failure is a condition in which the heart does not pump enough oxygen rich blood for the body’s needs. Sudden damage to your heart muscle can cause this ailment. However, it is more often produced in a slower manner due to other physical conditions within the body such as coronary artery disease or high blood pressure. Both of these can cause damage to the heart muscle. The more common symptoms of congestive heart failure include: weight gain and fluid retention, appetite loss, tiredness, shortness of breath, fast or slow heart beat, and coughing or wheezing. Although this ailment may be treated by your health care professional with a number of medications or surgery in extreme cases, there is much you can do to help this condition on your own.
Instructions
1. Gather support from friends and family. In several studies, one of the main reasons for re-hospitalization or heart attach was a lack of emotional support. At one end of the spectrum, single people (especially women) were more likely to experience relapses, where married people were more likely to have longer term survival. If personal support is not available, local heart associations should be sought for patient follow-up programs.
2. Weigh yourself every morning. A weight gain increase by more than 3 lbs. may be due to fluid retention and should be reported to your health care professional at once. Further unexplained weight loss over a period of a month is a negative symptom that should be reported.
3. Eat a Mediterranean Diet. Studies have indicated such a diet rich in whole grains, garlic, fish and olive oil are beneficial to heart patients. Omega 3 fatty acids are especially helpful. If you don’t eat enough fish, supplementing your diet with flaxseed oil or fish oil can be very helpful.
4. Restrict your salt intake if you have high or congestive heart failure. Because high blood pressure can be a precursor to congestive heart failure, it is important to take action as early as possible. Salt has the ability to cause the body to retain water, which is a detrimental symptom to heart patients.
5. Exercise regularly, but only under recommendations of your health care professional. He will form a program specifically for your individual needs. Studies have shown exercising just twice a week--for patients with a stable condition--produces benefits in longevity and quality of life.
6. Rest in bed. This may be a requirement for severe cases of congestive heart failure. However, your upper body should be elevated so as not to increase congestion in the lungs. Try resting and even sleeping in an easy chair rather than in bed where your body is apt to be in a flat position.
7. Reduce your stress with special techniques. Reducing stress in your daily life may be difficult. However, learning specific techniques, such as meditation or relaxation, to lessen stress can be helpful in lowering hormones such as cortisol, which are associated with a dysfunctional heart.
Tags: congestive heart, heart failure, blood pressure, care professional, health care