Heart failure doesn’t mean the heart has stopped working. Rather, it means that the heart works less efficiently than normal. The heart is unable to pump blood around the body properly.

There are several things you can do to improve life quality if you have heart failure. Among them:

Reduce the Salt in Your Diet -- Limit foods high in salt. Aim to eat a diet that includes fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fat-free or low-fat dairy products, and lean proteins.

Cardiovascular Exercise -- Moderate aerobic activity helps keep the rest of your body healthy and conditioned, reducing the demands on your heart muscle. But be sure to talk to your doctor about an exercise program that's right for you.

Prevent respiratory infections -- Ask your doctor about getting influenza, pneumonia vaccinations.

Take your medications as prescribed -- Do not stop taking them without first contacting your doctor.

Reduce stress -- Find ways to reduce stress in your life. To give your heart a rest, try napping or putting your feet up when possible. Spend time with friends and family to be social and help keep stress at bay. Ask your doctor or nurse to point you in the right direction.

Keep Your Blood Pressure Low -- In heart failure, the release of hormones causes the blood vessels to constrict or tighten. The heart must work hard to pump blood through the constricted vessels. It's important to keep your blood pressure controlled so that your heart can pump more effectively without extra stress.

Monitor Effects of Treatments -- Wearing a monitor recording 24-hour EKG may tell your doctor

- If your medicines are working.

- If a pacemaker or an implantable cardioverter defibrillator(ICD) is working properly.