Heart Failure: A warning from the Heart

Heart failure refers to the inability of the heart to meet up to the metabolic needs of the body due to a problem with function or structure of the heart. It occurs when the heart muscle does not pump blood as it should. It is the end point of every form of disease process that affects the heart and is a serious health challenge. The heart does issue warnings before this catastrophic event and attention to these warnings are important for survival of the heart.  

What is the heart? 

The heart is an important organ located in the chest between the lungs. It functions as the engine room for moving blood around the body and thus is important for carrying oxygen to all tissues in the body; the brain, the lungs, the kidneys and all other organs. This makes the functioning of the heart an integral part of every day life. An important trivia is that the heart starts beating in the womb from week 5-6 after conception. From then on it continues to beat non-stop, even while you sleep till it stops when death occurs. So paying attention to the heart is really important. 

What could cause heart failure? 

High blood pressure for a long time is a common cause of heart failure. Other causes include coronary artery disease (when blood vessels of the heart are diseased), diseases of the heart valves and cardiomyopathies (defects in the muscles of the heart). Other less common causes include arrhythmias (abnormal heart beats), anaemia (low blood volume), kidney disease, etc. Any disease process that affects the heart can lead to failure of the heart to function as it should. So, there are a myriad causes of heart failure.  

What are the things you will notice in heart failure? 

There are quite a lot of symptoms of heart failure. This is due to a lot of changes that happen during the disease process. One important one is that of backflow of blood into the lungs resulting in the most dramatic feature; shortness of breath.  

1. Shortness of breath with activity or when lying down is a common feature. 
2. Swelling in the feet, ankles or legs might occur. Swelling of the abdomen is also a symptom of heart failure. 
3. The heart could beat rapidly or irregularly. This is described as being able to feel your heart beat rapidly while at rest. 
4. Fatigue and weakness is another common feature as the heart cannot meet up to the demands the body places on it. Ability to exercise is also reduced.  
5. Persistent cough or wheezing with white or pink blood-tinged mucus will suggest fluid build up in the lungs. This affects the functioning of the lungs.  
6. Nausea and lack of appetite due to the overall ill health. 
7. Chest pain if heart failure is caused by a heart attack. 

How to prevent heart failure? 

The way to prevent heart failure is to lead a healthy life in general. This is because the heart is interconnected to every part of the body. 

1. Healthy diet – avoid junk food and other unhealthy foods 
2. Exercise regularly 
3. Sleep well – at least 6 hours a day 
4. Avoid smoking 
5. Reduce alcohol intake 
6. Avoid illicit substance use 
7. Seek for and adhere to medical advice for all illnesses