Heart Failure - Causes Symptoms and Treatments
Content
Heart Failure - Causes, Symptoms and Treatments
Heart Failure in Senior Citizens The term heart failure, while loaded in context, is a general description of disorders related to the movement of blood to the heart or from the heart to the extremities. Heart failure does not mean that the heart has stopped pumping blood to the body, but it is characterized by an insufficient amount of blood reaching the heart and the rest of the body. It is important that senior citizens and those involved in their eldercare understand heart failure in order to prevent, identify, and treat the condition, as senior citizens are at higher risk for developing heart problems. Some specific disorders categorized under heart failure include: •
• •
dropsy left-side (systolic) heart failure - lower amounts of blood are pumped out of the heart. People who have left-side failure inevitably will have right-side failure. right-side (diastolic) heart failure - this affects the heart's capacity to fill with blood and pump blood to the lungs. Some symptoms of RSHF include shortness of breath, fatigue, and fluid build-up in the feet, legs, liver, abdomen, and sometimes in the veins of the neck.
The blood serves as a vehicle for oxygen that the heart moves around the body to aid in important biological processes. The heart can grow weak with time, which leads to heart disease. The differences that occur between left and right side failure are due to the fact that blood enters the heart through the right side which is then sent to the lungs to pick up oxygen. The left side is then used to pump the oxygenated blood to the rest of the body, to once again return to the heart after being relieved of its oxygen content. Senior citizens are especially susceptible to heart disease because it can occur from long term weakening of the heart. Other diseases such as coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes can also contribute to heart failure. Heart failure is very common in the United States, causing about 300,000 deaths per year, and its treatments can vary according to the age of the individual affected, the type of heart failure they have developed, and the symptoms present. Although there is no cure for heart problems such as these, early diagnosis is best for individuals so they can start a lifestyle of preventative measures as well as treatment, which is improving all the time. Senior citizens and those involved in caring for the elderly should be vigilant about monitoring for symptoms of heart malfunctioning so that the appropriate measure can be taken for prevention. People with heart problems often rely on medications and follow recommendations by their doctors which can include healthy eating styles, physical activity, and controlling other disorders that contribute to heart failure like heart disease and diabetes. Lifestyle and Heart Disease Lifestyles and eating habits that contribute to development of heart disease also contribute to heart failure symptoms by weakening the heart. Overworking the heart has punishing effects by the release of proteins and substances that further damage the heart. Senior citizens should take the necessary measures to prevent heart failure, this includes healthy lifestyle habits. Also, senior citizens should be careful not to over exert themselves during rigorous physical activity. Those involved in caring for the elderly should encourage and facilitate a healthy lifestyle, and discourage overexertion by helping with certain activities.
Diseases that can cause heart failure include: • Coronary heart disease (CAD): plaque that builds up in blood vessels as a result of damage caused by eating high-fat and high-salt foods, thus compromising blood flow and oxygen transport - this can eventually lead to a heart attack. High blood pressure: when the force of blood against the artery walls stays at or above 140/90 mmHG over time, this stresses the blood vessels and the heart which causes damage Diabetes: when the body is unable to make insulin, a hormone that converts the sugars in food to energy, higher amounts of sugar in the blood can cause more damage to blood vessels. Heart muscle or valve disease /arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats): defect of the heart itself arising from birth defect, infection, or damage from heart disease. Congenital heart defects: these present at birth Cancer and associated treatment Thyroid disorders Alcohol abuse HIV / AIDS Illicit drug use Excess of Vitamin E Obstructive sleep apnea: breathing is impaired during sleep, causing the heart to be overworked to get oxygen to the body
•
• • • • • • • • • •
Heart Failure Risk Factors People who are at higher risk for heart failure and associated symptoms include: • • • • Senior citizens (aged 65 or older): the weakening of the heart is a long term process, and senior citizens are also more prone to other disease that damage or weaken the heart and blood vessels African Americans: African Americans are more likely to have more severe symptoms or develop heart failure earlier in life. Obese or overweight individuals: higher stress on the heart due to being overweight contributes to this as well as a higher susceptibility to diabetes that also results Men: there is a higher rate of heart failure in men, although more women are reported to have it since they have a longer lifespan on average
Heart Failure Symptoms and Conditions Because heart failure involves a weakened heart pumping less blood than it should, symptoms are caused by fluid building up in the body as a result of slowed transport of oxygen and blood. These symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, frequent urination, or swelling in the extremities which can lead to weight gain. Another very serious symptom involves coughing that worsens when lying down due to fluid in the lungs, otherwise known as acute pulmonary edema. Heart failure conditions vary due to specific underlying causes addressed earlier in this article and susceptibilities of the individual. Your physician incorporates information about the specific
