People often think that heart failure means that your heart has stopped working. But it is not the case.
Heart failure is a condition in which the heart works less efficiently as compared to normal. It can not pump enough blood to meet the requirement of your body.
Your heart pumps a certain volume of oxygenated blood that reaches all the organs and gives them oxygen and nutrients. Due to heart failure, your organs do not receive enough blood as the pumping abilities of your heart are affected.
When your heart can not work well, as a response, kidneys start to retain water and salt in your body, which can lead to swelling and edema. If it occurs around legs, feet, ankles, arms, and lungs, your body is termed to be congested. To describe this condition, the term congestive heart failure is used. It is a complication of heart failure. However, your healthcare providers can treat it through diuretics and other medications. They can help relieve fluid accumulation in your body.
If you are diagnosed with heart failure, you should practice tips that help prevent its worsening. In this article, we will tell you those tips. If you have any symptoms of heart failure, you must visit the best internal medicine specialist in Islamabad.
What are the Symptoms of Heart Failure?
Heart failure can be sudden or acute. It may show up as:
- Shortness of breath on physical activity or lying down straight
- Cough upon lying down
- Swelling in feet, ankles, and legs
- Fatigue and lethargy
- Low energy to exercise
- Irregular heart rhythm
- A whistling sound on breathing, known as wheezing
- Persistent cough accompanied with white or pink bloody mucus
- Weight gain due to fluid build-up
- Accumulation of fluid around abdomen
- Decreased ability to think
- Lack of appetite
- Nausea
- Sometimes it can also cause chest pain
How Can You Prevent Heart Failure from Getting Worse?
To prevent heart failure from getting worse the following tips can help:
- Keep your blood pressure within normal limits. Monitor it frequently and if it raises, visit the healthcare provider.
- Monitor the symptoms of heart failure by monitoring cough and your weight daily. A rapid weight gain can indicate fluid accumulation in your body. To get rid of it, you may need to take an additional diuretic or water-pulling medications. A weight gain of 3 pounds in a day and 5 pounds in a week indicates you may have fluid retention.
- You must limit sodium intake. Sodium can hold water with it. We consume it in our daily lives through various foods. But most of it we get through salt. In heart failure, already your body is accumulating fluid and salt. Therefore consuming too much salt can lead to worsening of the condition. You need to restrict salt intake. If you eat a diet containing low sodium, you will be able to breathe with ease, have less swelling and fluid retention.
- Monitor your weight. You must know your dry and ideal weight. Dry weight is your ideal weight without any fluid accumulation. You should remain within additional 4 pounds of your dry weight. Make a routine of weighing yourself daily at the same time, in the same clothing, on the same scale. The best time to do that is morning, after urinating, and before breakfast. A gain of three pounds in a day or five pounds in a week indicates fluid accumulation.
- Take your medications as directed by your physician. If you feel low or your blood pressure is too low due to medications, consult with your healthcare provider. It may take some time to get set on medicines. Moreover, attend all your appointments with the doctor. If you have any signs or symptoms of heart failure, visit the best internal medicine specialist in Karachi.
