Heart failure is referred to as the weakness of the heart muscle, which is sometimes known as congestive heart failure, and occurs when the heart muscle can not pump blood properly. (Such as coronary artery disease) or progressive hypertension, leaving your heart too weak or in a tight state, preventing it from pumping efficiently.
Not all conditions that lead to heart failure can be reversed, but treatments can improve and signs and symptoms of heart failure help you live longer. Changing your lifestyle, doing exercise, reducing salt in your diet, working away from stress, anxiety, and working on weight loss for those who suffer from it can improve your patient’s quality of life. The best way to prevent heart failure is to control Conditions that cause heart failure, such as coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, diabetes or obesity, and heart failure can be persistent (chronic heart failure) or your condition may suddenly start (sharply).
Symptoms of heart failure:
- Feeling shortness of breath (breathlessness) when you stress yourself or when lying down
- Feeling tired and weak without reason
- Swelling (edema) occurs in the legs, ankles and feet
- An acceleration or irregular heartbeat
- Low ability to exercise daily.
- Persistent coughing or whistling with the appearance of white blood-spattered blood sputum.
- Increased need to urinate at night.
- Swelling in the abdomen (ascites)
- Sudden weight gain from fluid retention
- Loss of appetite and nausea
- Difficulty concentrating or low alertness
- Sudden, very short breath and cough pink, foamy mucus
- Hypertension
- Chest pain, if heart failure is caused by a heart attack
When to see a doctor
Check with your doctor if you think you have signs or symptoms of heart failure. You should seek emergency treatment if you experience any of the following:
- Chest pain, fainting, severe weakness, rapid heartbeat or irregularity, especially when accompanied by shortness of breath, chest pain or sudden fainting, severe breathlessness, pink cough, foamy mucus.
Although these signs and symptoms may be due to heart failure, there are many other possible causes, including other heart and lung conditions that are life threatening. Do not try to diagnose your condition. Call 911 or your local emergency number for immediate assistance. Emergency room health care providers will try to restore your condition to stability and determine whether the symptoms are due to heart failure or anything else.
If you have a heart failure diagnosis and if any of the symptoms suddenly get you or becomes worse or you are experiencing a new signal or symptoms, it may mean that your existing heart failure is getting worse or not responding to the treatment. Contact your doctor immediately.