Living with Heart Failure
Heart failure is a condition where your heart doesn’t pump blood in the correct pattern and amount of power. In one minute the heartbeat should range from 60-100, and with a rhythm.
In heart failure, it ether beats too fast, at times too slow and with reduced power. This is manifested with an abnormal heartbeat/irregular pulse and a weak pulse.
Heart failure occurs as a result of many conditions, such as coronary artery disease, Cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, congenital heart diseases, and hypertension, and heart infections.
Heart failure could also be left-sided, right-sided, or biventricular in nature.
Living with heart failure involves living with polypharmacy of drugs, lifestyle modification, and Treatment procedures. Heart failure also has its comorbidity diseases such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and hypertension, which should regularly be screened.
As an individual
- Get to know about heart failure: Through reading texts and articles online, one can be able to understand their own disease.
- Cope with Adverse effects of drugs: The drugs involved are:
- Beta-blockers that end with –olol
- ACEI inhibitors that end with -pril, and
- Diuretics that drain excess fluid build in your body
- Statins such as rosuvastatin, to control your cholesterol levels.
Lifestyle modification
- Exercise frequently, but not too heavily. Simple exercises, such as walking for 2-3 kilometers, are advised. This is to reduce the excessive oxygen required by an already ailing heart.
- Consume a balanced diet. Reducing the fat and carbohydrate levels reduces the BMI to the acceptable levels (18-25). Dairy product consumption should be highly avoided due to the content of butterfat in them.
- Avoid excess salt intake since it causes primary hypertension. Hypertensive episodes worsen heart failure by 50%.
- Supplementation with essential vitamins and micronutrients: Some forms of alternative medicine are acceptable such as herbal medicine. Green tea and wheatgrass are known to reduce blood pressure. Supplementation with essential vitamins and ions also keeps the heart-healthy. This is because these ions and minerals are deficient in most heart failure patients.
Habits to stop
- Smoking cigarettes
- Alcohol consumption: Consumption of alcohol should be limited. This is because minute quantities of alcohol, such as in wine, are suitable for myocardial health and durability.
- Binge eating
- Testing for Comorbidities: one should always be aware of their blood pressure level, glucose levels, liver function tests and kidney tests at every time
- Avoid self-medication: In case you experience symptoms such as pain, it is best to consult your G.P for a better outcome. This can cause unwanted drug interactions.
Mental Health
As the first step of acceptance, it is vital to understand that heart failure is an irreversible condition so far. Doctors only deal with the symptoms associated. Despite this, it is not a death sentence, but it could lower your lifespan. This is why it is essential to visit your counselor once in 3 months regularly.
Stress levels are known to elevate Blood pressure and worsen existing heart disease.
In summary, if you have been diagnosed with heart failure, ensure that you adopt a healthy lifestyle, take your medications, and adopt stress coping mechanisms. This is the only way to ensure the longevity of your life.