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Congestive Heart Failure Remedies

Congestive heart failure occurs when your heart is unable to pump enough blood for your body to operate properly. High blood pressure and coronary disease can make the heart too weak to do its job properly. Luckily, heart failure can be treated with a combination of medication and lifestyle changes.

  1. Medication

    • Heart failure is a chronic condition. Most often, there is an underlying cause and your doctor will treat it to correct the heart failure.

      Doctors usually treat heart failure with one or a combination of medications. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors lower blood pressure, which helps blood flow and takes strain off the heart. If you experience side effects, such as a persistent cough, your doctor will then try the similar angiotensin II (A-II) receptor blockers, which have fewer side effects. Digoxin increases the heart's strength, while beta blockers slow down your heart's rate and reduce blood pressure. Your doctor may also prescribe diuretics, or water pills, to stop fluid from collecting in your body. Because you can lose magnesium and potassium in your urine, your doctor will need to monitor your levels of these minerals.

    Devices

    • If your condition is serious, your doctor may recommend surgery. More and more doctors are using devices such as implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, which monitor the heart's rhythm. If the rhythm becomes dangerous, this device shocks it back to normal.

      A biventricular pacemaker emits impulses to the heart to make it pump in a more coordinated manner.

      Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are implanted in the abdomen and then attached to the heart. LVADs are now being used in the place of heart transplants and have greatly increased lifespans.

    Lifestyle Changes

    • There are many steps you can take at home to stop congestive heart failure. If you are a smoker, quitting will help your blood flow more easily. It is important to maintain a steady weight, since even the slightest weight gain can put stress on your heart.

      Restrict your sodium intake. Too much sodium makes you retain water and that makes your heart work faster. Cut down on fats, cholesterol, caffeine and alcohol.

      Exercise more and reduce stress.

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