Congestive heart failure, often known as heart failure, is a chronic condition in which your heart is unable to pump blood effectively enough to satisfy your body's needs. Your heart is still functioning. However, because it cannot handle the volume of blood it should, blood accumulates in other places in your body. Most of the time, it accumulates in your lungs, legs, and feet.
Despite its term, heart failure does not imply that the heart has stopped working. Rather, it is a long-term disease in which the heart's ability to pump blood effectively is reduced. This causes the body to not get enough oxygen and nutrients, which can lead to a number of symptoms and complications.
Understanding Heart Failure vs. Heart Attack
It is important to distinguish between heart failure and heart attack because they are separate cardiovascular disorders with different underlying causes.
Heart failure happens when the heart is unable to pump blood efficiently, causing symptoms like weariness, shortness of breath, and fluid retention.
A heart attack happens when a blockage in the coronary arteries prevents blood flow to a portion of the heart muscle, causing damage or death to the tissue. Heart attacks and heart failure are not the same thing.
Symptoms
Shortness of breath
Chronic coughing
Weakness and fatigue
Fluid retention causes swelling in the legs, ankles, feet, and abdomen
Rapid or irregular heartbeats
Lack of exercise capacity
Increase in weight
Causes
Coronary artery disease
High blood pressure
Previous heart attacks
Diabetes
Cardiomyopathy
Heart valve disorders
Congenital heart defects
Infections affect the heart muscle.
7 Myths and Facts about Heart Failure
Myth: Heart failure exclusively affects elderly people. Fact: Heart failure affects people of all ages, including children and young adults.
Myth: Heart attacks and heart failure are interchangeable. Fact: Heart attacks and heart failure are distinct illnesses with different causes and symptoms. Heart attack and heart failure are not the same thing.
Myth: Heart failure will always result in death. Fact: It is a risky illness, and many people can effectively control its symptoms by medication, dietary changes, and medical procedures.
Myth: There is no way to prevent heart failure. Fact: Adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle such as regular exercise, a balanced diet, reducing stress, quitting smoking, and moderate alcohol consumption are some of the ways to reduce the risk of developing heart failure.
Myth: Heart failure affects only the heart. Fact: Heart failure can affect many organs and systems in the body due to decreased blood flow and oxygen delivery, resulting in problems such as renal dysfunction and liver congestion.
Myth: Exercise is not advised for people who have heart failure. Fact: Regular, moderate exercise improves cardiovascular health, endurance, and quality of life, hence, it is usually prescribed for persons with heart failure.
Myth: Heart failure is always followed by obvious indicators. Fact: Some patients' mild or atypical symptoms may make it difficult to detect heart failure. Regular screenings and medical checks are crucial to early detection.
Conclusion
Raising knowledge of heart failure symptoms, causes, and myths is critical for early detection and treatment. Individuals can improve their heart health by learning to notice signs earlier, receiving medical assistance, and adopting healthier lifestyle choices.
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