Living with Heart Failure
The heart has two sides:
The right side pumps blood from the body through the lungs so that it can be enriched with oxygen.
The left side now pumps the oxygen-rich blood ...
back into the body's circulation.
There is at the heart failure two main forms, which differ in the so-called “ejection fraction”; this is the measurable percentage of blood that is pumped out of the left ventricle:
• Systolic heart failure -
Here, the heart's ejection performance is reduced because the heart has enlarged and the muscles of both ventricles, which continue to pump the blood, are weakened.
• Diastolic heart failure -
This heart failure occurs when the heart tissue becomes increasingly stiff and the heart can no longer relax completely between two heartbeats. The heart can only fill with a smaller amount of blood per heartbeat, which reduces the amount of blood pumped to the body.
Both forms of heart failure lead to similar symptoms, especially weakness, fatigue and shortness of breath, but also swelling in the legs, abdomen or lungs. In the course of Disease The symptoms can occur during everyday activities – and eventually even while resting.
Reacting to symptoms of heart failure in a timely manner
If the heart is damaged or Diseases work harder over a long period of time, the heart muscle reacts: it gradually enlarges and becomes weaker or the muscles stiffen. The result is a weakening of the heart, which is known as "heart failure".
If heart failure has developed, it helps to get the risk factors under control - with medication and by changing your lifestyle.
Combating the causes of heart failure early
Once heart failure has developed, addressing the causes is one of the first and most important steps. In addition, many of the underlying problems increase the risk of other serious diseases, such as Heart attack and Stroke.
A healthy lifestyle, including not smoking, regular exercise and activity, a healthy weight and eating as healthily as possible, including natural plant foods, low-fat proteins and healthy fats such as olive oil, will bring about initial improvements.
In short, you will live longer and benefit healthily if you are closely connected to your Doctor work together and address the most common causes:
• Coronary heart disease -
Blocked or narrowed arteries can no longer supply the heart with sufficient blood, which over time can lead to damage or death of heart tissue - this is the case, for example, in a heart attack.
In addition, there are medications that help control risk factors such as high cholesterol, Hypertension and Diabetes, can be used. Surgical procedures may be necessary to open narrowed arteries.
• High blood pressure (hypertension) -
If your blood pressure is poorly controlled, your heart has to work harder than usual to pump blood into the vessels despite the higher pressure. This can lead to a weakening or stiffening of the heart muscles.
• Heart valve problems –
A leaky, narrowed, or otherwise defective heart valve forces the heart to work harder than usual to direct blood flow in the right direction.
Improving valve function or replacing a heart valve can help here.
• Cardiac arrhythmias –
If the heart is out of rhythm, the pumping function can deteriorate and this can overload the heart in the long term or reduce the heart's ejection performance.
Other factors that can affect your heart function and the symptoms of heart failure include thyroid disease, congenital heart defects, kidney disease, obesity, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, severe anemia and breathing difficulties during sleep, such as Sleep apnea with breathing pauses.
Treating these conditions is important and is part of a comprehensive therapy. This helps to reduce the strain on the heart so that it can function optimally despite heart failure.
A variety of options, including drug therapy, surgery, or implantation of a pacemaker or device that can restore normal rhythm, such as an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), can provide relief.
Rehabilitation for heart failure
is a special, doctor-led program that helps you to optimize the current treatment of your heart failure. In Germany, there is the option of an outpatient or inpatient rehabilitation measure that runs all day.
Short exercise sessions are easier on your heart because they improve the performance of the entire cardiovascular system. Too little exercise leads to a lack of stamina, an important factor in the worsening of symptoms. On the other hand, those who exercise regularly and Sports improves heart failure.
Cardio rehabilitation includes Nutritional consultation and you will learn how to deal with StressIn addition, mental illnesses such as depression are treated and there are smoking cessation programs.
Drug Therapy of Heart Failure
The treatment of systolic heart failure differs from that of diastolic heart failure primarily in the choice of medication. In systolic heart failure, various medications can improve heart function, slow the progression of heart damage, and prolong life. In diastolic heart failure, drug therapy does not have the same effect. Here, the main goals of drug therapy are to lower blood pressure and reduce fluid retention.
Our practice offers a complete health check for early Diagnosis heart failure.