Types of Heart Failure
Left- Sided Heart Failure
Fluid can back up in your lungs which can cause shortness of breath.
Right- Sided Heart Failure
Fluid can back up into your abdomen, legs or feet which can cause swelling.
Systolic Heart Failure
A type of Left-Sided Heart Failure where the Left Ventricle is unable to contract normally. This causes a pumping problem where the heart cannot properly pump blood to the rest of the body.
Diastolic Heart Failure
A type of Left-Sided Heart Failure where the Left Ventricle is unable to relax normally because the heart muscle is stiff. This causes a filling problem where the heart cannot properly fill with blood.
Risk Factors for Heart Failure
Heart related conditions that increase your risk of heart failure are
- coronary artery disease
- high blood pressure
- heart attack
- heart abnormalities
- abnormal heart rhythm
Additionally, other medical conditions including
- lung disease
- diabetes
- obesity
- sleep apnea
- overactive thyroid
- severe anemia
There are also lifestyle factors that can increase your risk for heart failure. They include
- smoking
- lack of exercise
- eating foods high in fat
- cholesterol
- sodium intake
Additionally, being older than 65 increases your risk.
It is important to reduce your risk factors by managing your medications and making lifestyle changes.
Treatment Options
Medications
Medications may be an option to reduce symptoms and improve heart function. There are a few different options to treat different symptoms and contributing factors.
- Angiotensin - Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors
- Beta Blockers
- Diuretics
- Blood Thinners
- Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs
Discuss with your doctor.
Low - Sodium Diet
Following a low-sodium diet may help control the symptoms of heart failure and reduce your risk for other heart problems. Since sodium balances the amount of fluid in your bloodstream, reducing your intake can reduce the amount of fluid in your body and the symptoms of heart failure. Sodium is often added to processed foods.
Lifestyle Changes
It is important to work with your doctor to manage treatment as your disease progresses over time. Lifestyle changes can help reduce symptoms and increase life expectancy, Some of the changes you can make include:
- Quit Smoking
- Reduce Alcohol Intake
- Increase Exercise/Activity
- Increase amount of Sleep
Resynchronization Therapy
Resynchronization therapy is an treatment used to improve symptoms in patients whose ventricles don't contract in the correct order. It involves pacing the right side of the heart and the left side of the heart independently.
