 |
|
|
Resources for People with Congestive Heart Failure
Canada
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (HSFC), a Federation of 10 independent Provincial Foundations and 1 National Foundation, strives to improve the health of Canadians by preventing and reducing disability and death from heart disease and stroke through research, health promotion and advocacy. The Web site is a very reliable source of heart disease and stroke information, including valuable information about heart disease, stroke and healthy living. See their new publication, Managing Congestive Heart Failure, which was developed to help you take charge of controllable aspects of your illness and its effects on your daily activities.
Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC and Yukon
This provincial organization provides information and updates on local events and research, and is part of the National Foundation's Web site.
Health Canada - Healthy Heart Kit
The Healthy Heart Kit was designed for risk management and patient education to help prevent Cardiovascular Disease and to promote cardiovascular health. It provides a series of patient brochures online under the following topics:
Patient Resource Centres
The Heart and Stroke Foundation of B.C. and Yukon, in partnership with various hospitals across the province, has developed hospital-based Patient and Family Resource Centres.
Each resource centre is set up to provide patients, their family and health professionals with many resources (information pamphlets, 3-D models, posters, videos and computer-based resources) for learning more about cardiovascular disease.
Patient and Family Resource Centres are currently located at the following hospitals:
- St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver
- U.B.C. Hospital, Vancouver
- Richmond Hospital, Richmond
- Burnaby Hospital, Burnaby
- Royal Columbian Hospital, New Westminster
- Eagle Ridge Hospital, Port Moody
- Ridge Meadows Hospital, Maple Ridge
- Royal Jubilee Hospital, Victoria
For more information call the toll-free line at 1 888 473-4636.
Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs
Your doctor can refer you to a cardiac rehabilitation program if there is one in your area. Services available at a cardiac rehabilitation program include:
- Counselling and information
- Supervised exercise program
- Lifestyle modification information
- Emotional and social support
For more information about cardiac rehabilitation programs near you, contact your local or provincial Heart and Stroke Foundation office at 1 888 473-4636.
Congestive Heart Failure Diaries
Many patients use a diary or logbook to help them keep track of their weight, fluid intake, medication times, exercise and other factors that affect congestive heart failure. This type of record can be useful to both you and your doctor. Before starting to keep a diary, you should talk to your family doctor about your targets for exercise, weight loss, smoking cessation, and alcohol intake.
Some online diaries are available from
A Healthy Me! Heart Health Diary. This site provides a Heart Health Diary (Blood Pressure Record) through Consumer Health Interactive that you can print and use to monitor your diet, exercise, medications and weight.
Healthy Lifestyle
For information on diet and nutrition, exercise and stopping smoking, see General Resources.
Last Revised:
February 06, 2008
|
