title: Self-care management of heart failure: practical recommendations from the Patient Care Committee of the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology.
abstract: Guidelines on heart failure (HF) stress the importance of lifestyle advice, although there is little evidence that such recommendations improve symptoms or prognosis. Patients experience symptoms of different intensities which impair their daily activities and reduce the quality-of-life. To cope with their clinical condition, many patients seek advice about lifestyle and self-management strategies when in contact with medical care providers, particularly specialized HF services. Self-care management is an important part of HF treatment, thus health professionals working with patients with HF have recognized the need for more specific recommendations on lifestyle advice. The present paper summarizes the available evidence, promotes self-care management, and aims to provide practical advice for health professionals delivering care to HF patients. It also defines avenues of research to optimize self-care strategies in a number of key areas to derive further benefits.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, University Clinic of Respiratory and Allergic Diseases Golnik, Golnik 36 SI-4204 Golnik, Slovenia. mitja.lainscak@guest.arnes.sl
authors.forename: Mitja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lainscak
authors.forename: Lynda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Blue
authors.forename: Andrew L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dahlström
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dickstein
authors.forename: Inger
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ekman
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McDonagh
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: McMurray
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ryder
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Strömberg
authors.forename: Tiny
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jaarsma
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D005791:Patient Care / Q000592:standards*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012648:Self Care / Q000592:standards*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012955:Societies, Medical