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Living with Congestive Heart Failure By Guillermo Torre, M.D., Heart Failure/Transplant Specialist 
Being diagnosed with "heart
failure" sounds alarming, but
it doesn't mean that the heart
has stopped working. Congestive heart
failure happens when your heart is not
pumping as well as it should to deliver
oxygen-rich blood to your body. The
condition is not reversible, but treatment
can help you live longer and
enjoy a better quality of life.Symptoms and Risk Factors According to Guillermo Torre, M.D., heart failure/transplant specialist on staff at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, "When the heart muscle is overworked, fluid (called congestion) can build up in the lungs and other body tissues. The weakening heart may compensate by pumping faster or becoming enlarged." There are several common symptoms of congestive heart failure:
About 5.2 million Americans are living with congestive heart failure, and 550,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. Knowing your risk factors and managing them can help prevent or slow progression of congestive heart failure. Risk factors include high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, previous heart attack(s), arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), diabetes, obesity, congenital heart defects and kidney conditions. Help Your Heart Congestive heart failure may be treated with medications prescribed by a doctor. "Some medications work to rid the body of fluids, strengthen the heart's ability to pump, keep blood vessels open and lower blood pressure," says Dr. Torre. "Procedures such as angioplasty or stenting (to open narrowed arteries), or surgeries including coronary artery bypass may also be recommended." In addition to taking medications regularly, you can take charge by making healthy lifestyle choices: Weigh yourself daily. Because congestive heart failure gets worse when more fluid is retained, it's important to notify your doctor if you notice sudden weight gain. Eat a low-sodium, low-fat diet. Too much sodium contributes to water retention and high blood pressure. And saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol clog arteries, making your heart work harder. Your doctor may recommend limiting fluids. Stop smoking. Smoking damages blood vessels and makes the heart beat faster. Ask your doctor to help you develop a plan to quit. Stop stressing. Emotional stress and anxiety make the heart work harder. Exercise as recommended. Reasonable amounts of exercise may help to improve heart health for people with congestive heart failure. Talk with your doctor before starting an exercise program. Managing congestive heart failure can feel overwhelming at times. If you need help making diet changes, starting an exercise program or monitoring your daily health, talk with your doctor.
Meet Dr. Torre at Methodist Sugar Land
Hospital's Health Fair on Saturday, May 3,
from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dr. Torre will be
discussing heart failure at the fair. |
