Common Treatment Options for Heart Failure

Posted by Julie Simms on January 28th, 2021

Heart failure is a syndrome that occurs due to a deterioration in the pumping function of the heart, which leads to its inability to provide normal blood supply to the entire body. There is a violation of the circulation of nutrients and oxygen, a stagnation of the blood. This pathology can be acute and chronic.

Causes and symptoms of the disease

The main causes of acute heart failure include the following diseases: pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, decompensation of CHF, cardiac tamponade, acute valvular insufficiency, cardiac arrhythmias and injuries of the heart muscle, cardiosclerosis, angina pectoris (chronic IHD), diseases of the valvular apparatus of the heart muscle, arterial hypertension, chronic pulmonary heart disease.

Symptoms of heart failure occur in various forms. It depends on which part of the heart muscle is most affected. You may have blackouts, fainting, dizziness, swelling of the neck veins, arrhythmia, pale skin, sore feet, swelling of the lower extremities, increasing the size of the liver, ascites, attacks of weakness and fatigue, decreased resistance to stress, heart rhythm disorders. Symptoms of acute heart failure include enlarged heart borders, difficulty breathing (shortness of breath), increased heart rate, increased CVD (central venous pressure), hepatomegaly (increased liver size).

Treatment of the disease

Treatment of chronic heart failure is usually carried out at home. The process begins with the treatment of the disease that caused the syndrome. It is important to be calm, take certain medications and engage in physical therapy in a medical institution (only under the supervision of a specialist with appropriate education).

Common oral medications include Lasix, Aldactone, Tritace, Vasotec, Esidrix, Zestril, Prinivil, Frumil, and Altace. All of them can be purchased online via empowerbreastfeeding.org - Trusted Tablets’s website. This is a popular pharmacy that cooperates with large and licensed drug manufacturers and distributors. Being an online pharmacy, they offer the lowest possible prices on the market. Orders can be placed 24/7. The company delivers medicines all over the globe, right to your home door. The rich assortment allows you to buy all the necessary medicines in one place.

Acute heart failure begins suddenly. It quickly increases and then turns into a choking attack. There is a strong cough with expectoration of foamy contents and other symptoms of pulmonary edema or cardiac asthma. Therefore, the treatment of heart failure begins with calling a doctor and providing first aid. The patient is placed in a hospital, where he or she is under strict supervision. The cardiologist, in accordance with the patient's condition, prescribes the appropriate course of treatment.

A diet should be prescribed with a restriction of fluid intake to 1,200 ml and salt to 4 g (sometimes up to 1-2 g per day). Food should be high in protein, minerals, and vitamins. The patient should eat fewer carbohydrates and fried food to reduce the risk of obesity. Spicy food should be avoided.

Edema is treated with diuretic medications. Sometimes they are combined with drugs containing potassium. During the treatment period, you need to monitor the results of a blood test to determine the level of uric acid, potassium, sodium and monitor the acid-base balance.

Surgical methods for the treatment of heart failure include:

• coronary artery bypass grafting;
• operations on the heart valves, which helps reduce the load on the myocardium;
• heart transplantation.

Prevention of the disease

• Regular physical activity in the fresh air. A sedentary lifestyle disrupts metabolic processes, slows down blood flow, changes the work of the venous and lymphatic systems, thins muscle fibers (including myocardial fibers). In some cases, the lack of optimal physical activity leads to metabolic disorders and, as a result, weight gain and obesity. This significantly increases the possibility of heart failure;
• Weight control. An increase in body weight causes an increase in blood pressure. The increased amount of adipose tissue requires blood, which increases the load on the heart. In an obese patient, due to an increase in the stroke volume, the cardiac output also increases, which causes diastolic dysfunction and hypertrophy of the left ventricle;
• Proper nutrition. To prevent the disease, it is recommended to follow a special diet. It is necessary to minimize the consumption of alcohol, beverages containing caffeine, foods rich in cholesterol, spicy and smoked dishes, muffins. It is recommended to use fish oil;
• Complete smoking cessation. The rhythm of the heart muscle under the influence of nicotine significantly increases, there is a spasm of blood vessels. These factors complicate the work of the heart;
• Mental and emotional comfort. To prevent the disease, it is important to deal with stress in a timely manner and constantly monitor the emotional state. High levels of cortisol (the "stress hormone") lead to damage to the cardiovascular system. Stressful life situations, emotional overstrain lead to spasm of the coronary arteries and microvessels. Anger, excessive arousal, especially in combination with a lack of sleep and physical overload, can cause acute myocardial infarction;
• Proper rest. To restore normal blood circulation and prevent hypertension, it is recommended to periodically rest sitting with raised legs or "lying down". You need to sleep in a well-ventilated room. It is not recommended to get out of bed abruptly immediately after waking up;
• Abstinence from alcohol. All alcoholic beverages are heart depressants. The most common diseases that occur due to their abuse are myocardial infarction and cardiomyopathy. When you drink alcohol, the blood vessels narrow and the pulse increases. The content of norepinephrine and epinephrine in the blood increases;
• Routine checkups with a cardiologist. In order to start treatment in a timely manner, you need to regularly consult with a specialist and undergo examinations.