Heart

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

When you have heart failure, what you eat and drink can definitely affect the health of your heart. Your doctor may want you to do some or all of the following: Reduce your sodium (salt) intake. Sodium causes your body to retain fluid. We get most of our sodium from salt, though we also get it

You can help your heart by keeping excess fluid out of your bloodstream. Although diuretics may be doing the job on their own, some people may be advised by their doctor to cut down on the amount of liquid they drink. Ask your doctor if you should set a limit for your daily fluids. If

How does excess body weight increase your risk for heart disease? Do you weigh more than you should? Why do you need to exercise? How you can cut calories How Does Excess Body Weight Increase Your Risk For Heart Disease? Excess body weight increases the risk for coronary heart disease because it: Raises total blood

Treatments for a heart attack can be broadly divided into four broad categories: Cardiovascular medications Angioplasty Coronary artery bypass surgery Lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of a repeat heart attack or other heart problems, called secondary prevention Medications used to treat heart attacks include those used in the hospital as well as after hospital

Life’s events are not in themselves stressful, but our reactions to those events can leave us feeling “stressed out.” Some people enjoy a fast-paced life with many challenges. For these people, slow, uneventful periods in their lives may be more stressful than challenging ones. Other people can become overwhelmed by a constant stream of pressure,

In some cases, medical therapy for a heart attack is not enough. These patients usually undergo surgical treatments for a heart attack including: Angioplasty Coronary artery bypass surgery Angioplasty Angioplasty refers to the re-opening or unclogging of a blood vessel that is significantly narrowed by plaque. It is most often used in patients with obstruction(s) in