By Aria DiBiase, M.D.
With the major advances in cardiac treatment, it is not surprising that more people are living longer with heart disease. Unfortunately, many patients with heart disease begin to experience heart failure over time. Heart failure affects nearly five million Americans and is the most common reason adults over age 65 are admitted to the hospital.
Heart failure develops when the heart muscle is damaged from a heart attack or grows weak from hypertension, valve problems or a condition called cardiomyopathy. Heart muscle weakness reduces the heart output and that leads to heart failure symptoms.
Symptoms may include fatigue, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing or sleeping when lying down, weight gain, cough and leg swelling from fluid retention. The best way to know if these symptoms are caused by heart failure is to get an echocardiogram.
Fortunately, once recognized, heart failure is a very treatable condition. There are well-established treatments that control symptoms, improve activity levels and prolong life. Medication and lifestyle changes, such as a low salt diet, are the mainstays of treatment. In some cases, bypass surgery, valve replacement, or devices such as pacemakers and defibrillators can be used to treat heart failure.
The risk factors for heart failure include hypertension, diabetes, heart valve problems, previous history of heart attack or family history of heart failure. The risk can be reduced by treating high blood pressure and diabetes, stopping smoking, limiting alcohol consumption and keeping cholesterol down.
If you have symptoms of heart failure, please tell your doctor. Prompt treatment can prevent worsening symptoms, or even hospitalization, and help you continue to lead an active life.
To obtain a list of PAMF’s free monthly community lectures pertaining to heart failure, please call the Education Division at 853-2960. For more information about heart failure, visit
www.abouthf.org.
Dr. Aria DiBiase is a cardiologist at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. The Palo Alto Medical Foundation and column editor Arian Dasmalchi provided this column.
