What is Heart Failure?
Heart failure does not mean your heart has failed. Heart failure is the inability of your heart to pump properly depriving your body of the blood and oxygen it needs.
There are 2 kinds of heart failure. In heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), the heart muscle is weakened and cannot pump enough blood for the body. In heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), the heart cannot relax normally because the heart muscle has become too stiff. The heart cannot function properly when it has become too stiff.
Heart failure is most frequently caused by coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. People over 65, people who are overweight, men, African Americans and those who have had a heart attack are more at risk for developing heart failure.
Signs and symptoms of Heart Failure
Feeling out of breath and difficulty breathing while lying down
Coughing or wheezing
Fatigue
Swelling in feet, ankles, legs and abdomen, commonly combined with rapid weight gain
Confusion, inability to think clearly
Lack of appetite, nausea
Living with heart failure
Eating healthy! Reduced salt intake is critical for patients with heart failure. Salt can create water retention which makes it more difficult for your heart to pump and can create fluid buildup in your lungs. Not adding salt to your meals is not enough to prevent excess salt intake. Anything boxed, bagged, or canned in more than likely loaded with sodium. Frozen meals are high on the list of don't eat foods. Canned soups, even canned vegetables are full of sodium. Look for sodium free canned vegetables, make your own soups. Bread, cheese, and deli meats are also high in sodium. Sodium intake should be limited to between 1500 and 2000 MG per day. Fast foods, not surprisingly, are loaded with salt so avoid them if you can!
Fluid intake should be limited when you have heart failure. Your Doctor can recommend the ounces of fluids you should consume per day.
Get active! Exercise is beneficial to your heart muscle. Walking is the easiest exercise to add into your routine. If you cannot walk, use hand weights to exercise or leg lifts.
Weigh yourself every day and report any weight gain over 3 pounds to your doctor.
Heart Failure and Medications
It is important to take your medications as directed. Use a weekly or monthly pillbox to arrange your medications so you know what to take every day.
Keep a list on you AT ALL TIMES of all your prescription and over the counter medications. This is not just for your Doctors but in case you become incapacitated and cannot speak for yourself. Medical professionals can figure out your conditions with your medication list and are less likely to give you the wrong medications.
It is helpful for you to understand why you take each medication. Don't be afraid to ask questions.
Common heart failure medications and their uses
Diuretics - also known as water pills, flush extra fluid out of your body
Bumetanide (Bumex)
Furosemide (Lasix)
Hydrochlorothiazide (Hydrodiuril)
Metolazone (Zaroxolyn)
Torsemide (Demadex)
Ace Inhibitors relax and open your blood vessels so blood can pump more easily.
candesartan
losartan
telmisartan
valsartan
Beta blockers slow your heart rate, protecting it from rapid rate which can cause your heart to work harder.
Acebutolol.
Atenolol (Tenormin)
Metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL)
Carvedilol (Coreg)
Nebivolol (Bystolic)
Propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran XL)
There are drugs on the market that can help raise your ejection fraction if decreased and other drugs that have been shown to remove excess fluid off the heart.
Entresto
Jardiance
Farxiga
There are devices that can be implanted which can monitor the amount of fluid around your heart to detect subtle fluid changes before it causes issues.
Heart failure can usually be controlled by diet and proper use of medications. It is important to keep all scheduled follow ups with your Cardiologist even if you are feeling well.
Comments