Module 4 Pull Down Navigation - Select a Page to View ------------------- Introduction Taking Charge of Heart Failure Following Your Treatment Plan Barriers to Following Your Treatment Plan Overcoming Barriers to Treatment Tips for Taking All of Your Medicines as Prescribed Tips for Exercising Regularly Tips for Following Your Diet Other Tips for Following Your Treatment Plan Managing Your Symptoms Urgent Symptoms: When to Call Your Doctor of Nurse Early Symptoms of Heart Failure Tracking Your Symptoms Monitor Your Weight and Body Swelling Daily Download a Weight Chart in PDF Format Treat Weight Gain and Swelling Right Away Prevent Fatigue From Interfering with Your Life Questions to Ask Your Doctor or Nurse Other Questions and Answers About Self-Care Learn More About Heart Failure

Tracking Your Symptoms

It is important to keep track of your heart failure symptoms, so that you can recognize when they are getting worse or whether you are developing new ones.

You may use the chart available on this page to list each of your symptoms. Then rate each one on a scale from 1 to 5 based on how you felt last week:

• If a symptom was mild, then rate it as a 1.
• If a symptom was severe, then rate it as a 5.
• If it was somewhere between mild and severe, then give it a 2, 3 or 4 rating.

Example of a Symptom Tracking Chart

Click here for a printable version of this table to keep track of your symptoms.

Using a tracking system like this can help you tell whether your symptoms are getting better or worse, because you will have something concrete to compare them to.

If any of your symptoms are getting worse, contact your doctor or nurse.