Heart failure (HF) is a disease that is a consequence of many cardiovascular diseases, it is a condition in which the heart cannot pump blood in the amount that is needed by all the body's tissues. If you tire quickly, feel short of breath, cough at night, or your legs get swollen, these may be signs of heart failure.

Heart failureis a growing he alth and social problem, which is why specialists often talk about the heart failure epidemic. The disease was called medical hydra. The Hydra is a mythological monster with five heads that grew back in greater numbers when one of them was cut off. The same is true of heart failure - when one problem is solved, another may emerge.

Heart failure - the scale of the problem

In Europe, almost 10 million people suffer from heart failure, in Poland about 800,000. (according to some sources, even 1 million). It is the only cardiovascular disease whose frequency is increasing. When examining the incidence of heart failure in Poland in people over 65 years of age, seeking advice from GPs, HF was diagnosed in 53 percent. Out of this group, 39 percent. were qualified to class III or IV (according to the classification of the New York Cardiac Society), which means that these people experiencedshortness of breathand fatigue with little physical exertion (e.g. while dressing), and the symptoms disappeared in resting. On the other hand, people who entered the fourth grade felt severe fatigue, shortness of breath,palpitationsor chest pain with the slightest effort, and these symptoms did not disappear even at rest.

Heart failure - causes of illness

According to the current knowledge, the most common causes of heart failure are coronary heart disease and arterial hypertension. Other reasons include myocarditis, metabolic, systemic, congenital or acquired heart defects, arrhythmias, anemia, renal failure, thyroid disease, and the use of cardiodepressants. Statistics show that the prognosis for heart failure is not good. The disease has a high mortality, even higher than that of breast and bladder cancer. But modern pharmacology definitely reduces the riskdeath and improves the quality of life of patients. However, one condition must be met: it is absolutely necessary to follow the rules of therapy prescribed by the doctor.

Heart failure, i.e. pump failure

The heart is a pump that receives venous blood from all over the body, pumps it to the lungs to take oxygen there, and pumps it into the arteries, from where it is distributed to all organs. When the heart falls ill, it cannot do its job well. Failure of our pump means that too little fuel, i.e. oxygen, reaches individual organs, or too much blood is deposited in the organs of the body.
If the blood is poorly oxygenated, we feel the effects quite quickly:

  • we get tired because there is not enough oxygen in the muscles
  • we are drenched in cold sweat because our skin is hypoxic
  • we urinate less often because the blood supply to the kidneys has decreased.

When blood is stagnant in organs, they become hyperemic. The following appears then:

  • shortness of breath (shortness of breath, shortness of breath) with exertion or shortness of breath at night
  • cough accompanying breathlessness, which is a sign of pulmonary congestion
  • bad digestion and drowsiness after eating which signals liver congestion
  • swelling of the legs meaning vein congestion.
  • increased thirst
  • weight gain
  • reduced urine output.

Is it possible to move away from these unpleasant symptoms? There is no one single piece of advice for all patients. Everyone has a medical history, everyone needs to pay attention to other things to regain well-being. Where to start? From a visit to a doctor who will help control the disease.

Treatment principles for heart failure

Specialists name three elements that determine the effectiveness of therapy: research, disease control and a hygienic lifestyle. Tests help determine the degree of damage to the heart, changes in the liver, kidneys and other organs, develop a treatment strategy and exercise, and assess how the body responds to medications. Controlling the disease mainly consists of regular medications, blood pressure measurements, blood tests, EKG, keeping an appropriate body weight and consulting a doctor. A hygienic lifestyle means regular exercise, stopping smoking, eating properly, limiting s alt consumption, and avoiding stressful situations.

Heart failure treatment

In the treatment of heart failure, many medications are successfully used to limit the effects of the disease and improve the quality of life.

  • Convertase inhibitors dilate blood vessels andThey lower blood pressure, so your heart doesn't have to work so hard. Taking medications begins with small doses, which are gradually increased until the disease stabilizes. During the therapy, you may experience dizziness, dry cough, worse kidney function, and a higher concentration of potassium in the blood. That is why it is so important to adhere to the recommended doses of drugs and the time of their intake, as well as to perform the prescribed tests on a regular basis. Converting enzyme inhibitors are drugs that must not be discontinued because they prolong life and reduce the number of hospital stays.
  • Beta-blockers reduce the number of heartbeats per minute, slowing it down. Treatment is started with a low dose of the drug which is gradually increased. The drug may have side effects such as lowering blood pressure, dizziness, significant slowing of the pulse (less than 50 beats per minute), quick fatigue.
  • Diuretics increase the excretion of water and sodium from the body, making the heart less overburdened. They are more effective if you take them in the morning and lie in bed for another hour.
  • Digitalis glycosides are drugs that stimulate the heart to contract with more energy and normalize its work.
  • Nitrates (nitrates) dilate blood vessels, relieving the heart.
  • Anticoagulants block the effects of vitamin K, making the blood thinner and less likely to form clots. The biggest problem is keeping clotting constant, thus avoiding the risk of hemorrhage. Vitamin K can be found in dark green and leafy vegetables such as broccoli, turnips, spinach, lettuce, and cabbage. Peaches, avocados, potatoes, egg white, cheese and liver also contain it. Their consumption by people suffering from heart failure must therefore be adapted to the results of blood clotting tests. The effect of vitamin K is also inhibited by taking other medications, such as anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and statins. The dose of the anticoagulant must be precisely determined by your doctor, broken down into doses taken over the course of each day of the week.

