Heart Failure: Tracking Your Weight

When to call your healthcare provider

Call your healthcare provider if you gain:

• More than 2 pounds in 1 day

• More than 5 pounds in 1 week

• Whatever weight gain you were told to report by your provider

This is often a sign of worsening heart failure and needs to be evaluated and treated. Your provider will tell you what to do next.

Tips for weighing yourself

• Weigh yourself at the same time each morning, wearing the same clothes. Ideally, weigh yourself after urinating and before eating.

• Use the same scale each day. Make sure the numbers are easy to read. Put the scale on a flat, hard surface. Don't put it on a rug or carpet.

• Don't stop weighing yourself. If you forget 1 day, weigh yourself again the next morning.

How to use your weight chart

• Keep your weight chart near the scale. Write your weight on the chart as soon as you get off the scale.

• Fill in the month and the start date on the chart. Then write down your weight each day. Your chart will look like this:

• If you miss a day, leave the space blank. Weigh yourself the next day and write your weight in the next space.

• Take your weight chart with you when you go to see your provider.