Heart failure is a clinical condition that occurs as a result of decreased cardiac performance and the heart's inability to send necessary and sufficient blood to tissues and organs.
Heart failure can develop at any age, but its incidence increases with advancing age. In society, the rate increases to 15% at the age of 85. It is the most common reason for hospitalization in people over the age of 65.
COMPLAINS SEEN IN HEART FAILURE
- Shortness of Breath
Shortness of breath is the most common complaint in heart failure. It is observed in almost all cases of heart failure. It initially occurs following heavy exertion (e.g. climbing stairs). As the disease progresses, it makes the patient need to stop and rest during lighter efforts (e.g. walking on a flat road). It can be felt as pulses. If the number of heart beats measured from the pulse at rest exceeds 90-100 beats per minute, you may think that your complaint of palpitations is correct.
- Easily Fatigue
In patients with heart failure, initially during heavy activities ( running, climbing stairs, etc.) as the disease progresses, lighter activities (walking on a flat road, etc.) and in the more advanced stages, rapid fatigue and exhaustion that occur during daily activities at home (washing dishes, bathing, cleaning the house, dressing and undressing, etc.). complaints are observed.
Fatigue and exhaustion occur as a result of insufficient blood reaching the muscles and tissues due to the reduced pumping ability of the heart.
- Foot or Leg Swelling
Foot and leg swelling develops as a result of fluid accumulation in the body. This may be a sign that heart failure is worsening. As swelling occurs in the feet, daily shoes begin to become narrower. The swelling in the legs leaves a mark for a while when pressed with a finger. Due to the effect of gravity, swelling in the feet and legs increases as the day progresses. Swelling usually decreases after lying down or resting.
- Abdominal Swelling or Pain
Pain or swelling in the upper abdomen (stomach area), due to fluid accumulation in the body.
- Rapid Weight Gain
If heart failure causes fluid accumulation, rapid weight gain may occur.
Daily morning urine Afterwards, weight monitoring is important. If you have a weight gain of more than 2 kilos in a few days, you should inform your doctor or nurse.
- Cough
Persistent cough and wheezing may occur due to heart failure. Although wheezing is similar to that in patients with asthma, the cause is different in heart failure. Cough, which starts some time after sleeping at night and wakes the patient up, is considered equivalent to shortness of breath in heart failure. People with heart failure may sometimes cough up slimy, thick sputum slightly stained with blood.
- Dizziness, Loss of Attention, Fainting, Lightheadedness
Heart Complaints such as feeling faint, dizziness and dizziness in those with deficiency are due to decreased blood flow to the brain. Fainting is a sudden loss of consciousness and means that blood flow to the brain is seriously reduced.
- Chest Pain
2/3 of cases with heart failure Since cardiovascular disease is often accompanied by cardiovascular disease, chest pain due to cardiovascular disease is among the common complaints. In such cases, chest pain is usually felt on the chest, but it can also be felt in any area between the lower jaw and the navel.
- Loss of Appetite/Nausea
Appetite in heart failure. There may be complaints of nausea or vomiting. Some patients may feel full quickly or feel bloated in the stomach, even though they eat very little. These complaints may be accompanied by abdominal pain and a feeling of tension in the abdomen.
Complaints - Summary
If any of the following conditions are present, you should consult a doctor. It is recommended.
- Shortness of breath
Shortness of breath with simple activities or climbing stairs
Shortness of breath that develops at rest or when lying flat
Waking up at night with shortness of breath
Feeling the need to increase the number of pillows in order to sleep
- Weakness-fatigue
Ç rapid fatigue
Swelling (edema) in the feet, ankles or legs
General state of fatigue
- Cough
Frequent coughing
Production of thick, slimy sputum stained with blood
DIAGNOSIS OF HEART FAILURE
The diagnosis of heart failure can only be made by a physician. The possibility of heart failure will be revealed as a result of an examination in the light of your clinical history and complaints. Doctors usually order a number of tests to confirm the diagnosis. Most of these tests are simple and painless. The most commonly used of these tests is echocardiogram (heart ultrasound). With echocardiographic examination of the heart, information about the heart chambers, heart walls and heart valves can be obtained and the pumping power of the heart can be measured directly.
TREATMENT IN HEART FAILURE
Early in the treatment of heart failure. Diagnosis and treatment are very important. Today, with physician-patient cooperation, many heart failure patients can continue their normal daily lives. If you have been diagnosed with heart failure, your doctor will start you on some medications and recommend that you change your lifestyle as required by your disease.
Lifestyle Changes of the Heart Failure Patient
Heart failure is a chronic disease and requires lifelong treatment. . In addition to using the medications prescribed by the doctor regularly, the heart failure patient must adapt to the lifestyle changes listed below in order to get the most benefit from the treatment, prevent possible worsening of the clinical picture, and prevent the progression of the disease.
1.Monitoring body weight
Patients with heart failure should, if possible, measure and record their body weight with the same scale at the same time every day (after going to the toilet in the morning) and report any sudden weight increases that may occur within a few days to the doctor. It is recommended that they report.
2. Restricting salt consumption
Restricting salt intake constitutes one of the most important lifestyle changes for patients with heart failure.
3. Stay hydrated Control of blood flow
Excessive salt intake alone may cause fluid retention in the body, while excessive fluid intake alone may increase the amount of body fluid and worsen the picture of heart failure.
4. Restricting alcohol intake
Although it is said that small amounts of alcohol consumption is beneficial in preventing coronary artery disease, excessive alcohol consumption in case of heart failure increases heart rate and blood pressure in the short term and causes long-term complications. It is harmful when used, causing further decrease in heart performance. Alcohol intake should be stopped completely.
5. Regulation of potassium intake in the diet
6. Reducing fat and cholesterol intake
7. Activity and exercise in heart failure
It is not a desirable situation for patients with heart failure to significantly restrict their daily activities and adhere to a sedentary lifestyle at home. Research shows that regular exercise activities performed by patients with heart failure, at a mild level and as recommended by the doctor, improve the quality of life and preserve the performance of the person.
9. Quitting smoking
Carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke reduces the blood's ability to carry oxygen. Thus, the heart has to work harder to provide enough oxygen to the body. Smoking also contributes to the accumulation of fatty deposits in the blood vessels, which can cause narrowing of the vessels and the occurrence of a heart attack in those with cardiovascular disease. When smoking, a certain level of constriction/spasm occurs in all body vessels, including the heart vessels, heart rate increases and blood pressure tends to increase. Due to this, heart failure symptoms may worsen. For this reason, smokers should quit smoking, receive supportive treatment if necessary, and stay away from smoking environments and passive smoking.
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