Heart Your Family's Guide to Understanding the Heart

Heart Failure

What is heart failure? Heart failure is a condition in when the heart can no longer pump blood the way it normally does. In some cases, the heart can't fill with enough blood or the heart can't send blood to the rest of the body with enough force. Most often than not, people have both problems.

Heart failure does not mean that your heart has stopped or is about to stop working but it is a serious condition that requires medical care and attention.

Heart failure develops over time when the pumping of the heart grows weaker affecting the right side of the heart only or both the left and right sides of the heart. Most cases involve both.

The right-side heart failure occurs when the heart can't pump blood to the lungs, where it picks up oxygen. This may cause fluid to build up in the feet, ankles, legs, liver, abdomen, and, rarely, the veins in the neck. Right-side and left-side heart failure also cause shortness of breath and fatigue (tiredness).

Left-side heart failure occurs when the heart can't pump enough oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body.

Heart failure can be a serious, long-term condition, but you can live a full and enjoyable life with the right treatment and active attention to your lifestyle.

The most important thing to remember is that you're not alone. Heart failure is a very common condition. About 5 million people in the United States have heart failure, and it results in about 300,000 deaths each year.

Both children and adults can have heart failure, although the symptoms and treatments differ. This article focuses on heart failure in adults.

Nearly 5 million Americans are living with heart failure, and 550,000 new cases are diagnosed annually. This condition can be managed. Regardless of the treatment, you need to follow all of your doctor's recommendations and make the necessary changes in diet, exercise and lifestyle to give you the highest possible quality of life.

The leading causes of heart failure are diseases that damage the heart. These include coronary artery disease (CAD), high blood pressure, and diabetes.

The following is a list of symptoms people who have heart failure might experience:

  • Shortness of breath (perhaps when walking, climbing stairs or being active)
  • Shortness of breath when lying down
  • Lack of appetite
  • Waking up in the night, suddenly breathless
  • General tiredness or weakness, including the reduced ability to exercise
  • Swelling of the legs, feet or ankles
  • Swelling of the abdomen
  • Rapid or irregular heartbeat
  • Rapid weight gain (1 or 2 pounds a day for 3 days in a row)
  • Chronic cough or wheezing
  • Nausea

People who have heart failure can live longer and more active lives if it's diagnosed early and they follow their treatment plans. For most, treatment includes medicines and lifestyle measures.

Today, there's no cure for heart failure. However, researchers are finding and testing new treatments. These treatments offer hope for better ways to delay heart failure and its complications.

By: Yoej


Heart Failure Recommended Resources:

University of Maryland Medical Center

University of Washington



Alice White 03.04.09 at 00:51am
Since there are still no cure for heart failure, the patient's recovery will still depend on his/ her willingness to change his/ her lifestyle. A healthier lifestyle will most likely help you to avoid a heart failure. Abandoning your old lifestyle especially the bad eating habits is tough. But it will not be initiated by other. It will always start from you. You can seek professional help to learn the other alternatives in food habits. Do not hesitate to see a medical doctor to ensure that you are still fit and healthy.
CATHERINE BRAND 23.09.09 at 04:44am
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT STAGE 1 HEART FAILURE.
jasmine 05.12.09 at 07:26am
my father suffered a major heart attack in 2007.post which his heart functioning is only 28%..what can be the possible treatment?so that his life span can be increased.........let me know
Carol Coffey 21.12.09 at 22:58pm
What kind of treaments do most cardiologist recommend for, DIASTOLIC DYSFUNKTION? i JUST FOUND OUT TODAY THAT MY ECHO-CARDIAGRAM, showed this problem. I just had aheart cath in august of 09, and everything looked. I have to see my cardioligist in january. So, I kind wanted to know in the mean time just exactly, what this is. Thanks so much for any feedback you can give me.

Sincerley,
Carol Coffey
Jenn H 01.01.10 at 20:15pm
When I entered my third trimester of pregnancy my legs and feet swole so bad I could not put on my shoes and my materity pants were tight on my lower legs. I was told to keep my feet up and only work half days at work.... Nothing really helped. About a week after delivery, I noticed that I couldn't breathe well unless I was sitting straight up. That meant not laying down. When it got to the point I couldn't breathe and it started to frighten me, we went to the ER. Congestive Heart Failure due to being pregnant. It's very rare, but it can happen. Never knew that could happen without having any health issues before and being only 22 years old. I am fine now, but just wanted other pregnant women to know if you are swelling as bad as I did.... get it checked out!!! It's rare but it can happen!
jemma 18.01.10 at 12:52pm
hi everyone my names jemma im 26years old and have had extensive open heart surgery. wen i was born i was diagnoised with conary heart disease, and im alive and well. i have had a pacemaker put in and an aortic valve put in as well. If anybody has any worries feel free to contact me on my email. jemmalappin@hotmail.com. I have joined heartbeat for childern and the heart foundation
Barbara 03.02.10 at 20:58pm
My doctor told me that I have a "stiff" heart or diastolic heart problems. Are there any drug treatments available at this time for this condition?
Barbara Bedford 27.02.10 at 15:43pm
Chemo treatment caused my heart failure. My heart pumps at 30%. My stomach is large and filled with fluid and I have uncomfortable chest pressure on my left side where I had my breast removed and lots of radiation. Some of the tightness seems to come from the surgery and the radiation healing. I am out of breath when I walk or just moving around. My head is often cloudy or dizzy.

Do I have a heart blockage, something wrong with my stomach, or these just symptoms of heart failure?

I got a lot of my symptoms when I started taking 20mg of carvedilol, lasix, and cozzar. I am also a diabetic on 2 doses of insulin 20 units each. Can you help?
RUDY LUNA JR. 04.03.10 at 10:05am
September, i had a heart attack, with triple arterey, bypass. am i still subject to more problems, thank you.
Denise W. 06.05.10 at 21:06pm
I am very sensitive to salt and if something triggers it I feel very weak, dizzy, limp, and sometimes my feet and hands get cold. I literally feel like I'm dying. Is this a form of heart failure? Is there any medicatiion that I could take to cure my sensitivity to salt? Thank you.
nigneeftore 07.06.10 at 04:31am
inderal ptsd , inderal drug interactions
LellortotaLew 07.06.10 at 19:58pm
does inderal help u gain wait , inderal information
generic inderal la sa , inderal la essential tremor
inderal lipid levels , tums and inderal
debbie waggoner 27.07.10 at 13:22pm
i would like info on systolic dysfuntion










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