Congestive Heart Failure is when the heart fails to pump the necessary amounts of blood around the body. As the coronary arteries begin to narrow due to build-ups and high blood pressure persists in the individual, the heart grows too weak and sometimes too stiff to pump the amount of blood necessary to keep the body functioning.
While many conditions that lead to heart failure cannot be undone, heart failure itself can be treated. There are medications available today that can improve the signs and symptoms of heart failure. However, the best way to ensure heart failure doesn’t occur is to make a lifestyle change. Cut the amount of salt in one’s diet. This will help lower blood pressure. Losing weight will make it so the heart doesn’t have to pump so hard, but more importantly, so that the arteries are not getting clogged.
In the end, the best treatment for heart failure is prevention. Pay attention to problems such as diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity and coronary heart disease. Any of these can, as time goes on, put more damage on the heart and in the end, potentially result in death. Therefore, preventing the problems before they become any more problematic is the most effective treatment.
Symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure
There are two types of heart failure. The first is chronic which means that the condition is ongoing and has been for quite some time. The other is acute which means that the problem suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Each has its own set of symptoms.
Chronic Heart Failure
- Shortness of Breath
- Fatigue and Weakness
- Edema in the legs
- Irregular heartbeat
- Inability to do as much physical activity
- Swelling of the abdomen
- Coughing up mucous with blood in it
- Weight gain due to fluid retention
- Decreased attention and focus
- Nausea and appetite loss
Acute Heart Failure
- The symptoms are similar to chronic heart failure, only they appear out of nowhere and are very sudden
- Fluid buildup suddenly
- Heart palpitations
- Chest pain if heart failure is caused by heart attack
- Pink, foamy mucous
- Shortness of Breath
If any of the above symptoms begin to appear, it is imperative to visit a doctor. The doctor will be able to determine what needs to be done and, more importantly, exactly how to get the wanted results. If nothing is done, though, the heart will continue to deteriorate and after time, the patient will die because the needed oxygen and nutrients are not getting around the body.