Prevention of Congestive Heart Failure
By
I've heard the term "congestive heart failure" for years but didn't really understand what it meant until recently when I was reading an article about it. I assumed that, as the name implies, that it was failure of the heart and that it had to be serious but that was the extent of my knowledge. Today I am better prepared for treatment and Prevention of congestive heart failure should it happen to me or a loved one.
Congestive heart failure means that the heart has failed to keep up with the demand to pump blood to all parts of the body. The reasons it fails are numerous but mostly boils down to the facts that we either inherited the genes that cause it, or we abused it or don't know why it failed.
When congestive heart failure happens, the heart muscle weakens because it can't handle the constant stress placed on it, usually because of a secondary disease such as hypertension or coronary heart disease. If the left side of the heart has failed, it will cause the patient to accumulate fluids around the lungs resulting in shortness of breath.
The kidneys will respond to the insufficient blood flow by retaining fluid also. If the right side of the heart fails, then fluids will accumulate in the venous system and cause edema, which will continually worsen and further deteriorate the condition.
Dyspnea is prevalent in this condition although the severity will vary in different patients. Some patients don't have trouble breathing unless they are exerting energy, such as walking up the stairs. Others have trouble just sitting up in the morning. The lack of oxygen to the tissues will cause them to get tired easily.
Pitting edema is also a prevalent sign of congestive heart disease. In this condition, the body accumulates fluid that causes an indention left on the skin when pressure is applied. Non-pitting edema is not a symptom of heart failure.
Hypertension, drug and alcohol abuse, endocrine disorders, anemia, and obesity are all contributing factors that can lead to congestive heart failure and need to be treated to prevent heart failure. Strict diets and regular exercise attribute to a healthy lifestyle and aid in the prevention of congestive heart failure.
Patients with congestive heart failure are treated for their symptoms. If you suffer from this disease you need to take your doctor's advice and adhere to the recommended treatment plan. Medications are a vital part of that and should be taken as prescribed. It is also important to keep your doctor appointments. Monitoring is also part of the plan and vital signs can change rapidly so you should help the doctor help you by being a good patient.
Get more information about developing a healthy heart.
More on Health and Fitness for Baby Boomers
Using Health Foods : More Isn't Always Better
Treating Congestive Heart Failure
Pregnancy After 50? Here’s The Facts
Make Sleepless Nights a Thing of the Past by Using Meditation to Cure Insomnia