of his local team when he began to feel faint and experienced an arrhythmic episode. Following a visit to his GP, he attended a consultation with his local cardiologist. Living with heart failure has become a continuance of the cardiovascular challenges Bob has lived with for almost his entire life. Read more of Bob’s story now.
Bob's StoryDuring April 2016, Ruth was 28 weeks pregnant and seemingly feeling the ‘normal’ effects of pregnancy with feelings of sickness, exhaustion and breathlessness, in addition to a constant cough and trouble sleeping. Symptoms were put down to potential pregnancy anaemia and general working life. Read Ruth’s story to discover her diagnosis of heart failure and the impact on her life.
Ruth's StoryReferences
UK | July 2023 | 131154-1
Fighting Failure is a disease awareness campaign that has been developed and funded by Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd.
© 2023 Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd.
Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Limited is a private limited liability company registered in England and Wales under number 119006 Registered office 2nd Floor, The WestWorks Building, White City Place, 195 Wood Lane, London, W12 7FQ.
Reporting side effects
If you get side-effects with any medication you are taking, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the information leaflet that comes in the pack. You can report side effects via the Yellow Card Scheme at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/ (UK). By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of your medication.
UK | August 2024 | 215197-2
Help us raise awareness
I’ve just learnt about the impact heart failure has in the UK. I’m sharing this so we can all fight heart failure together to improve care across the UK.
Fighting Failure is a disease awareness campaign that has been developed and funded by Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd.
#FIGHTINGFAILURE