Coping with a diagnosis of heart failure
To start with, having heart failure can be upsetting and overwhelming. In the longer term, coming to terms with heart failure can be hard. This is normal but, in some people, can lead to depression.
If you are noticing that you are feeling anxious or down, it is important and always helpful to speak to someone about this. Unless you tell them, your friends and family may not realise the impact that the diagnosis of heart failure has had on you.
Your GP, practice nurse and heart failure team are all good people to turn to. They will be aware of the potential effect a diagnosis of heart failure can have and will be able to support you. They may be also be able to direct you to other sources of help such as counselling or other types of psychological support such as patient or peer support groups.
Eating healthily, having a healthy weight and doing physical activity will improve your general health and often makes people feel better in themselves. Mindfulness, relaxation, meditation and yoga have all helped people struggling with the psychological impact of having heart failure.
Work
Many people with heart failure can continue to work. If you have a very physical or stressful job, you may need to make some changes to what you do or the hours you work. It is a good idea to discuss this with both your healthcare team and your employer. Informing your employer early and keeping them up to date with your progress can allow time for any adjustments to be made.
Driving
You need to inform the DVLA if you have symptoms of heart failure and those symptoms:
- affect your ability to drive safely
- distract you when driving
- happen when you’re not doing any activity (‘at rest’)
Once the symptoms have improved you are still not allowed to drive for a further month and then only if your doctor tells you it’s safe. If the symptoms continue, the DVLA will investigate and advise on whether you can still drive.
The rules on driving depend on what sort of driving licence you have. The rules do change from time to time, so it is worth checking with the DVLA.
It is also important to tell your motor insurance company about your diagnosis otherwise your insurance may not be valid.
Holidays
Holidays are an excellent way to unwind and reduce stress levels. Having heart failure should not be a barrier to enjoying a holiday. However, it is sensible to put some thought into planning your trip. Some things to think about are:
Where are you planning to go? Depending on your fitness and symptoms, you may need to avoid places at high altitude or place with lots of hills very hot or very cold countries. You may also want to ensure that your accommodation is close to shops and facilities.
How are you planning to get there? If you are planning to fly; are you safe to do so? If you have only recently been diagnosed or are having quite a lot of symptoms, you should discuss this with your healthcare team before you book a flight
What are you planning to do? If your holidays usually involve a lot of activity, you may need to have a think about how much of that activity you will be able to do.
What about medication? It is always worth taking more medication than you are going to need in case any goes missing. It is also very useful to also carry a list of everything that you currently take.
Sex
Many people worry that having heart failure will affect their sex life. However, for most people there is no reason why having heart failure should get in the way of an enjoyable sex life.
Sex is a form of physical activity, so it is sensible to start slowly and not have sex immediately after a large meal. If your heart failure is due to coronary heart disease, it is also worth having GTN tablets or spray nearby.
Some men notice difficulty getting an erection. There are lots of causes of this and it is always worth discussing with your healthcare team. There are some medications to help with erections, but these need some care as they are not safe for everybody and can have an effect on other medication you may be taking.
