What should you know about heart failure and palliative care?

Heart failure can cause breathlessness, tiredness, swelling, sleep disruption and worry about the next flare. A palliative care team focuses on comfort and daily function while the heart team continues appropriate treatment. Support may include symptom assessment, medicine review, emotional support, help for family members and conversations about future care. Palliative care is not limited to the final days of life and does not mean that active treatment must stop.

Tell your cardiology or primary care team which symptoms limit walking, washing, eating or sleep. Bring a current medicine list and describe changes in swelling, weight, breathing or appetite. The team can help create a plan for worsening symptoms, arrange community support and discuss which treatments fit your priorities. If cancer is also part of your care, palliative support can address cancer pain and other burdens at the same time.

Call emergency services for severe breathlessness at rest, blue or grey lips, chest pressure, fainting, new severe confusion or inability to stay awake. Contact your clinical team promptly for rapidly increasing swelling, a clear change in breathing, repeated vomiting or inability to take prescribed medicines.

Ask who will coordinate your heart and palliative care, which symptoms need same-day advice, and what to do during a flare. Discuss support at home, family involvement and how your preferences should be recorded if you become too unwell to speak for yourself.