Heart failure is a critical medical condition that affects the heart’s ability to pump blood efficiently, impacting the overall function of the body. In this blog, we will delve into the intricacies of heart failure, exploring its causes, symptoms, risk factors, and available treatments.
Whether you’re someone grappling with this condition, a caregiver seeking information, or simply interested in understanding more about heart health, this guide aims to provide valuable insights and knowledge to empower you in the journey toward better heart care. So, let’s embark on this informative exploration of heart failure and equip ourselves with the understanding needed to promote heart health and well-being.
What goes around your mind when you hear of heart failure is either death or your heart will stop working. If you or a loved one encounters Upper East Side heart failure, there is hope when you visit their Cardiology clinic. You will meet Dr. Satjit with his specialist cardiologist team, who tend to offer different services to ensure you enjoy a healthy heart. They may carry out different tests to figure out the underlying problems. Some of these tests include:
Hypertension
Stress testing
Chest pain
Varicose veins
Atrial fibrillation
Echocardiogram
Palpitations
When you visit your doctor, he will explain that heart failure means your heart cannot pump blood as required. Your heart arteries may have become narrow, or you might be having hypertension, which causes your heart to weaken.
Causes of heart failure
Heart failure is not a singular affliction but rather a complex interplay of factors that compromise the heart’s ability to function optimally. Understanding the causes is crucial for both prevention and effective management.
Your doctor will discuss with you various reasons that can cause your heart to fail. To be able to comprehend the problem in a better way, you can read on the same beforehand:
1. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): One of the leading culprits behind heart failure is coronary artery disease, a condition where the blood vessels supplying the heart muscle become narrowed or blocked, often due to the accumulation of cholesterol and other substances. The restricted blood flow can result in damage to the heart muscle, setting the stage for heart failure.
2. Hypertension (High Blood Pressure): Prolonged high blood pressure puts an excessive strain on the heart, leading to hypertrophy (enlargement of the heart muscle). Over time, this can weaken the heart’s pumping ability, contributing to heart failure.
3. Cardiomyopathy: Cardiomyopathy refers to diseases of the heart muscle. Conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy, where the heart becomes enlarged and weakened, or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, where the heart muscle thickens, can significantly increase the risk of heart failure.
4. Heart Valve Disorders: Malfunctioning heart valves, either due to congenital defects or acquired conditions, can disrupt the smooth flow of blood, forcing the heart to work harder and potentially leading to heart failure.
5. Diabetes: Individuals with diabetes face an elevated risk of heart failure. The disease can damage blood vessels and the nerves that control the heart, increasing the likelihood of heart failure.
6. Lifestyle Factors: Unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as a sedentary routine, poor diet, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption, can contribute to heart failure by promoting conditions like obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.
7. Previous Heart Attacks: A history of heart attacks can scar the heart muscle, affecting its ability to pump blood effectively and ultimately increasing the risk of heart failure.
8. Infections and Diseases: Certain infections, especially those affecting the heart muscle, and diseases like thyroid disorders, amyloidosis or even erectile dysfunction can contribute to the development of heart disease and failure. It may be difficult for some individuals to believe this, but thyroid, ED and heart disease often share intricate connections. Surprisingly, erectile dysfunction (ED), a condition often viewed in isolation, can serve as an early warning sign of potential heart issues. Research suggests that the same vascular problems contributing to ED can also impede blood flow to the heart, indicating an underlying cardiovascular concern.
Besides these, smoking can also significantly increase the risk of heart disease. Smoking involves the combustion of tobacco, which produces a complex mixture of harmful chemicals and toxins, including tar, carbon monoxide, and numerous carcinogens. Quitting smoking could reduce the likelihood of health issues caused by these elements. If you find it difficult to quit smoking, you could switch to a vape, like the Flerbar Baymax 3500, as it eliminates the combustion process, which is the primary source of the harmful chemicals and toxins found in cigarette smoke. Vaping also allows users greater control over the nicotine content in e-liquids, allowing for gradual nicotine reduction and potentially helping them quit.
Your heart muscles can also cause heart failure when damaged and weakened, causing the ventricles to stretch hence failing to pump blood efficiently to the whole body.
Symptoms of heart failure
Your doctor will take you through the various heart failure symptoms and signs and let you know the right time to visit him immediately. These are:-
Chest pain
Fainting or severe weakness
Sudden severe shortness of breath and foamy pink mucus when you cough.
Diagnosis
Your doctor will go through your medical history and review your symptoms. For physical examination, he will listen to your lungs for congestion using a stethoscope. He will also check for abnormal heartbeat sounds.
Your doctor may also request some of these tests.
Blood test
Your doctor will take a blood sample to check any disease that can affect the heart.
Chest X-ray
Your doctor will do the test to see the condition of your lungs and heart.
Echocardiogram
Your doctor will recommend this test to get a video image of your heart that shows any abnormality in your hearts’ size and shape.
Stress test
Your doctor will request you to do the test to measure your heart’s health through how it responds to exertion.
Treatment
Your doctor will take you through the various treatment methods to help you live longer and avoid heart failure.
Medications
We have a different kind of medication. Depending on your condition, your doctor might use a combination of different medications available.
Surgery and medical devices
Your doctor may recommend surgery to treat your underlying condition that led to your heart failure. They will also discuss with you the different types of medical devices available nowadays, like pacemakers, that can improve your quality of life. It’s important to know that pacemakers are not defibrillators, but you’ll be given all of the information you need by your doctor.
Palliative care and end-of-life care
Your doctor will explain to you that palliative care will ease your symptoms and improve your life quality.
For more details about heart failure, call or make a booking online with your trusted physician at Upper East Side Cardiology.