HEART FAILURE
In a normal healthy heart, all the blood that comes into the heart is easily pumped out again. If the pumping action of the heart becomes impaired you may experience a syndrome know as Heart Failure. Heart Failure is the collective term for all of the symptoms a person has when their heart (usually the left side) cannot cope with the pumping demands placed on it. The heart may become enlarged and stretched which effects its ability to pump blood around the body. an obstruction in the heart may reduce the amount of blood returning to it; or both conditions may occur.
Heart failure does not mean that your heart is going to stop at any minute.
It is, in the main, a chronic condition.
The onset of heart failure is usually slow, and initially the heart compensates for the impaired pumping action by beating faster and building more muscle mass. In some cases, however, the heart is weakened suddenly – as, for example, by a heart attack – and then shock and collapse may follow. This is known as acute heart failure and may be transient.
The body’s responses to Heart failure interfere with the function of other organs, the kidneys in particular are affected, with the result that excessive amounts of fluids are retained in the blood which overload the circulatory system and so increase the strain on the heart and increase symptoms.
What can be done to avoid/delay the onset of heart failure symptoms?
- Avoid excessive alcohol intake
- Avoid smoking
- Control/lose weight
- Exercise regularly
- Eat a healthy low fat, low salt diet
- Take any medications as prescribed
- If you are suffering from an underlying condition that can cause heart failure, such as high blood pressure, it is important to have it monitored and treated as soon as possible. The risk of developing heart failure symptoms will then be greatly reduced.
Links for more information about Heart Failure
http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/23068755/
http://www.chss.org.uk/movies/heart failure/heart_failure.shtm
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