Facts about heart failure

Nov 26, 2017 Dr Zulfikar Bux, Features / Columnists

Have you ever thought about what happens to your heart when it starts to fail? Developing heart failure is usually a sign of impending death.
It is increasing in prevalence and affects approximately 26 million people worldwide. It’s the reason why persons have heart transplants and “artificial heart pumps”.
Today we will discuss heart failure, so that you can understand this devastating condition and minimize your chances of dying from it.
WHAT IS HEART FAILURE?
Heart failure, sometimes known as congestive heart failure, occurs when your heart muscle doesn’t pump blood as well as it should. Certain conditions, such as narrowed arteries in your heart (coronary artery disease) or high blood pressure, gradually leave your heart too weak or stiff to fill and pump efficiently.
Not all conditions that lead to heart failure can be reversed, but treatments can improve the signs and symptoms of heart failure and help you live longer. Lifestyle changes — such as exercising, reducing salt in your diet, managing stress and losing weight — can improve your quality of life.
One way to prevent heart failure is to control conditions that cause heart failure, such as coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, diabetes or obesity.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF HEART FAILURE?
If your heart does not pump well, at first you might have no symptoms. But as the condition gets worse, it can cause:
– Tiredness or weakness, or make you feel lightheaded or dizzy
– Trouble breathing, which might lead you to be less active or to need extra pillows at night to sleep
– A racing heartbeat, even while resting
– Swelling in your feet, ankles, and legs or in your belly
– Persistent cough or coughing up blood
– Chest pain if your heart failure is caused by a heart attack.
IS THERE A TEST FOR HEART FAILURE?
Yes. If your doctor thinks you might have heart failure, he or she will examine you and might order some of the following tests:
– An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) – This test measures the electrical activity in your heart. It can show whether you have an abnormal heartbeat or had a heart attack in the past. These are some of the things that can cause heart failure.
– A chest X-ray – A chest X-ray shows if there is fluid in the lungs. It also shows the general shape of the heart and large blood vessels in the chest.
– An echocardiogram – This is a special ultrasound that shows how the heart beats. It shows the size of the heart chambers, how well the heart is pumping, and how well the heart valves are working.
– A stress test – During a stress test, you might be asked to run or walk on a treadmill while you have an ECG or other heart tests. Physical activity makes the heart pump harder and increases the heart’s need for blood. This test helps doctors see if the heart is getting enough blood when it is under stress. If you cannot walk or run, you might instead get a medicine to stress your heart.
HOW CAN I DECREASE MY CHANCES OF GETTING HEART FAILURE?
The key to preventing heart failure is to reduce your risk factors. You can control or eliminate many of the risk factors for heart disease — high blood pressure and coronary artery disease, for example — by making lifestyle changes along with the help of any needed medications.
Lifestyle changes you can make to help prevent heart failure include:
· Not smoking
· Controlling certain conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes
· Staying physically active
· Eating healthy foods
· Maintaining a healthy weight
· Reducing and managing stress
· Ensuring you get good sleep especially if you are waking up fatigued.
· Avoid abusing illicit drugs and medications
Once you get heart failure, then chances of living more than five years are very slim. You should therefore focus on getting regular heart checkups and taking preventative measures to decrease your chances of getting heart failure.

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