Heart failure: Keeping a daily record of your symptoms
Tracking your heart failure symptoms every day can help you see changes, know when to call your doctor, and be in charge of your health. These suggestions can help you do it.
- Choose a way to track symptoms.
Find a method that works for you. Use a calendar, a notebook, a computer, or an app on your phone.
- Keep track of your symptoms every day.
Make a note of your symptoms. Are any of them worse, better, or new? Common symptoms include shortness of breath, swelling in your ankles and legs, a cough, a low energy level, and stomach bloating.
- Record how you're feeling.
Track whether you're feeling better or worse each day.
- Learn to recognize symptom changes.
It can be hard to notice small changes, especially if you have other health problems with similar symptoms. As you think about your symptoms, it can help to keep these questions in mind:
- How are you feeling today?
- Is it harder to catch your breath than usual?
- Are you having to prop yourself up at night with more pillows to breathe easier?
- Are you more tired than normal?
- Are your feet and ankles more swollen, or does your belly seem puffy?
- Check your symptom plan.
This is sometimes called a heart failure zone plan. Be sure you have a plan from your doctor. Compare your symptoms with your plan. See if you are doing okay or if you have symptoms that mean you should call your doctor or get emergency help.
- Record activities that could be triggers.
If a symptom changed from the day before, note anything that you ate or did that could have triggered these changes. For example, did you exercise too hard? Did you forget to take your medicine? Did you eat a salty meal?
- Take your symptom record to doctor visits.
Your record can help you and your doctor see how well your treatment is working or if you need changes. Your doctor can also help you find triggers that make your symptoms worse. Then you can try to avoid those triggers.
Why track your symptoms when you have heart failure?
There are many good reasons to track your weight and symptoms when you have heart failure. For example, it can help you to:
- Learn when your heart failure symptoms are changing.
- Connect what you do (or don't do) with how you feel.
- Have a sense of control.
- Give your doctor a clear idea of how well treatment is working.
- Know when it's time to get help.
Take some time to think about why, how, and when you might track. What would be a good reason for you to track your symptoms and how you feel overall?
What would be the easiest way to do it?
- A paper calendar?
- A notebook?
- A computer or an app?
When could you start?
How can you track your symptoms when you have heart failure?
Weigh yourself each morning, after you go to the bathroom, but before you eat or drink. Wear the same thing or nothing each time. Write down your weight and how you feel each day. Include any symptoms, like swelling or feeling tired or short of breath. Follow your action plan if your symptoms change.
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