Heart Failure

Introduction
Many times we have come across the word heart failure or we hear a person died of heart failure. Do you really know what heart failure is? Heart failure means heart deceased. The heart is the main organ of the body and it pumps the blood to all parts of the body. But when it ceases to supply blood and the person dies immediately. It’s a chronic condition which can take place suddenly without any prior indication but in most cases it shows its effects before the real action takes place. It can be categorized as systolic or diastolic heart failure. It usually develops slowly and gradually with or without showing any symptoms. Time period is not predictable. The heart is also made up of muscles and when the muscles become rigid, it becomes difficult to pump the blood. Its occurrence is about 10% each year and it has been a great cause of deaths in all over the world. The symptoms may appear after years of the development of the disease.

Alternative Names
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is another name used for heart failure.

Causes
The main cause of heart failure is the weakness of heart muscles which can be due to time and age. This can affect the left side and middle of the chest. A heart failure can result in hindrance or the organs may completely cease to work as they do not receive the amount of blood which is necessary for their appropriate functioning. In systolic heart problem the heart looses its ability to contract properly resulting in lesser amount of blood being pumped to parts of the body and as a consequence the circulation of blood throughout the system is slowed down. In other type of heart failure, the hearty is unable to relax which results in improper flow of blood in the body. However in some cases the cause of death of a person is not the heart directly but because of heart failure. The other organs may stop working or they may produce some poisonous fluids which can be a cause of death. An American estimate shows that more than 4.9 million Americans are living with this disease, majority of which are men. Other diseases can also lead to heart failure such as high blood pressure and heart valve disease. Use of excess alcohol and drugs can also lead to heart failure. Cardiomyopathy is also a reason of it. The arteries and heart attack is also a cause of heart failure. Diabetes, high cholesterol level and unhealthy life style may also lead to heart failure. Smoking produces favorable conditions for heart failure and other heart disease. The most common cause of heart failure is coronary artery disease. It is usually the long term disease which takes places slowly and at the end results in heart failure. Heart tumor can also be a cause of heart failure. High salt intake is can also cause heart failure.

Risk Factors

People who are already suffering from heart attack and arteries problem.
People who do not take care of the cholesterol level in their blood.
Smoking can lead to heart failure.
Alcoholism.
Hypertensive people are at risk more than the other people.
Sometimes people are born with heart valve problem which can eventually lead to heart failure.
High blood pressure patients have 200% chances of getting heart problems.
Irregular heart beats can be a risk of having heart failure.
Diabetic patients are more prone to heart failure.
People who are over weight can also become a victim of it.

Symptoms & Signs
The signs and symptoms may not appear in the beginning but in later stages they become quite obvious. The symptoms are:

Pain in chest.
Having difficulty in breathing.
Weight gain.
Swelling of feet and legs with pain.
Fatigue is also a sign of heart failure.
A person may faint or feel dizziness.
Concentration becomes weaker.
The heart may become enlarged.
Disturbed heart beat.
Neck veins may become more prominent.
Urine production may increase as the kidneys are not getting sufficient blood.
Sweating during course of little exertion.
Vomiting and loss of appetite are also included in symptoms of heart failure.
Coughing is persistent.

If you or any of your family members are experiencing the above symptoms you need to go to the doctor immediately.

Diagnosis
There are many ways of diagnosing the heart failure. The most prominent is the ECG (electro cardio gram). An ECG can show that If there is any heart damage or the heart beat is normal or not. Symptoms and medical history can also add to the simplicity of diagnosis. Chest x-ray can show that there is enlargement of heart or not. Cardiac catherization is another technology which helps in determining the heart disease. Echocardiogram is also of great help as it helps us to hear the heart beat. Nuclear heart scans are also used to determine the disease.

Prevention

The heart failure can be prevented if it is not a genetic disease. First step should be to control your weight by taking less cholestrolic substances which can save you from high blood pressure.
Avoid using excess of salt in your daily diet.
If you are suffering from diabetes, keep a record of your sugar level and try to control it.
Stop smoking if you are a smoker.
Alcohol should be avoided as much as possible.
Consult a dietitian to make a regular food plan.

Treatment
Medication has advanced a lot in this field. There are many medicines to treat the heart failure. Surgery is also used. The proper treatment should be recommended by the doctor. One should not try self medication.

Primary Natural Supplements

Coenzyme Q-10 from Jarrow formula.
Hawthorn Flower & Leaf from Eclectic Institute.
Hawthorne berry from Eclectic Institute.
Flaxseed-Primrose Oil from Source Naturals.

Other Natural Supplements

Essentials Fatty Acids
Fibers

Dietary Guidelines

Reduce the level of cholesterol and salt in your daily diet.
Use fresh vegetables and fruits.
Drink lots of water.
Take food with fewer calories.
Don’t use alcohol and stop smoking to avoid heart failure.

Home Care Suggestions
The best of keeping away the disease is prevention. As we all know that prevention is better than cure. So follow the prevention points to ensure a healthy life.

Mind/Body Considerations
Exercise daily to avoid being over weight. It can help you to maintain better circulation of blood throughout the body and heart muscles can be strengthened.

Products

Heart Response 60 Tabs $18.55	Heart Response 90 Tabs $26.78	Heart Science 30 Tabs $11.41


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