Heart failure is not only a problem with the heart, but also a warning bell for overall health. Understanding heart failure means taking responsibility for one's own health and safeguarding the peace of one's family. So, how much do you really know about heart failure?
1、 What is heart failure?
Heart failure is the inability of the heart to function properly and pump blood to various parts of the body, resulting in blood accumulation in the venous system and inadequate blood perfusion in the arterial system. This situation can lead to a series of symptoms, such as pulmonary edema, difficulty breathing, fatigue, etc. Heart failure is usually developed from heart disease, with the most common being left heart failure, where the left side of the heart is unable to function properly.
According to the mode of occurrence, heart failure can be divided into acute heart failure and chronic heart failure. Acute heart failure refers to the sudden onset of heart failure within a short period of time, usually caused by acute myocardial injury or excessive cardiac load. Chronic heart failure is a persistent form of heart failure that can be stable, worsening, or decompensated.
Chronic heart failure is usually caused by various reasons and develops into the terminal stage of heart disease. This state can lead to compensatory changes such as heart enlargement or hypertrophy, as well as organ congestion pathological changes caused by increased venous pressure. Meanwhile, chronic heart failure may also be accompanied by atrial and ventricular wall thrombus formation, as well as venous thrombosis. The main causes of adult chronic heart failure are coronary heart disease, hypertension, valve disease, and dilated cardiomyopathy.
2、 The causes of heart failure
Heart failure is not an independent disease, but gradually develops and evolves from various cardiovascular diseases. Specifically, it may be caused by changes in myocardial structure and function due to myocardial infarction (sudden interruption of blood supply to the heart leading to myocardial cell death), cardiomyopathy (abnormalities in the structure and function of the myocardium itself), hemodynamic overload (prolonged exposure of the heart to excessive pressure, such as hypertension or aortic stenosis), and inflammation (such as myocarditis), ultimately resulting in a decrease in the efficiency of the heart in pumping and filling blood.
In addition to these basic causes, there are also some factors that may trigger heart failure. For example, respiratory infections and rheumatic activity may increase the burden on the heart or directly damage the myocardium, triggering symptoms of heart failure. Rapid cardiac arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation and paroxysmal tachycardia, can prevent the heart from effectively pumping blood, thereby affecting blood circulation throughout the body. In addition, physiological conditions such as pregnancy and childbirth, as well as medical behaviors such as excessive and rapid infusion and excessive intake of sodium salts, may suddenly increase the burden on the heart, making it difficult to maintain normal function. At the same time, the role of drugs cannot be ignored. Improper or excessive use of digitalis may lead to poisoning, affecting the function of the heart, and sudden discontinuation of digitalis may also worsen the patient's condition. In addition, excessive physical activity and emotional excitement may also cause the heart to bear a burden beyond its capacity, leading to heart failure. Some less common diseases, such as pulmonary embolism, anemia, papillary muscle dysfunction, etc., may also affect the function of the heart and trigger heart failure.
3、 Treatment measures for heart failure
(1) General treatment:
1. Lifestyle management: Educate patients and their families, guide healthy lifestyles, emotional management, avoidance of triggers, standardized medication, and follow-up plans; Weight management can reflect fluid retention and diuretic effect; Reducing sodium intake in dietary management can help alleviate symptoms of heart failure, but it is necessary to avoid hyponatremia caused by excessive salt restriction.
2. Rest and activity: Patients in the acute phase or with unstable conditions need to rest in bed, but long-term bed rest also carries risks. Patients with stable conditions should gradually increase aerobic exercise.
（2） Etiological treatment:
1. Early treatment of diseases that may lead to impaired heart function; Early intervention is also necessary for diseases with unclear causes.
2. Eliminate triggers such as infection, arrhythmia, hyperthyroidism, anemia, etc.
Medication therapy: Diuretics are the cornerstone, but cannot be used alone.
2. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) can help improve hemodynamics and ventricular remodeling.
3. Beta blockers can alleviate symptoms and improve prognosis.
4. Digoxin is mainly used in patients with rapid atrial fibrillation.
5. Phosphodiesterase inhibitors can improve heart failure symptoms in the short term.
6. Nitroglycerin is mainly used in combination with other drugs to treat angina pectoris or hypertension.
（3） Surgical treatment: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) can improve cardiac output and quality of life, reduce mortality and hospitalization rates.
Left ventricular assist devices, heart transplants, and implantable cardiodefibrillators (ICDs) are treatment options for severe heart failure.
Other surgeries include pericardial dissection, valve replacement surgery, and surgical radical surgery for congenital heart disease.
Psychological therapy is also an indispensable part of heart failure management, which requires strengthening psychological counseling and reducing various mental pressures.
4、 How to prevent heart failure?
Firstly, efforts should be made to minimize incentives. This includes paying attention to keeping warm and avoiding upper respiratory tract infections, as well as taking medication regularly and on time to prevent the occurrence of various arrhythmias.
Secondly, controlling the cause is also crucial. If symptoms such as acute angina, myocardial infarction, or heart valve disease occur, seek medical attention promptly. At the same time, actively control blood pressure and blood sugar levels to reduce damage to the myocardium.
In terms of daily life, it is recommended to adopt a low sodium diet and engage in aerobic exercise regularly, such as walking, jogging, etc. These measures help maintain cardiovascular health.
In order to reduce the risk of heart failure in middle-aged and elderly people, it is necessary to prevent the occurrence of coronary heart disease. In terms of diet, overly greasy foods such as hairtail, egg yolks, animal organs, and fatty meat should be avoided.
In addition, try to reduce the amount of tea and coffee consumed, as excessive water intake can increase the burden on the heart. After drinking plenty of water, diuretics can be used appropriately to help with drainage.
When the seasons change, it is important to keep warm and avoid catching colds and fever. If symptoms of hyperthyroidism or other diseases occur, seek medical attention promptly. Early detection and treatment can reduce physical damage, so please do not hesitate to seek medical attention.
During treatment, it is recommended that patients rest in bed as much as possible to help their bodies recover. In terms of diet, one can mainly choose foods rich in vitamins and easily digestible.
Heart failure is not the end of life, but a new starting point for health management. Prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation require our attention and effort at every step. Let's start from the little things in life, protect our hearts, and cheer for life!