Most people with heart failure are older adults, with a significant majority being over 65, and prevalence rising sharply with age, especially after 75, though younger individuals can also develop it, with concerning increases in younger demographics due to factors like COVID-19 and health disparities. The average age for diagnosis is around 73, and it's a leading cause of hospitalization for those over 65.
Manage stress
And everyone has specific stress triggers — things that cause your heart to pound and make you breathe harder. It's important to try to manage stress and anxiety. They make the heart work harder, which can make symptoms worse. Don't smoke, drink, overeat or use drugs to cope with stress.
These splanchnic hemodynamic changes may also be responsible for the abdominal discomfort, nausea, constipation, and diarrhea common in advanced HF.
Shortness of breath with activity or when lying down. Fatigue and weakness. Swelling in the legs, ankles and feet. Rapid or irregular heartbeat.
Heart failure also becomes more common as people age. In American adults over the age of 40, 1 in 5 will develop heart failure within their lifetime. In people over the age of 65, heart failure is the most common cause of hospitalization, and cardiovascular diseases like heart failure are the leading cause of death.
It can occur at any age, but is most common in older people. Heart failure is a long-term condition that tends to get gradually worse over time.
In the past, heart failure used to limit a patient's lifespan to only five more years. However, this lifespan has improved over the past 20 years, mainly due to advances in treatment. It is now not uncommon to see patients living for more than 20 years after a heart failure diagnosis.
Symptoms of heart failure may include:
Many people first realize their heart failure is getting worse when they notice gaining more than two or three pounds in a day or more than five pounds in a week. This gain may be due to retaining fluids since the heart is not working properly.
Cardiac troponin.
This protein is by far the most commonly used biomarker. It has the highest known sensitivity.
Call your local emergency number if you suddenly experience chest pain, pressure, heaviness or discomfort, fainting or shortness of breath. You may want to ask your healthcare provider: What kind of heart disease do I have?
A cough from heart failure tends to be persistent and you might produce phlegm, which can be white, pink or blood-tinged. It might happen at night when you're lying down. If you have a cough that's not going away, or if you ever cough up blood, see your GP right away.
The heart can't pump enough blood to meet the needs of body tissues. The body diverts blood from less vital organs and sends it to the heart and brain. A feeling of being full or sick to your stomach. The digestive system receives less blood, causing problems with digestion.
“Smoking is one of the most harmful things people can do to themselves,” Dr. Maniar says. Blood flow drops, slashing oxygen that fuels the heart, which compensates by spiking blood pressure, heart rate and rhythm, and can lead to hardened and narrowed arteries and blood clots causing cardiovascular disease.
Unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as an unhealthy diet, smoking, using cocaine or other illegal drugs, heavy alcohol use, and lack of physical activity, increase your risk of heart failure. Heart or blood vessel conditions, serious lung disease, or infections such as HIV or SARS-CoV-2 raise your risk.
Every 1,000 extra steps daily, up to 10,000, was associated with a 17% reduction in overall risk. These extra daily steps were linked to a 22% reduction in heart failure, 9% reduction in risk of heart attack, and 24% reduction in risk of stroke. Any physical activity is beneficial and the faster you walk, the better.
Heart failure means that the heart isn't working as well as it should. One effect of this can be extra fluid in your body. This can cause rapid weight gain and can cause swelling in the ankles, feet or legs, or sometimes around the stomach.
In some people, particularly those who have been dieting or fasting, a meal that is high in carbohydrates, such as pasta or rice, can be stored as glycogen. Glycogen is stored with water, which causes an individual to gain water weight very quickly – as much as 2 pounds overnight.
In general, call if you gain 3 pounds or more in 2 to 3 days. Your doctor can tell you how much weight gain to watch for. A sudden weight gain may mean that your heart failure is getting worse. Also tell your doctor about any slower weight gain you may have.
The symptoms of heart failure may be subtle and are often mistaken for normal signs of aging. Common symptoms of heart failure are due to extra fluid or congestion. Typically starting with congestion of the lungs, then congestion of different parts of the body.
Heart failure is a serious condition, and usually there's no cure. But many people with heart failure lead a full, enjoyable life when it is managed with heart failure medications and a healthy lifestyle. It's also helpful to have the support of family and friends who understand your condition.
Some of the main medicines for heart failure include:
Most patients with moderate, stable heart failure can travel safely, but a consultation with your doctor is non-negotiable. However, those with severe or decompensated congestive heart failure, where symptoms occur even at rest, should avoid commercial flying.
Heart failure mainly occurs in older people. It usually first arises after the age of 65, and the risk increases with age. More than 10% of people over the age of 70 have heart failure. It is equally common in men and women.
Treatment often includes lifestyle changes and medicines. If another health condition is causing the heart to fail, treating it may reverse heart failure. Some people with heart failure need surgery to open blocked arteries or to place a device to help the heart work better.