Nutrition rules in heart failure

The diet that patients with heart failure should follow does not require great sacrifices, and the meals are easy to prepare. However, to facilitate treatment and maintain the correct weight, you need to follow some important rules.

  • Limit s alt intake, because it causes water retention in the body and contributes to the aggravation of symptoms of the disease, such as edema, shortness of breath, increased heart rate.
  • Avoid products containing significant amounts of hidden s alt -sausages, canned meat and fish, yellow and blue cheeses.
  • Delete crisps and s alted peanuts, soups from a bag from your menu.
  • Definitely limit the addition of s alt during cooking and do not add s alt to them on the plate, because this is where 60 percent comes from. the s alt we eat. Replace it with spices, e.g. garlic, horseradish, dill, lemon juice.
  • Do not use ready-made spice mixes as they contain a lot of s alt. The use of potassium chloride (a s alt substitute) requires caution. The potassium in this s alt, in combination with ACE inhibitors, can lead to hyperkalaemia, i.e. increased levels of potassium in the blood. Hyperkalemia is often asymptomatic. But it can be signaled by sensory disturbances, muscle spasms, and a tingling sensation around the mouth and tongue. Conversely, low potassium levels can be recorded during an EKG. Deficiency of this element may manifest itself as disturbed consciousness.
  • Limit the amount of fluid to 1.5-2 liters a day, because this disease impairs the removal of water from the body.
  • Eat 4-5 small meals a day so as not to overburden your stomach, which will protect you from nausea, shortness of breath, flatulence.
  • Avoid foods and foods rich in animal fats - they are undesirable in the prevention and treatment of heart disease (especially in people with high cholesterol).
Important

Diet your heart likes

  • stale wheat bread, rice, small pasta, corn flakes, small groats
  • skim milk, cottage cheese, yogurt, kefir, egg white
  • vegetable soups made of fresh or frozen vegetables, cooked without s alt
  • fish (grilled, all lean meats and poultry (but no skin)
  • fats: sunflower, corn, soybean, rapeseed and olive oil (in limited amounts); soft margarines from these oils, reduced fat margarines; butter allowed for people with normal cholesterol
  • fresh and frozen vegetables, potatoes, fresh and dried fruit, preserved (unsweetened) fruit

What is conducive to the deterioration of he alth

  • infections
  • lung diseases
  • overactive or underactive thyroid gland
  • hypertension
  • kidney disease
  • errors in taking medications used in heart failure
  • taking additional painkillers
  • improper nutrition, e.g. high in s alt
  • uneven heartbeat
  • slow heart rate
  • unstable coronary artery disease
  • heart attack
You must do it

Code of conduct for the benefit of your heart

  • Do not smoke and avoid being in smoky rooms.
  • Limit your s alt intake as it retains water in the body and therefore puts extra work on the heart. Your diet must be low in s alt.
  • Limit your fluid intake to around 2 liters per day (including soup, compote, juices, water), even at the cost of severe thirst, to help your heart pump blood.
  • If you are overweight, lose excess weight to reduce the area that your heart will serve. But don't go on draconian diets that lead to rapid weight loss, but discuss this with your doctor or dietitian.
  • Exercise regularly as directed by your he althcare professional to improve your physical condition.
  • Monitor your he alth by observing your body - for leg swelling, cough at night, shortness of breath with previously well tolerated exertion, cold sweat, dizziness, or increased heart rate. Weigh yourself on an empty stomach each morning to know if you are gaining weight.
  • As recommended by your doctor, do blood tests, check urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium and bilirubin levels. Measure your blood pressure once a week and record the results, or take measurements when you feel worse or when your doctor changes your treatment. The pressure should not be too low or exceed 140/90 mm Hg.
  • Measure pulse (this is the number of beats per minute). The values ​​considered normal are between 50 and 100 beats.
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