Everything you need to know about congestive heart failure
Congestive heart failure, also popularly known as heart failure is a condition wherein the heart becomes weak and is unable to fully function to fulfill the body’s needs. The heart cannot pump sufficient blood to reach every tissue in the body. While an individual can not do much to being prey to heart failure, certain changes in lifestyle can do great. Leading a healthy life with regular exercising and eating well is a good way to start.
So what causes congestive heart disease. There can be several reasons behind your heart being unable to pump and fill blood. However, the most common causes are heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and heavy weight or obesity.
Congestive heart failure can be classified into two types –
Systolic heart failure – This is the condition when the muscle of the heart does not contract with force. This leads to the heart pumping out a lack of oxygen-rich blood to different parts of the body.
Diastolic heart failure – In diastolic heart failure, while the heart contracts with enough force, the ventricles may be stiff. This does not let the heart fill blood normally, leading to less blood entering the heart.
There are numerous congestive heart symptoms that come to notice over time. While some may be constant, a few will come and go. An individual runs out of breath after a small activity or even during resting. This is mainly because the fluid deposit leads the lungs to get congested. Lack of blood circulation to the vital organs such as the brain can lead to feeling dizzy and tired all the time. Do note that it is likely that a person does not experience any of the symptoms but may still suffer from heart failure.
Treatment has advanced more than before. A doctor specializing in heart diseases can offer an advanced treatment that will decrease the chances of the condition becoming worse. There are several lifestyle changes that a patient should undertake once the condition is detected. It is important to watch your weight and keep it on track, as asked by your doctor. Consume your medication or drugs, as prescribed by the doctor, on time. Stop unhealthy habits such as smoking and drinking as continuing with this will aggravate heart damage. It is important that you eat a healthy diet that includes nutrient-rich foods like veggies and fruits. Keep your body active with moderate activity, however, talk to your physician about the type of exercise that good for you.