Heart

Although high blood pressure can nearly always be brought down to safe levels, your doctor cannot do it alone. You need to become a partner in your own care. What Are The Guidelines For Treating High Blood Pressure? Treatment for high blood pressure consists of lifestyle modifications and drug therapy. To help doctors identify appropriate […]

Lifestyle changes play an important role in managing high blood pressure. Although permanent changes in lifestyle and diet are sometimes difficult to achieve, they may eliminate the need for drug treatment or allow reductions in the dosages of medications. A recent study showed that well-motivated individuals with Stage 1 and 2 hypertension were able to

Although changes in lifestyle and diet are essential steps to take in controlling high blood pressure, many people also need to use medications to keep their blood pressure in control. Drug treatment has been shown to protect against stroke, heart failure, coronary events such as a heart attack, progression of kidney failure, and progression to

Here are some reliable sources that can provide more information on heart disease. American Dietetic Association  Phone: (800) 877-1600 http://www.eatright.org American Heart Association  Phone: (800) 242-8721 http://www.americanheart.org National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute  Phone: (301) 251-1222 http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov

Heart failure does not mean that the heart has failed. It simply means that the heart does not pump as powerfully as it used to, and is not working efficiently enough to meet the body’s needs for oxygen-rich blood. In heart failure: The contractions of the heart muscle are less powerful than they used to

This depends on how severe the heart failure is. If the heart failure is mild, it may not significantly affect a person’s lifestyle and day-to-day living. On the other hand, severe heart failure can affect a person’s every move and can be fatal. Thus there is a “spectrum” of severity from very mild heart failure

Heart failure may occur for a number of different reasons: Because of chronic high blood pressure. When the blood pressure is high, the heart has to work much harder to pump blood through the arteries. This results in enlargement of the heart, especially the left ventricle, which is the heart’s main pumping chamber, making it less

It’s important for your doctor to determine whether you have heart failure or another condition that has similar symptoms. It’s also important to find out what caused your heart failure, so the doctor will know how to treat it. Nice To Know: Your doctor will examine you carefully and listen to your heart and lungs. The

Medication can do a number of things for heart failure: Help the heart maintain a strong, regular heartbeat Open up (dilate) the blood vessels, to reduce the heart’s workload Remove excess fluid from the body Correct the balance of sodium and potassium in the body Medications your doctor may prescribe for heart failure include: Diuretics(water

Here’s how to get the most out of your medication: Medications for heart failure need to be taken every day, as prescribed by your doctor. Remember to take all doses, even if you feel better. Don’t be tempted to skip doses even if you feel “cured.” If you stop taking your medications, the symptoms probably

It’s very important to talk with your doctor about the amount of exercise you need and whether you should limit any of your normal activities. For example: Can you go for a walk or swim, ride a bike, cut the grass, play golf? Is it okay to return to work, either full time or part