Living well with heart failure: small actions, big impact

Mairead Lehane

Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Cardiovascular Integrated Care Cork

Norma Caples

Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Heart Failure

A diagnosis of heart failure can feel overwhelming, but with the right support and information, it is possible to live well.

Heart failure doesn’t mean your entire heart is failing. It means your heart isn’t pumping blood as well as it should, which can lead to fluid building up. This can cause symptoms like breathlessness, tiredness or sudden weight gain.

Telephone-based heart support

The Irish Heart Foundation’s Heart Connect Service offers telephone-based support that complements your usual medical care. It helps people cope with the emotional side of heart failure and gives simple, practical advice on managing symptoms, taking medications, eating well and knowing when to ask for help. It also helps people find local and community support.

Structured care pathways for heart failure

As healthcare pathways improve, your healthcare team may depend on how stable your condition is. Those most unwell may start in hospital, then move to specialist clinics, integrated care and finally, to GP care. If you’ve been diagnosed with heart failure but haven’t attended a heart failure clinic, ask your GP about a referral to your local clinic or Integrated Care Hub for a full review of your condition and treatment.

The Chronic Disease Management Programme offers six-monthly check-ups at the GP practice for those with a medical card or GP visit card. This service is for adults over 45 with certain conditions, including heart failure. These structured visits support early detection and long-term health.

Heart failure doesn’t mean your entire
heart is failing. It means your heart
isn’t pumping blood as well as it should.

Day-to-day self-checks and symptom awareness

That’s where the Irish Heart Foundation’s ‘Take 3 Beats’ tool comes in. It’s a simple way to stay on top of your heart failure. Each day, ask yourself: (1) Have I taken my medication? (2) Have I weighed myself? (3) How am I feeling today?

Noticing changes in your weight, breathing, energy or mood can help catch early signs of fluid buildup. If you’re concerned, call your heart failure clinic or GP. Acting early can help prevent hospital stays and keep you well. You’re not alone. With tools like Take 3 Beats and support from the Irish Heart Foundation’s Heart Connect Service, living well with heart failure isn’t just possible; it’s the goal.