Heart failure is a serious health condition that affects about 5.7 million Americans and is a contributing cause to approximately one in every nine deaths annually. Contrary to what the name may suggest, “heart failure” does not mean that the heart has stopped working. In reality, heart failure occurs when the muscles of the heart weaken and become unable to pump blood through the body effectively. When the heart is unable to keep up with its workload, the cells in the body may not get enough oxygen, which affects how the body is able to function overall.
While there is no cure for heart failure, many people are able to lead happy, full lives by managing the condition well. Learning more about how to prevent, recognize and treat heart failure are all important aspects of proper management.
Heart failure doesn’t typically sneak up on people – it develops over time and involves a number of different risk factors. The risk factors associated with heart failure are generally conditions that make it harder for the heart to do its job. These include:
Certain lifestyle behaviors like drinking too much alcohol, smoking and taking illegal drugs can also affect how the heart functions.
Other risk factors for heart failure are not within your control. These include:
For some people, heart failure is chronic, which means that signs and symptoms are persistent and last a long time. Others experience acute heart failure, which refers to sudden onset of symptoms.
Generally, the signs and symptoms of heart failure include any combination of the following:
You should seek emergency treatment if any signs or symptoms are severe, as they may also be indicative of another, more urgent life threatening heart or lung condition like heart attack.
The sooner you begin to take steps to prevent heart failure, the more likely you are to successfully stave off onset. You can start with just a few simple steps, including:
If you suspect that you have heart failure, it is important to talk to your doctor about your condition. There are medications that can be used to help treat heart failure. Medication classes typically used to treat heart failure include:
In other cases, your doctor may prescribe certain other medications to help manage certain aspects of heart failure
Anticoagulants (blood thinners). These medications can be prescribed for heart failure patients who are also dealing with atrial fibrillation. They are not used unless atrial fibrillation is also present.
Statins (cholesterol-lowering drugs). If you have high cholesterol or have had a heart attack in the past, statins may be used to manage those aspects of your condition.
Digoxin. Doctors can prescribe digoxin to help make the heart beat stronger and maintain a more regular rhythm. It can also be used to treat atrial fibrillation.