Your heart is a muscle that pumps blood throughout your body. The more blood that your body needs, the harder your heart must pump.
When the body does not receive the amount of blood it needs to function normally, this condition is called heart failure.
Causes of heart failure
Heart failure occurs as a result of a problem that weakens the heart, such as:
Valve disease
A previous heart attack
Untreated high blood pressure
Viruses that cause heart infection
Long-term alcohol or drug abuse
Signs and symptoms
As the heart is not able to pump enough blood with each beat to supply all the organs with the oxygen they require, the rest of your body cannot function normally. This may cause you to experience some of the following symptoms:
Shortness of breath
Fatigue
Persistent cough
Sudden and unexplained weight gain
Swelling in feet and legs
Gradual loss of appetite
Dizzy spells and fainting
Treatment of heart failure
For most people, heart failure is a lifelong disease and needs close monitoring. Heart failure may make your daily routine more challenging, but you can live a long and fulfilling life by following some guidelines:
Take all the medications prescribed by your doctor
Avoid using salt
Stop smoking
Weigh yourself daily
Exercise gently and regularly
Maintain an ideal body weight
Reduce stress levels
Limit the number of fluids you drink, if advised
Remember to go to your follow-up appointments
Salt intake
Sodium acts like a sponge to hold extra water in the body. The signs and symptoms of heart failure, such as swelling of ankles and feet and shortness of breath, can get worse when your body retains too much water.
Substitute salt with lemon or a non-sodium salt equivalent.
Exercise
A regular exercise program is a crucial part of your treatment for heart failure. Not only has exercise been shown to be an excellent tool in the prevention of heart disease but it has also been reported to offer dramatic benefits for heart failure patients. Regular exercise can lower your blood pressure and may even increase your heart function.
HOWEVER,
STOP if you feel
Chest pain, pressure, or heaviness
Pain radiating to the neck, jaw, teeth, or arms
Extreme fatigue – abnormal to a particular activity
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Extreme shortness of breath
Irregular heartbeat or pulse
Nausea and vomiting
CALL 999 IF CHEST PAIN OR ANY OF THE SYMPTOMS LISTED ABOVE DO NOT RESOLVE WITH REST
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