Health & Wellness

 Heart failure, also called Congestive heart failure, affects 64.3 million people worldwide.

It is vital to protect the heart from the impact of heart failure.

Heart failure is a chronic/progressive condition that occurs in the heart muscle when it is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs for blood and oxygen.

Heart failure is becoming more common because of the modern and unhealthy lifestyle people have adopted. The main way to prevent any disease or illness is to follow a healthy diet and exercise

Now, let’s go through some of the risk factors, symptoms, stages and prevention measures for heart failure. 

➢  Common Risk Factors:

Certain heart conditions gradually leave the heart weak or stiff to pump and fill blood properly, which ultimately leads to heart failure.

-  Coronary-Artery disease

-  Heart Attack

-  Heart Valve Disease

-  High Blood Pressure

-  Irregular heartbeats

-  Congenital Heart Disease

-  Diabetes

-  Alcohol use

-  Sleep apnea

-  Smoking or using Tabacco

-  Obesity

-  Certain viruses

Lifestyle changes, such as healthy eating, exercising, managing stress etc., can play a very important role in improving the quality of life and reduce the risk factors.

➢  Symptoms:

-  Fatigue, dizziness

-  Shortness of breath while lying down or doing some activity

-  Reduction in ability to exercise

-  Swelling of the abdomen

-  Rapid weight gain

-  Congested lungs

-  Chest pain

-  Nausea

-  Swelling in legs, feet

-  Bloating

➢  The progression of heart failure is as follows:

STAGE-A: At high risk for heart failure

STAGE-B: Heart disease without symptoms

STAGE-C: Heart disease with symptoms

STAGE-D: Advanced heart failure

➢  How can you prevent it from getting worse?

-  Try to maintain your blood pressure in control so that heart can pump blood efficiently without extra stress.

-  Maintain your fluid balance, it’ll be harder for your heart to pump excess fluid through your body if you carry more fluid in your blood vessels.

-  Monitor your body weight.

-  Limit the salt in your diet - you’ll have less fluid retention which means less swelling and easier breathing.

-  Get your regular check-up done as advised by the doctor.

-  Lastly, keep a check on your symptoms.  If you notice any of the symptoms, call your doctor immediately. 

One must take care of one’s health and fitness and should not ignore even the slightest changes in one’s body. After all, “Protecting one heart is protecting many.”

By: Sakshi Bisht | Life Within