Hydralazine / Nitrate Combination Therapy
This drug combination may be recommended for patients who cannot tolerate standard medication therapy because of side effects or kidney problems . Your doctor may choose to use two separate pills or prescribe BiDil ®, a fixed-dose drug that combines hydralazine and isosorbide dinitrate . This treatment specifically benefits African-Americans with heart failure .
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Channel Inhibitor
Ivabradine ( Corlanor ®) is a medication used for certain people with heart failure . It slows the heart rate and helps the heart pump more blood .
Being Active
People with heart failure can be active . The goal is to help you function at your best and be as active as you can be .
There are different ways of being active : �
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Daily activities , such as taking care of yourself and your home
Activities outside your home , such as shopping , visiting friends , and working
� Regular exercise , such as walking 30 minutes a day
Being active helps keep your body healthy . When you are active and can take care of yourself and your home , you will feel better about yourself .
Planning Your Day
Having heart failure may have changed your routine , but with planning you can still have an active life . Decide what time of day you feel best . Some people feel better in the morning , others later in the day . Plan your activities for when you feel good .
You should have frequent rest breaks when you are busy so you don ’ t become too tired .
Talk with your doctor if you need assistance completing daily activities and ask for a list of community resources .
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Ask a family member or friend to take you shopping so you don ’ t have to drive or carry shopping bags .
Use a kitchen stool to sit on when cooking and washing dishes .
In the kitchen , place heavy and often-used plates and pots on shelves at waist level .
� When doing an activity while standing , such as folding clothes , do the work at waist level so you don ’ t have to reach or bend .
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If there are stairs in the house , plan ahead to reduce the number of trips up and down .
If you get tired when taking a shower , sit on a plastic chair in the shower . Use hand rails to get in and out of the shower .
Do not become upset if you get tired quickly . Gaining strength to do activities without being tired takes time . Talk to your doctor to see if a medication or another reason could be causing you to be tired .
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