The facts about heart failure
According to the National Institutes of Health, roughly 5 million people in the U.S. have heart failure, and 300,000 people die as a result of it each year. With the growing rate of obesity, these numbers will likely rise, and it is important to be educated about heart failure and know what you can to do prevent it and live with it.
According to the American Heart Association, heart failure, also known as congestive heart failure, is a condition in which the heart has difficulty pumping blood to the rest of the body. This can happen for a few reasons. The heart’s arteries may be narrowed due to plaque build-up; there may be scar tissue left over from a past heart attack; high blood pressure may play a role; or there may be heart defects. Whatever the cause, the heart is unable to pump blood efficiently, and as blood tries to return to the heart, it gets backed up by the abnormally slow pumping. This backup of blood, or congestion, often causes swelling throughout the body.
When heart failure begins, the body attempts to correct it in a few ways. The heart may become enlarged, stretching more than normal to pump more blood. It also may develop more muscle to help force the blood through, or it may pump faster. The body may also try to help out by narrowing blood vessels or by diverting blood flow from less important tissues. Because the body is able to compensate in so many different ways, it often takes a long time to diagnose heart failure. You may not feel symptoms for some time, which is why it is important to have regular check-ups with your doctor.
There are a few symptoms that you should look out for as indicators of heart failure. You may have a shortness of breath that could be caused by fluid in your lungs. This may also present as a persistent cough or wheezing. You may have swelling in your feet, ankles or elsewhere. You may feel tired all the time due to your heart being unable to pump blood to all of your tissues. You may experience a lack of appetite or nausea because the heart is not pumping enough blood to your digestive system. You may feel an increased heart rate. All of these symptoms should prompt a check-up by your doctor.
There are several tests your doctor may perform to determine if you have heart failure: electrocardiogram (EKG), echocardiography and radionuclide ventriculography. While the names are big, the tests are relatively simple, routine and nothing to be worried about. An EKG simply measures the electrical impulses in the heart to determine how fast and hard the heart is beating. An echocardiography is an ultrasound that gives the doctor a picture of the heart’s structure and motion to show how thick the heart’s muscle is and how well it is beating. The radionuclide ventriculography involves injecting harmless substances that will show up on the scan in the bloodstream to show the path of the blood and how well the heart is pumping it.
There are different treatment options and methods when dealing with heart failure. You should work closely with your doctor to develop a treatment plan that is right for you. Making lifestyle changes is important. There are several ways to help your heart, including quitting smoking, losing weight, avoiding alcohol and caffeine, eating a healthy, low-in-salt diet and exercising. There are also several medications that may help. Some may work to improve circulation. Others may reduce the amount of water in the blood to make it easier on the heart. They all work differently and they all address the various causes of heart failure. Your doctor will be able to help you in deciding which ones will work for your condition.
In extreme cases, surgery may be necessary. This may include coronary artery bypass surgery or a heart transplant. Your doctor can help you determine if this is necessary.
Visit the American Heart Association’s Web site at www.americanheart.org for more ways to keep a healthy heart and talk to your doctor.
|
