The term ‘heart failure’ is a bit misleading, because although the heart is getting too weak to properly pump blood for a variety of reasons, it doesn’t actually stop as it does during other heart episodes.
To increase your knowledge about heart failure, discover the answers to these questions.
Q: What is heart failure?
A: Heart failure is a condition in which the heart is no longer able to properly pump enough oxygen-rich blood.
Q: What does it affect?
A: Heart failure may affect only the right side or only the left side of the heart. More often, both sides of the heart are involved.
Q: What are the different types of heart failure?
A: The 3 most common types of heart failure are:
- Left-sided, or left ventricular heart failure, includes both systolic and diastolic.
– The type known as systolic heart failure is when the heart muscle cannot pump blood out of the heart effectively.
– Diastolic heart failure is the term if the heart muscles are stiff and do not fill up with blood easily.
- Right-sided heart failure is where the right side loses pumping power, which makes blood to back up in the veins.
- When a weakened heart can’t move the blood effectively throughout the body, fluid backs up in the organs and extremities, which is called congestive heart failure.
Q: What are the most common causes of heart failure?
A: The most common causes are a narrowing of the small blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart – often called coronary artery disease – and high blood pressure, which leads to the heart muscle getting stiff and weak.
Other causes include:
- Congenital heart disease
- Heart attack
- Heart valves that are leaky or narrowed
- Infection that weakens the heart muscle
- Some types of abnormal heart rhythms
Q: What are some of the symptoms of heart failure?
A: These are a few of the most common symptoms:
- Tiredness
- Cough
- Fatigue, weakness, faintness
- Loss of appetite
- Need to urinate at night
- Pulse that feels fast or irregular
- Shortness of breath when you are active or after you lie down
- Swollen liver or abdomen
- Swollen feet and ankles
- Waking up from sleep after a couple of hours due to shortness of breath
- Weight gain
Q: How can technology help heart failure?
A: The following surgeries and devices for certain patients with heart failure may be recommended:
- Coronary bypass surgery (CABG) or angioplasty with or without stenting may help improve blood flow to the damaged or weakened heart muscle.
- Heart valve surgery may be done if changes in a heart valve are causing your heart failure.
- A pacemaker can help treat slow heart rates or help both sides of your heart contract at the same time.
- A defibrillator sends an electrical pulse to stop life-threatening abnormal heart rhythms.
Q: What can I do to keep my heart healthy?
A: Here are lifestyle changes that can help:
- Limit how much salt you eat
- Limit alcohol use
- Don’t smoke
- Stay active
- Lose weight
- Lower cholesterol
- Get enough rest
For more ways to lead a healthier lifestyle while living with heart failure, read more at Everyday Health.
Sources
http://www.baylorhearthospital.com/Living-with-Heart-Failure.html
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