Living with heart failure

On this page: 

• Heart failure explained 
• Heart failure treatments 
• Dealing with medicine side effects 
• Managing heart failure symptoms 
• Exercising with heart failure
• Working with heart failure 
• Heart failure and sex
• Coping with worry and low mood 

Heart failure explained

The main job of your heart is to pump blood that carries oxygen around your body. Heart failure is when your heart cannot do this as well as it should.

This can sound alarming, but it does not mean your heart is not working. It’s better to think of it as not working as well as it should, so you need some support to help it work better.

The main symptoms of heart failure are:

• feeling tired and breathless, either while resting or when active
• swollen stomach, feet, ankles, or legs
• feeling dizzy or lightheaded.

While there is no cure for heart failure, there are ways to manage the condition so you feel as well as you can.

Heart failure treatments

Once you have been diagnosed with heart failure, your doctor will talk to you about treatments that will help your heart to work better.

The most common treatment for heart failure is medicines.

Most heart failure medicines work by lowering your blood pressure or heart rate to help your heart pump blood around the body.

They include:

• ACE inhibitors, which widen your blood vessels. This reduces how hard your heart has to work and improves blood flow to your heart. Different types of ACE inhibitors include ramipril, captopril, enalapril, fosinopril, lisinopril, perindopril and quinapril.
• Entresto, is a combination of two medicines called sacubitril and valsartan that work in a similar way to ACE inhibitors.
• Beta blockers, slow down your heart rate and reduces how hard your heart has to work.
• Water tablets, also called diuretics. They help your body get rid of excess water, which is a symptom of heart failure.

There are other medicines your doctor may suggest. You may need to take more than 1 medicine.

Other treatments for heart failure include a pacemaker or an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD).

These are small electrical devices placed under the skin in your chest that send electrical impulses to control your heart rate or rhythm.

Some people with heart failure may also have surgery to improve blood flow or fix a faulty valve in the heart. 

Dealing with medicine side effects

If you are given medicine to manage your heart failure, your doctor or specialist heart failure nurse will start you on a low dose and increase it until they get the best results for you.

However, like all medicines, they can cause side effects, such as feeling lightheaded and dizzy.

If you experience any side effects, do not just stop taking your medicines. Instead, discuss these side effects with your nurse, GP or cardiologist. They may suggest taking a lower dose or taking a different medicine.

Getting the right balance and dose of your medicine is important so you can feel as well as possible. However, be aware that this can take time.

Diuretics work differently to other heart failure medicines. They reduce the build-up of fluid in your body, which happens when your heart is not working properly, by helping the kidneys get rid of excess water in your pee.

Normally you will be advised to take your diuretics at a time that means you do not have to get up too often in the night.

If you have a day out planned, think about the best time to take them so you do not need to pee as often, and check with your nurse or doctor that they are happy with the plan.

Managing heart failure symptoms

Heart failure, and the medicines for it, can make you feel tired and breathless.

This happens when the fluid builds up in the lungs because your heart is not pumping as well as it should.

You may find that you’re more out of breath when you’re doing activities such as walking or going upstairs. It’s important to pace yourself by breaking up your activities with rest.

If you have a busier day than usual planned, make sure you give yourself time to rest on the days before and after.

Propping yourself up in bed with pillows at night may also help your breathing.

Asking for help from family and friends can be difficult at first, but you may find they’re happy to pitch in with day-to-day tasks such as shopping, cooking or running errands.

Keep track of your energy levels with our fatigue diary.

Exercising with heart failure

It can be harder to exercise if you’re dealing with tiredness or shortness of breath, but it can still be possible to stay active.

Exercising within your limits is good for your heart and can improve your energy levels. Activity can help boost your mood too.

Make sure to speak to your doctor before starting a new exercise and pace yourself. You may have to start at a lower level than you are used to.

Learn more about exercising with heart failure. 

Working with heart failure

You should be able to continue to work if you feel well enough.

You may need to speak to your employer about making some changes, such as working shorter hours or moving to a different role. Find out more about returning to work with a heart condition.

If your role involves a lot of physical activity, you may need to think about changing your job.

Some roles, such as pilots, bus and lorry drivers, or positions in the armed forces, have rules about working with long-term heart conditions.

If you have financial worries, you can talk to the Citizens Advice Bureau or your local Jobcentre Plus to find out what benefits you are entitled to.

Heart failure and sex

It’s normal to feel anxious about having sex if you have a heart condition. You might feel tired and lethargic and may not feel you have enough energy for sex.

There are things you can do, such as having sex at times of the day when you have more energy. You could also try out different positions to find the most comfortable for you. It can help to be honest and open with your partner about how you feel.

You can talk to your doctor or nurse about sex as well. This may seem difficult at first, but they’re used to talking about sex and relationships, and many people feel glad they’ve started the conversation with their healthcare professional.

Find out more about sex and heart conditions.

Coping with worry and low mood

It’s natural to feel worried, stressed or to experience low mood after being diagnosed with heart failure. 

Your work or family life may change, or you may have worries about money, or about the future. There are many things you can do to help:

• Talking to loved ones and friends about your feelings and finding ways to manage stress can help. 
• If you can, getting out of the house, doing activities you enjoy and seeing your friends can help to lift your mood.
• You may decide to join a local heart support group where you can share your experiences with others. 

Find out more about online and in-person support groups.

Help and support

• Contact our Heart Helpline to speak to one of our cardiac nurses.
• Read expert tips on living with fatigue.
• Find emotional support if you're living with a heart condition.