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Practical tips for heart failure

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nazmul
Practical tips for heart failure

Sleep well, get up and drive to work. Or enjoy vacation. Very normal when you didn't have heart failure. But now that your heart is no longer functioning properly, you need to rethink what is possible.

At work

With proper treatment of heart failure, you can usually continue to work. This does depend on the seriousness of the heart failure and the type of work. Discuss problems with performing your work with your company doctor. Sometimes it is better to work fewer hours, divide the hours differently or adjust your work.

On holiday

When planning your vacation, you have to take into account what your heart can handle. Try to tailor your travel plans to your situation. With mild heart failure you can often do everything as usual. In severe heart failure, the options are more limited. If in doubt, discuss your holiday plans with your doctor or cardiologist.

Flying is usually not a problem. Staying at altitude (above 1500 meters) and in hot and humid areas is not recommended. Always consult your cardiologist if you do want to go there. Especially if you still have minor complaints despite medication.

Driving

Whether you are allowed to drive depends on the severity of the heart failure. If you have severe heart failure, you are no longer allowed to drive. In mild heart failure, it depends on the type of driver's license you have. Stricter rules apply to professional drivers than to private drivers.

The CBR determines your fitness to drive. You must complete a health declaration for this. If you answer one or more questions with 'yes', you must see a doctor for a driver's license examination. Usually you can choose this yourself, for example your GP or cardiologist. The doctor completes the health declaration and sends it to the CBR.

To sleep

If you suffer from bouts of shortness of breath and coughing (stimulating cough) at night, sleep on more pillows so that your head is a little higher. This usually helps to reduce the coughing attacks.

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