Heart Failure Facts

Heart failure, many times referred to as congestive heart failure, is a disease in which the heart loses the ability to pump blood throughout the body. Conditions such as high blood pressure and living an unhealthy lifestyle can lead to the weakening of the heart, increasing the risk of heart failure. Though the effects cannot be reversed, medications and a change of lifestyle can treat the disease.

The Facts

• Heart failure is a life-threatening chronic disease. The disease is more common among older adults and the likelihood of developing the disease is increased if you are overweight, abuse alcohol, use cocaine or have diabetes. The term "congestive" refers to the act of the blood backing up into the lungs, liver, abdomen and other extremities throughout the body.

Causes and Effects

• Various conditions contribute to heart failure including high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and coronary artery disease. Heart failure may also occur due to cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease, lung disease and heart tumor. Over time, these conditions weaken the heart and it loses the ability to efficiently pump blood.

  Heart failure may affect the left side, right side or both sides of the heart. The left-sided heart failure is the most common and affects the lungs. Right-sided heart failure causes swelling in legs and feet.

  As a result of the heart failure, organs in the body are not able to receive adequate oxygen. Lack of oxygen to organs damages them and causes them to not function properly.

Symptoms

• Chronic heart failure is characterized by signs and symptoms that persist over time. Most patients of heart failure report feeling weakness, fatigue and shortness of breath. A rapid, irregular heartbeat accompanies the fatigue and a loss of ability to exercise and exert much energy.

  A persistent cough accompanied with phlegm white or pinkish color is another sign of heart disease. The disease is also characterized by swelling in the legs, ankles and feet and sudden weight gain due to water retention.

  Acute heart failure is characterized by a sudden change in the heart’s ability to function properly. In acute heart failure, patients report the same signs and symptoms of chronic heart failure, but with more intensity and over less time. Sudden chest pain accompanies acute heart failure in addition to sudden fluid build up and water retention and an irregular heartbeat with palpitations.

Medical Treatment

• Signs of heart failure can be improved with treatment that will help strengthen the heart. At times, doctors will help cure an underlying heart problem, such as an irregular heartbeat, that will help reduce the chance of heart failure.

  Various medications are available to ease the symptoms of heart failure. After a consultation, doctors will prescribe medications that will strengthen the heart’s contractions, dilate blood vessels to lower blood pressure and diuretics to decrease water retention in the body.

  Sometimes your physician will recommend surgery to solve issues that cause heart failure. Such surgeries include coronary bypass surgery, installing a pacemaker and heart pumps.

Living a Healthier Lifestyle

• Living a healthier lifestyle will decrease the symptoms of heart failure and prevent the disease from worsening over time. A few changes to your lifestyle will be beneficial if you suffer from heart failure.

  Physicians encourage heart failure patients to limit sodium intake. Sodium increase water retention and causes swelling and shortness of breath. The recommended intake of sodium is 2,000 mg daily.

  If you’re overweight, it is necessary to lose weight to prevent the worsening of heart failure. A healthier diet will aid in weight loss and it is important to limit fat and cholesterol intake.

  Moderate exercise is recommended for patients suffering with the disease. Getting on a regular workout routine will ease some of the stress on the heart. In addition to exercise, take the necessary steps to limit stress and increase the amount of rest you get every day.