Many misunderstood that “Heart Failure” is a disease.  In actual fact, doctors consider it a syndrome by which the patient’s heart fails because it does not function properly. 

Understanding Heart Failure

Heart failure is not a situation when the heart stops working, but is a condition in which the heart cannot perform its tasks properly.  In the case of acute heart failure, the patient’s life can be at risk.  But for patients with the chronic condition, they also occasionally exhibit other symptoms (e.g., pulmonary edema) or experience heart failures increasingly more often until it becomes fatal.

Previously, heart failure was called ‘weakened heart’ syndrome.  However, today, it has been discovered that the condition is not caused solely by weakened heart muscle, but also by other causes as well: such as blocked coronary arteries, high blood pressure, severely faulty heart valves, irregular heart function.”

It is true that, when a patient has suffered heart failure, generally the heart will not be as strong or normal in the long run.  Consequently, the patient’s quality of life will gradually deteriorate because he/she will need frequent hospitalization.  Besides, it is also a burden on the patient’s family, not to mention the expenses that follow.

Someone once asked me which is more dangerous: heart failure or cancer?  According to known data, for the same interval after the initial diagnosis, of 100 heart failure patients 50 will still survive after 5 years.  But for 100 cancer patients, if their type of cancer is not severe, 90 of them will survive after the same period.”

Heart Failure Warning Signs

How do we recognize that we’re suffering from a heart failure?

We suggest that you take note of the following signs: feeling tired too easily though breathing normally; while sleeping at night, you cannot breathe when you lie flat and have to sit up; swollen legs.  These are indicators that you are heading toward a heart failure.

Symptoms of patients whom doctors suspect may be suffering from possible heart failure include excessive liquid retention in the body – such as in the lungs which causes tiredness, difficulty breathing, fatigue or weakening strength, and swelling throughout the body.  The patients may also feel lethargic, and lose their appetite.

Causes of Heart Failure

The primary reason for heart failure among patients with blocked coronary arteries is after they suffer heart attack, which causes certain parts of their heart muscles to suddenly fail.  Other reasons include other heart muscle diseases, high blood pressure, or faulty heart valves.  All of these can cause heart failure. 

If a patient suffers heart attack frequently, it can lead to heart failure.  Other causes include faulty heart valve over an extended period, or certain types of disease that cause inflammation of heart muscle.  These conditions can all cause the heart to gradually weaken.”

Treating Heart Failure

Initially when a patient reaches the doctor, if the patient is having difficulty breathing, the doctor may put the patient on a ventilator.  Or for a case where the patient has liquid build-up in the lungs, the doctor will prescribe diuretic.  Only after the patient has recovered sufficiently from the critical condition that the doctor will determine the cause of the symptoms.  Each disease has its own root cause which can also affect the severity of symptoms, and will require different treatments.

Therefore, detailed examination of the patient’s medical history is very critical because it can help the doctor discover the causal disease quickly and promptly determine a suitable treatment.  To properly diagnose the condition, the doctor will also use other available tools such as EKG, chest x-ray, and Echo Cardiogram, etc.

If it is found that the heart can contract less than 40%, it means the heart has weakened.  However, one should not be complacent even if the heart can contract up to 50%; because heart failure can occur due to other causes as well.”

For a patient who is suffering from a severe heart failure condition that will have a long-term health impact, the doctor may prescribe medicines that will help improve the symptoms; or the doctor may consider  alternative treatments that include various technological innovations such as artificial heart to help sustain the patient.  However, the best solution is to not let heart failure happen to you in the first place, or to prevent it from ever occurring.

Though there are many unpreventable causes – such as aging or certain types of disease – it is found that 2 in 3 patients suffering from heart failure have their cause from blocked coronary arteries.  Therefore, it is critical that you modify your habits to remain healthy.  This could include choosing healthy diet, regular exercises, or abstaining from smoking.  Even if you have other ailments – such as blood pressure or diabetes – you should keep their conditions under control.  All of these actions will help reduce your chances of ever facing a heart failure.