Heart Failure Self-Monitoring Log

A simple daily tracking tool to share with your heart failure care team

Welcome — I'm glad you're here. When I was first diagnosed with heart failure, there was suddenly so much to keep track of, and I found myself second-guessing whether I'd taken my medication, checked my weight, or noticed a symptom that mattered. I built this log to make that easier, for patients and for the caregivers who love them. Fill it in once a day, bring it to your appointments, and let it carry some of that mental weight for you.

Greg R. Traver, two-time heart failure survivor and author of Hope After Heart Failure

Greg R. Traver
Two-time heart failure survivor & author of Hope After Heart Failure

Get instant access

Enter your name and email, and you'll get the log right away — free, no strings attached. Print it, save it, and share it with your care team.

What's inside

A 15-point Daily Self-Assessment — print pages 4–6 fresh each day

When to call your care team, and when to call 911

What each item means and why it matters

A medication list to fill in and bring to every visit

Plain-English glossaries of heart failure medications and terms

Five Things Worth Watching Every Day

These five items show up on the log every single day, because together they're often the earliest warning system your care team has for catching trouble before it becomes an emergency.

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Chest Pressure

Tracking chest pressure or tightness daily — even when it's mild — helps you and your care team tell the difference between an ordinary day and one that needs a call sooner rather than later.

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Weight

Sudden weight gain is usually fluid, not fat, and is often the earliest sign that heart failure is worsening — sometimes days before you feel short of breath or swollen. Weighing in the same way every morning catches it early.

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Blood Pressure

Many heart failure medications change your blood pressure, and your care team relies on your home readings to adjust doses safely. Daily numbers reveal patterns a single office visit never could.

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Swelling

Swelling in the legs, ankles, or belly is a visible sign of fluid retention, and it tends to build gradually. Noticing it daily, before it becomes obvious, gives you a head start on treating it.

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Shortness of Breath

Fluid backing up into the lungs makes breathing harder — first with activity, then possibly at rest or lying flat. Rating your breathing daily turns a vague feeling into a trend your care team can act on.

“You get the information written down, and you don't have to second-guess yourself wondering if you checked your blood pressure or took your medication. Relax — if it crosses your mind, you have your daily log handy.” — Greg Traver

Heart Failure Self-Monitoring Log