Damage, weakness and stiffness to your heart typically develops after a heart attack or coronary heart disease. Other causes may include: long-term conditions such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension (high blood pressure) and high cholesterol. inflammation of the heart due to an infection (myocarditis)
Heart failure is a long-term condition that tends to get gradually worse over time. It cannot usually be cured, but the symptoms can often be controlled for many years.
It is possible to lead a normal life, even if you have Heart Failure. Understanding and taking control of Heart Failure is the key to success. Your doctor and healthcare providers will provide guidelines and a treatment plan. It is your responsibility to follow the treatment plan and manage your Heart Failure.
Cardiomyopathy can lead to serious complications, including: Heart failure. The heart can't pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. Untreated, heart failure can be life-threatening.
Heart Failure: Quick Facts
2. About half of people who develop heart failure die within 5 years of diagnosis. 3. Most people with end-stage heart failure have a life expectancy of less than 1 year.
Patients with congestive heart failure have a high incidence of sudden cardiac death that is attributed to ventricular arrhythmias. The mortality rate in a group of patients with class III and IV heart failure is about 40% per year, and half of the deaths are sudden.
Heart failure is a condition in which your heart can't pump enough blood to meet your body's needs. Key symptoms may include shortness of breath, a dry and hacking cough, weight gain, swelling, and fatigue. Heart failure happens when the heart cannot pump enough blood and oxygen to support other organs in your body.
With regular exercise, you should start to notice an increase in your aerobic capacity in about 8 to 12 weeks, Traskie says. That means your heart and lungs are better able to shuttle oxygen to your muscles.
A coronary angiogram is a type of X-ray used to examine the coronary arteries supplying blood to your heart muscle. It's considered to be the best method of diagnosing coronary artery disease - conditions that affect the arteries surrounding the heart.
Stage 1 of Congestive Heart Failure
If you've been diagnosed with stage one of congestive heart failure, it is because a doctor has noticed a weakness in your heart. This news may be surprising, as stage one of CHF does not exhibit any symptoms.
Fatigue and Activity Changes
The easiest way to know that heart failure is getting worse is you're able to do less and less. People start pacing themselves. They stop doing hobbies that involve any physical activity. They used to go fishing, but not anymore.
An ECG is pretty accurate at diagnosing many types of heart disease, although it doesn't always pick up every heart problem. You may have a perfectly normal ECG, yet still have a heart condition.
What your cholesterol levels and other substances in your blood can tell you about your heart health. Your blood may offer many clues about your heart health. For example, high levels of "bad" cholesterol in your blood can be a sign that you're at increased risk of having a heart attack.
With every step, walking offers benefits and is some of the best exercise for heart health. It can improve your cholesterol levels, blood pressure and energy levels, plus it can fight weight gain to improve heart health overall, explains the American Heart Association.
Walking helps congestive heart failure patients in several ways: Reduces heart attack risk, including cutting the risk of having a second heart attack. Strengthens their hearts and improves lung function. Long term, aerobic activity improves your heart's ability to pump blood to your lungs and throughout your body.
Increasing physical activity among adults at risk for or with cardiovascular disease (CVD) can help prevent and manage the disease, and walking is an easy way for most adults to avoid inactivity and increase physical activity levels.
Regular exercise has many benefits for patients with heart failure. A regular activity program will help: Reduce heart disease risk factors and the chance of having future heart problems. Strengthen the heart and cardiovascular system.