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Heart failure affects more than 7 million people in the United States. It’s a condition in which the heart is weakened to the point where it's lost its ability to fill up with enough oxygen-rich blood, or it doesn't have the capacity to pump blood throughout the body. Heart damage and weakness caused by high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, diabetes or other conditions can lead to heart failure.
Those most at risk include people who are overweight or obese, those who have had a heart attack, and people age 65 and older, since the heart muscle can weaken over time. Common indicators of heart failure include wheezing, shortness of breath, rapid heart rate and a buildup of fluid in the feet or ankles—edema. Any of these symptoms should be discussed with your physician or other healthcare provider (HCP) at the onset.
To date, there is no cure for heart failure. But treatments such as medication, lifestyle changes and, in extreme cases, a heart transplant, make living with the condition possible. Find out which lifestyle improvements help protect your health from further damage after heart failure.
Sources: Mayo Clinic. Heart Failure: Symptoms and... + 16
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