Heart Failure

Heart Failure

Heart failure refers to a condition where the heart is unable to pump enough blood to support the body. Heart failure does not mean the heart has stopped beating. We refer to heart failure as a condition where the heart is not functioning properly, causing various tissues to lack oxygen. If the left side of the heart fails, there is an accumulation of fluid in the lungs called pulmonary edema. If the right side of the heart fails, there is an accumulation of fluid in the legs, causing swelling. Heart failure can occur suddenly, for example, after a heart attack or can develop slowly due to diseases of the heart muscle or the heart valves.

Causes of heart failure:

As we age, the heart's ability to contract decreases. If there are conditions that cause the heart to work harder, or if there is a loss of the heart's ability to contract effectively, heart failure can occur. In addition, certain behaviors increase the risk of heart failure, such as smoking, obesity, a diet high in fat, and lack of exercise. There are many causes of heart failure, and sometimes the cause is unclear.

Common reasons for heart failure:

Coronary Heart Disease: patients usually have a history of chest pain. When the blood flow to the heart muscle is insufficient, the

• heart muscle cannot efficiently pump blood to the body. For those with sudden and severe coronary artery blockages, the heart muscle may lack blood supply and die, which can cause sudden cardiac arrest.
• Myocarditis: caused by some types of viral infections, which cause inflammation of the heart muscle and lead to heart failure.
• Hypertension: when blood pressure rises, the heart muscle thickens and has to work harder, which can cause heart failure.
• Rheumatic Heart Disease: can cause the heart valves to become narrowed or leaky, leading to heart failure.
• Congenital Heart Disease: heart defects present at birth.
• Pulmonary diseases, such as pulmonary embolism, can cause the right side of the heart to fail.
• Arrhythmias: abnormal heart rhythms can cause the heart to beat too fast or too slow, which can lead to insufficient blood flow.
• Toxins: substances such as alcohol or drugs can damage the heart muscle.
• Thyroid toxicity.

Symptoms of heart failure:

Patients may have mild symptoms and not pay attention, but many come to see a doctor when the symptoms become severe. Patients who have been diagnosed with heart failure should know what symptoms to look for and should monitor them closely. Some of the symptoms that may be present are:

• Easy fatigue: If the heart failure is not severe, patients may only feel tired when performing heavy work. If the heart failure is more severe, the severity of fatigue will increase, and even normal activities that were previously possible will become tiring. Patients may feel tired even when resting. If the fatigue changes for the worse, it is important to see a doctor.
• Fatigue after lying down: After lying down for 1-2 hours, patients may feel tired and need to sit up to feel better. Some patients cannot lie flat at all, which is called Orthopnea.
• Easy weakness
• Swollen feet or abdomen due to fluid retention
• Rapid weight gain
• Chronic cough, especially if the sputum is red or pink, needs urgent medical attention because it may be a sign of pulmonary edema.
• Nausea and vomiting due to decreased blood supply to the digestive system
• Memory loss and confusion
• Palpitations and rapid heart rate.

Treatment

Rheumatic heart disease is a condition in which the continuous destruction of the heart muscle leads to the symptoms of rheumatic heart disease. Patients must cooperate in the treatment process, which includes the following principles:

• Behavior modification
• Use of medications
• Treatment of underlying conditions such as balloon angioplasty for blocked heart arteries, and heart valve surgery
• Use of devices to control heart rate
• Prevention of rheumatic heart disease

Preventing the disease before it occurs, also known as primary prevention, is the best approach. This can be achieved through the following methods:

1. Modifying lifestyle habits to reduce the risk of developing heart disease, such as regular exercise, consuming a healthy diet, avoiding high-fat and salty foods, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding stress, and refraining from smoking and limiting alcohol consumption.
2. Treating existing conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, narrowed or leaking heart valves, and heart failure.
3. Regular medical check-ups to detect early signs of heart disease before it progresses.