Heart Failure Warning Signs Video

 How do you feel today?

For heart failure patients -- managing your health at home includes self-checks to know if you are in the RED, YELLOW OR GREEN zone and what to do.

THE RED ZONE means you need to get to an Emergency Room or call 911 right away…. Red symptoms include: You are passing out or fainting. You suddenly cannot breathe or have trouble breathing after sitting down for 10 minutes. You have new chest pain that continues after sitting for 10 minutes.

The YELLOW zone means you need to take action today by calling your doctor’s office. Yellow symptoms include: You feel dizzy, light headed or fatigued. You have more trouble breathing than usual. You have gained two or more pounds since yesterday or you have gained more than 5 pounds in one week. You have trouble sleeping flat and need extra pillows or you need to sleep in a chair. You have a little bit of chest pain. You have swelling in your feet, ankles, legs or belly. If you are in the yellow zone, call your doctor – even if it is at night, on the weekend, or on a holiday. Someone is always on call to help you.

The GREEN Zone requires no action and you are in control. The Green Zone means: You feel normal. You can breathe as well as usual. You don’t have any swelling in your feet, ankles, legs or belly. You can sleep as well as usual. You do not have any chest pain.

Please take note of how you feel every day. Tracking how you feel daily helps to make sure you don’t wait too long to take the next step in your care.