What You Need to Know About Heart Failure
As per the American Heart Association (AHA), over 5 million people in the United States are living with heart failure. Each year, over 550,000 new cases of failure are diagnosed, many of whom suffer from fatal heart attacks in a few years after diagnosis.
Heart failure is an often misunderstood condition, and this article will hopefully help you get the answers to a few common questions.
First of all, a lot of people believe that heart failure means that your heart has stopped or is about to stop pumping blood (i.e., a heart attack). This is false, as it simply means that the heart is not as efficient at pumping blood as it should be.
Because of the reduced efficiency of the heart, there is an inadequate supply of oxygen and nutrients to the blood. This is the reason why people suffering from failure of the heart often feel excessively tired or weak for no apparent causes. Also, it can cause excessive fluid to build up in your lungs, which can cause congestion in the lungs. This is the reason why it is sometimes also called ‘Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)’.
The symptoms of heart failure range from shortness of breath, excessive and frequent coughing, a permanently increased heart rate for no apparent causes, fatigue, tiredness, weakness, inexplicable weight gain accompanied by a loss of appetite, swelling in the legs and ankles due to fluid buildup.
If not treated immediately, it can cause a fatal stroke or lead to permanent heart failure in which case the heart completely stops pumping blood. Usually, a number of intravenous drugs (IV drugs) are used to treat failure. A few of these include diuretics, inotropes and IV vasodilators.
If you feel you suffer from any of the conditions outlined above, please consult your doctor and get treatment as soon as possible. Remember that accurate diagnosis is the first step to treatment.
John has been writing online for several years. Currently, he maintains a blog about growing taller and grow taller exercises.
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