Heart Failure

Heart failure is a progressive disorder in which damage to the heart causes weakening of the cardiovascular system.

It manifests by fluid congestion or inadequate blood flow to tissues. Heart failure progresses by underlying heart injury or inappropriate responses of the body to heart impairment.

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How Can Heart Failure Be Prevented?

Heart failure or congestive heart failure, is a medical condition in which the heart cannot pump an adequate amount of blood to the body's other internal organs. This is usually caused by high blood pressure, heart valve infections and many other conditions that interfere with the heart muscles daily functions. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD, is a condition that causes difficulty of breathing and gets worse over time. It is commonly associated with two main conditions, emphysema and chronic bronchitis. COPD is caused by cigarette smoking, air pollution and long-term exposure to many other lung irritants. Congestive heart failure and COPD have common risk factors. Both diseases present with chest tightness, shortness of breath, fatigue and other symptoms that get worse over time. By employing all the preventive measures below, you can prevent COPD and congestive heart failure.

You can take steps to prevent heart failure. The sooner you start, the better your chances to avoid it or to stay healthier longer.

For People Who Have Healthy Hearts

If you have a healthy heart, you can take action to prevent heart disease, which helps prevent heart failure. To prevent heart disease:

• Follow a heart healthy diet that focuses on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat diary products, and lean meat. It also should be low in salt, fat, saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol.

• Lose weight if you're overweight or obese.

• Get regular physical activity. Aim for at least 30 minutes on most, and preferably all, days of the week.

• Avoid using illegal drugs.

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For People Who Are at High Risk for Heart Failure

Even if you're at high risk for heart failure, you can take steps to reduce your risks. People at high risk include those who have high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, or diabetes, or people who are obese.

Follow all of the steps listed above.

Treat and control any conditions that cause heart failure. Take medicines as your doctor prescribes.

For People Who Have Heart Damage but No Signs of Heart Failure

If you have heart damage but no signs of heart failure, you can still reduce your risks. In addition to taking the steps above, take all of the medicines your doctor prescribes to reduce your heart's workload.

If you have side effects from a medicine, tell your doctor. You should never stop taking medicine without asking your doctor first.

Most of the deaths from heart attacks are caused by ventricular fibrillation of the heart that occurs before the victim of the heart attack can reach an emergency room. Those who reach the emergency room have an excellent prognosis; survival from a heart attack with modern treatment should exceed 90%. The 1% to 10% of heart attack victims who die later include those victims who suffer major damage to the heart muscle initially or who suffer additional damage at a later time. Fortunately, procedures such as coronary angiogram and PTCA , and clot dissolving drugs are available that can quickly open blocked arteries in order to restore circulation to the heart and limit heart muscle damage. In order to optimally benefit heart attack victims and limit the extent of heart damage, these treatments to open blocked arteries should be given early during a heart attack.

Knowing the early warning signs of heart attack is critical for prompt recognition and treatment. Many heart attacks start slowly, unlike the dramatic portrayal often seen in the movies. A person experiencing a heart attack may not even be sure of what is happening. Heart attack symptoms vary among individuals, and even a person who has had a previous heart attack may have different symptoms in a subsequent heart attack. Although chest pain or pressure is the most common symptom of a heart attack, heart attack victims may experience a diversity of symptoms that include:

Pain, fullness, squeezing sensation of the chest, jaw pain, toothache, headache