By Lizzy Adie
Heart failure, also known as congestive hearth failure is a common condition that develops after the heart becomes damaged or weaken by disease of the heart including hearth attacks and other medical conditions. Heart failure occurs when the pumping action of your heart is not strong enough to move blood around. Especially during increased activity or under stress. Also, the heart muscle may not relax properly to accommodate the flow of blood back from the lungs to the heart.
Heart failure is on the rise as more people survive heart attacks and other acute heart conditions. Heart failure is a serious condition, there is no cure. However, with lifestyle changes and treatment options, you can manage your condition very well. Many patients can return to a full and normal life. Learning about your heart failure is an important first step in managing your condition.
Symptoms Of Heart Failure
When your heart doesn’t pump well and congestion occurs, you may experience some of these symptoms, contact your doctor or health care provider if any of the following occurs.
* Increased shortness of breath, expecially when lying flat.
* Bloating or feeling full at all times.
* Cough or cold symptoms that last for longer than a week.
* Tiredness, loss of energy or extreme Tiredness.
* Loss of appetite.
* lncrease urination at night.
* Excessive use of alcohol or drugs.
If these symptoms are mild, it is advisable to see your family doctor or call your heart failure clinic.
Causes Of Heart Failure
The common damage to the heart is heart attack (myocardial infarction) which attack the heart muscle and this occurs when one of the coronary arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the heart muscle becomes blocked. If this happens, part of your heart may be starved of oxygen and may become permanently damage.
Another most common cause of heart failure is high blood pressure (hypertension) if undiagnosed and not treated for a long time, it can lead to heart failure. It is important to get your blood pressure checked at least once every year or more if your doctor recommend you to do so.
Treatment For Heart Failure
Your doctor and heart care provider may recommend medication or surgery and may suggest life style changes such as healthy eating and physical activity. Which may include a recommendation to consume at least 1gram of Omega 3 daily.
Steps You Need To Help Manage Your Heart Failure.
Take your medication regularly as instructed by your doctor.
Eat a healthy diet such as plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low fat meats and low fat milk.
Reduce your intake of salt consumption expecially if you have been diagnosed with hypertension.
Drink no more than 2 litres of fluid per day and this includes your beverage I.e coffee, water, juice, tea, and milk. Half of your daily fluid intake should be water.
Reduce your alcohol intake to not more than one bottle per day. In some cases, alcohol must be totally avoided as these can interfere with your medications or increase blood pressure and affect the heart.It is important you speak with your doctor about this issue.
Avoid smoking as this greatly increase the risk for heart attack and even worsen heart failure.
Weigh your self daily in the morning and keep a written record of your weight.
Get plenty of sleep and manage your stress levels.
It is recommended that patients with heart failure have their flu shot once a year and pneumococcal vaccine once in their lifetime.
Read more about managing Heart failure
