Questions to Ask Your Doctor of Nurse About Your Heart Failure Symptoms

Following Your Heart Failure Treatment Plan

Questions to Ask Your Doctor or Nurse

Question: Am I a candidate for a flexible diuretic (water pill) regimen? (A flexible diuretic regimen is one in which you adjust your water pill dose up or down as needed based on your weight.)

Reason for asking this question: Some patients can monitor their heart failure symptoms well and can tell when they need a little higher dose of their water pill. They are very attuned to their bodies, weigh themselves routinely, and pay close attention to changes in their symptoms.

If you can do these things, your doctor may direct you to take an extra diuretic (water pill), when you gain a specified amount of weight.

Do not do this on your own, because the regimen varies for every person. But, if you believe that you are a candidate for a flexible diuretic (water pill) regimen, ask your doctor.

Question: How much alcohol can I drink?

Reason for asking this question: Alcohol can damage the cells of the heart and make it harder for your heart to pump blood. If you have heart failure, your heart is already pumping less effectively. So it makes sense not to drink alcohol at all or to drink sparingly.

To drink sparingly means to drink less than 2-3 standard drinks/week. One standard drink is a drink containing 12 grams of alcohol, which usually means 1 can of beer (12 ounces), 1 glass of wine (4 ounces), or 1 shot glass (1.5 ounces) of spirits.

Talk to your doctor or nurse if you have questions about alcohol consumption.

Question: Should I have a flu shot this year? What about the pneumonia vaccine?

Reason for asking this question: Caring for yourself is all about balance. The goal is to stay well rather than to treat problems. One way to stay well is to avoid getting the flu or pneumonia. Safe vaccines (shots) that can keep you from getting sick are available.

Get a flu shot every year. Ask your doctor or nurse if you should get the pneumonia vaccine too.