What is Heart Failure?
The heart is actually a muscle tissue that functions as a pump. It pumps oxygen-rich blood to all parts of the body. When you have heart failure, the heart cannot pump as much as it should. Due to heart failure, the heart cannot pump enough blood with each beat. Blood and fluid may back up to the lungs, and some parts of the body may not receive oxygen-rich blood to continue functioning normally. These problems cause the symptoms you feel.
How many types of heart failure are there?
Systolic heart failure
The heart muscle weakens and enlarges. When the heart contracts, it cannot pump enough blood.
Diastolic heart failure
The heart muscle becomes stiff. The heart cannot relax normally between contractions, the filling of the heart is affected.
How Does Heart Failure Affect Our Body?
When the heart cannot pump enough blood, hormones (body chemicals) come into play to increase the amount of work done by the heart. Some hormones make the heart enlarge, while others tell the heart to pump blood faster. As a result, the heart can pump more blood at first, but cannot keep up with the ongoing demands. Thus, the heart muscle becomes more damaged. Over time, less blood is pumped through the heart. This causes problems in the body.
What is Ejection Fraction?
Ejection fraction (EF) measures how much blood the heart pumps. This is measured to help diagnose heart failure. A healthy heart pumps at least half of the blood with each beat. This means that a normal ejection fraction is about 50% or more.
What are the Symptoms of Worsening Heart Failure?
When you have heart failure, flare-ups may occur. Below are symptoms that may mean your heart failure is getting worse. If you notice any of these warning signs, call your healthcare provider.
Swelling
Your ankles or the bottoms of your legs swell. Your shoes feel too tight. Your clothes start to feel tight.
Shortness of breath
Even when doing normal activities or resting You need to breathe more. You wake up at night with shortness of breath or cough. You may need to use more pillows or sit down to sleep.
Other Warning Signs
You may experience weakness, dizziness, or feel more tired.
You may have chest pain or changes in your heartbeat. You may have a persistent cough.
Monitoring Your Weight
Weight gain is often the first warning sign that heart failure is worsening. Gaining a few pounds may be a sign that your body is retaining too much water and salt. Weighing yourself every day is the best way to know if you're retaining water. Your healthcare provider will show you how to monitor your weight.
Read: 0
