Heart failure, also called congestive heart failure, is a serious condition that refers to the heart's inability to pump blood effectively. Narrowed arteries from atherosclerosis and long-standing high blood pressure can put stress on the heart and weaken it. Currently, as of 2010, around 5 million Americans suffer from heart failure, notes the Cleveland Clinic. Heart failure causes a backup of blood in the heart, which leads to a host of symptoms, including edema. Edema is the retention of fluid around the heart and in the lower legs and feet. Heart failure treatment typically includes a diuretic, or water pill, to eliminate excess fluid, but diuretics can cause the loss of potassium as well.
Step 1
Schedule an appointment with your physician to have your potassium levels checked. Heart failure treatment typically includes a diuretic medication, which can deplete potassium levels. Your physician will order a blood test to check your potassium.
Step 2
Inquire about taking a potassium supplement. Diuretics lower blood pressure by eliminating sodium and water from the body, taking potassium along with them. If your potassium levels are too low, your physician may recommend taking a potassium supplement. Several different types of potassium supplements are available as a tablet, capsule, liquid or powder. Many multivitamins contain potassium. Ask your doctor which supplement is best for you.
Step 3
Eat plenty of foods that are high in potassium. To combat decreased potassium levels, your doctor may recommend eating foods high in potassium. Those foods include bananas, orange juice, cantaloupes, tomatoes, avocados, potatoes, spinach and lima beans. Salmon, cod, flounder and chicken also contain a good amount of potassium.
Step 4
Know your potassium levels. Your doctor will check your potassium levels on a regular basis. Potassium is an important electrolyte that is necessary for the body to function properly. Potassium helps regulate your fluid balance and aids in the conduction of nerve impulses and muscle contraction, including the heart muscle. Low levels of potassium can cause an irregular heartbeat.
Step 5
Ask your doctor about taking potassium-sparing diuretics for heart failure. Potassium-sparing diuretics do not cause a significant loss of potassium through excretion. The potassium-sparing medications include spironolactone, eplerenone and triamterene. There are also combination medications comprising two types of diuretics that do not cause the loss of potassium, such as the spironolactone-hydrochlorothiazide combination.
Things You'll Need
- Appointment with physician
- Blood test results
- Potassium supplement
- Potassium-containing foods
- Potassium-sparing diuretics
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