CHSS Advice Line
No one should have to recover alone. We’re here to support you with our services, resources and health information.
Access our services
Our Hospital to Home services are here to help you recover well at home and give you the support you need to live life to the full.
Download resources
Find out more about your health condition and discover tips for staying well with our Essential Guides, available to download now.
Get free, confidential advice and support from our Advice Line nurses. No question is too big or too small.
Advice Line
Every day people in Scotland are leaving hospital feeling scared and alone. But you can help us change this.
Fundraising Events
Join Scotland’s Fundraising Heroes by getting involved with one of our exciting events or challenges!
Visit our charity shops
Use our Store Finder to find your local shop or boutique and pop in to see us today.
You can make sure stroke survivors in Scotland like Troy get the support they need after returning home from hospital.
Donate
We are Scotland’s largest health charity working to help people with chest, heart and stroke conditions live life to the full.
Social Media – @chsscotland
Incredible impact
Find out about the incredible impact your support is having and the amazing things you’re helping to achieve.
Search our current job opportunities to find a new role that’s rewarding, exciting and allows you to make a real difference every day.
Work With Us
Heart failure describes the condition where the heart muscle has become weakened and is unable to pump blood around your body as efficiently as before. The severity and causes of heart failure mean that it’s unlikely to be completely cured but careful monitoring, medication and communication with your healthcare team can help you effectively manage the condition and live longer. Heart failure occurs as a result of a number of conditions, the most common being:
Heart failure can present in many different ways but typical symptoms of heart failure are:
If you have any of these symptoms, please contact your doctor.
May has been living with heart failure since 2013 after suffering a series of major heart attacks. She says: “I knew I had to get to hospital. It wasn’t a case of we’ll go in the morning. I had to, because I just couldn’t breathe.”
To diagnose heart failure, your doctor will discuss your symptoms with you and do some initial tests. These may include:
If you doctor thinks that you may have heart failure, they’ll likely require further tests to confirm or exclude the diagnosis. These include:
Heart failure treatment will relieve your symptoms and make your heart stronger to improve your quality of life.
There are many different treatment options available and your doctor will discuss considerations with you. These include medication, implanted devices, and surgery.
Your treatment will be decided based on the severity of your condition, your symptoms, other conditions you may have and the potential side effects that you may face.
Feeling worried about how to manage your condition or concerned about the wellbeing of a loved one?
Our Advice Line nurses are here to answer any questions or concerns you may have about heart failure. Call 0808 801 0899 for free, confidential advice and support.
Contact the Advice Line
When faced with a diagnosis such as heart failure, it is completely natural and understandable to feel worried and isolated. We recommend that while you come to terms with your condition and treatment plan, you have somebody with you at home for a few days or at least on the other end of the phone.
Make sure that you are taking the steps to look after yourself as much as possible. Cut down on salt, limit your alcohol intake, eat a healthy, balanced diet and control your blood pressure. Make sure that every day you’re staying active and mentally healthy – getting outside for a walk is great for your physical and mental wellbeing.
Stay in touch with your doctor and let them know if you notice any new or worsening symptoms. If you are suffering with side effects, speak to your doctor about alternative treatments or options to make you more comfortable.
If you are feeling anxious, stressed, frustrated or scared, know that you are not alone. A heart failure diagnosis can be massively disruptive and it’s understandable to struggle to come to terms with it. Try to not bottle up your feelings and speak to somebody you trust.
To find out more about how to manage your condition and live well at home, read our Mental Wellbeing advice.
Life after a heart failure diagnosis can look very different and you may feel unsure of the road ahead.
You can still live a life that you love and enjoy – and we’d like to help you.
Visit our Living with a Heart Condition section for more information about how to manage your condition at home, how to stay well and how to rebuild your future.
Heart Failure
You can make sure people with chest, heart or stroke in conditions Scotland get the support they need after returning home from hospital.
If you – or someone you know – needs help right now, we’re here for you.
Get help
Read our Essential Guides for more information.
Resources
Download our booklet Living with Heart Failure to find out more about the topics discussed on this page.
View this page
Download Your Heart Toolkit for advice and information about living with a heart condition.
Visit our Services page to find out more about the support that’s available after a heart failure diagnosis
This page was last updated on May 6, 2022 and is under regular review. If you feel anything is missing or incorrect, please contact health.information@chss.org.uk to provide feedback.