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| Living with Heart Failure: Lifestyle, Medication Are Important |
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provider writes, "Although the term "heart failure" sounds ominous, it does not mean that the heart has stopped or is about to stop suddenly. Heart failure means that the heart is not pumping blood as well as it should through its chambers to the rest of the body. It is a common condition that can be caused by a heart attack, long-term high blood pressure, a heart valve abnormality, a viral infection of the heart or a genetic condition that runs in families. Sometimes the exact cause of heart failure is not known."
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If allowed to progress without treatment, heart failure has a great impact on quality of life and can shorten life expectancy. In the United States, it is the single most frequent cause of hospitalization for people over age 65, and more people die from heart failure than from all forms of cancer combined.
It is important that patients with heart failure learn how to take good care of themselves. By educating patients, those at risk and their families, the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) is committed to providing reliable and up-to-date information about heart failure.
"People with heart failure can lead relatively normal, active lives. The key is early diagnosis and treatment," says Barry Greenberg, MD, Chair, Education Committee, HFSA; and Director, Advanced Heart Failure Treatment Program, University of California, San Diego. New treatments can be very effective in slowing and stopping the progression of the disease and in some cases can even reverse the process.
Symptoms of heart failure include:
* Feeling tired
* Congestion
* Shortness of breath, which can happen even during mild activity
* Swelling in the feet and legs from fluid retention (results in weight gain)
* Cough with frothy sputum
* Difficulty breathing when lying down which may waken patients from sleep at night
Those diagnosed with heart failure should work with a doctor to develop a treatment plan and to follow it. Proper medications in the right doses, careful monitoring and self-care are the basis of effectively managing heart failure.
In addition to taking medicines exactly as directed, people with heart failure should:
* Weigh themselves every day
* Follow a low-sodium (salt) diet
* Get regular physical activity
* Quit smoking
* Avoid alcohol or drink sparingly
* Control body weight
* Monitor symptoms and learn when to consult a doctor or nurse
Friends and family members can help by learning about heart failure and the patient's treatment plan. The Heart Failure Society of America provides educational materials with information on following a low-sodium diet, exercise, managing emotional stress and how to evaluate claims about new treatments and cures.
These materials can be found at the HFSA Web site, www.abouthf.org. Copies can be downloaded, or a complimentary hard copy can be ordered.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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Posted on Feb 21, 2006 15:48pm.
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