Chronic Heart Failure - A Primary Health Care Checklist

The type of medicine prescribed depends on many factors, especially the cause and nature of the heart failure.

The NHS has developed an excellent guide to heart failure treatment.

The British Heart Foundation also has a good overview of medication for heart problems.

It is important to appreciate that medicines which treat chronic heart failure can cause significant side effects, including dehydration, low blood pressure, and even kidney problems.

For this reason, if there are any changes to your parent’s heart failure medicines, then they should be reviewed by a health care professional within 2 weeks.

People with heart failure are usually reviewed at least every 6 months (more frequently if medicines are altered – see above) to ensure that the medicines are working effectively and there are no problems or side effects.

A review usually explores:
a) whether there has been any deterioration,
b) whether the medications should be changed,
c) if any other procedures or interventions should be considered,
d) whether referral to another member of the multidisciplinary team is needed

These programmes can help to prevent heart failure from worsening, reduce the risk of future heart problems and improve quality of life.

They include help and support with taking exercise, understanding the condition and lifestyle advice.

If your parent is well enough to attend, and their chronic heart failure is stable, a suitable exercise-based programme of cardiac rehabilitation can be arranged.

This British Heart Foundation booklet will help you understand more about cardiac rehabilitation programmes.

Helping a parent with chronic heart failure is much easier if they have a care plan. Care plans are recommended and you can request one – they usually cover:

a) plans for managing the problem, including arrangements for follow-up, rehabilitation and any social care
b) symptoms to look out for in case of deterioration
c) how to access specialist care if it is needed in future
d) how to find more information about heart failure

People with heart failure should be offered:
a) Annual flu vaccine (new injection every year usually autumn)
b) Pneumococcal vaccine (once only injection at any time of year)
c) COVID vaccine at intervals determined by evolving national policies