causes, family history, and other diagnostic tools (tests, exams) to identify your specific condition, rule out other causes, and measure your heart's health and ability to pump blood. Treatment for heart failure can include treating other underlying causes of the disorder like diabetes or high cholesterol, relieving symptoms like swelling and fatigue, preventing further damage, and improving overall quality of life. Lifestyle changes, medicines, and more invasive medical procedures may be required to treat heart failure in advanced stages. Senior citizens and those involved in their eldercare must be proactive about the treatment and prevention of heart failure. Lifestyle Choices That Prevent Heart Failure Making healthy lifestyle choices is important for everyone, but it is especially important for senior citizens to actively maintain their health as the age. Those involved in caring for the elderly should encourage healthy behaviors by helping the elder with meal plans and facilitating physical activity. Follow a healthy eating plan: this entails a diet low in salt, fat, trans fat, cholesterol. Salt can cause extra fluid build up in the body, high cholesterol can further damage blood vessels and heart functioning, and trans fat can increase LDL or bad cholesterol in the blood. Avoiding bad foods is as important as the combined effort involved in eating highly nutritious food with more emphasis on potassium (found in bananas, strawberries, beets, and greens). Some doctors recommend limiting fluid intake and abstaining from alcohol completely. Adopt Healthy Habits: Maintaining a healthy weight, participating in a safe amount physical activity, avoiding unhealthy habits like smoking, and getting enough sleep are all basic guidelines for healthier living. Medications for Heart Failure • •
• •
Diuretics: reduces fluid build-up ACE inhibitors: lower blood pressure Aldosterone antagonists: rids the body of salt and excess fluid through urination; lowers amount of blood the heart has to pump Angiotensin receptor blockers: relaxes blood vessels and lowers blood pressure Beta blockers: slows heart rate Isosorbine dinitrate/ hydralazine hydrochloride: relaxes blood vessels Digoxin: causes heart to beat stronger and pump more blood
•
• •
Most of these medicines work to lower the stress on the heart caused by pumping oxygenated blood when the blood vessels and heart function are compromised. If symptoms are too serious, some treatments may have to involve hospital stays where doctors use more invasive techniques to control heart failure symptoms. It is also important for individuals or those providing in home care to monitor weight gain and heart failure symptoms in order to identify any changes that are taking place so that physicians can take appropriate action. Controlling heart failure symptoms is a group effort of physicians, people affected, and those involved in their elder care where communication and self-monitoring procedures are very important. Medical Procedures and Surgery for Heart Disease
•
Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: If different sides of the heart are affected differently by heart disease, a pacemaker implant may be needed so that the two sides can pump at the same rate. Implantable Carioverter Defribillator: (ICD): this is also a correcting device working on the heart in individuals who experience rapid or irregular heartbeats. Mechanical heart pump or left ventricular assist device: this manually pumps blood from the heart to the extremities Heart transplant: some people may receive healthier hearts from deceased donors Open-heart surgery or angioplasty: a less common procedure that aims to unblock arteries
•
• • •
Prevention of Heart Failure It is important that senior citizens stay proactive about their health and preventing heart failure. Seniors should work with those assisting with their eldercare and other health care professionals use the steps that you can take in advance to prevent heart failure: For people with healthy hearts: • • • • • Follow a healthy eating plan Do not smoke or avoid second-hand smoke Maintain a healthy weight for you Participate in healthy amounts of physical activity Do not use or abuse illicit drugs
For people at higher risk / affected by heart failure: In addition to the steps listed above, you should treat and control and already existing heart failure conditions in the form of:
•
medication or adjusted lifestyle practices. Avoid alcohol consumption Visit or talk with your physician regularly Take medications recommended by your doctor and understand how they work
• • •
It is generally good advice that senior citizens living with heart failure follow an appropriate treatment plan that they have worked out with a doctor or other health professionals involved in their elder care. Responsible control of heart disease and heart failure symptoms can lead to living longer and experiencing better quality of life. It is important for you and those participating with your in home care to find ways that will decrease the likelihood of forgetting to take medications or increase likelihood of following the correct eating plan. There are many resources that either home health agencies, in home caregivers, and doctors can provide that will provide assistance in sticking to a lifestyle that optimizes health despite complications with the heart. Keeping track of changes in your symptoms despite treatment, avoiding contracting other shortterm illnesses like respiratory infection, and being good to yourself are important for you to remain healthy. The difficulties of adapting to a life with heart failure symptoms can make some people depressed. If you have these kinds of feelings, you should talk about them with someone you trust, perhaps someone involved in your elder care, who will assist you in treating the emotional side effects that can result from the challenging task of living with a heart condition.
Finally, just knowing when to seek out the help of others and that it is okay to seek help with things you may find difficult about heart failure treatment is very important for coping with this illness. Be sure that you know how to contact your physician and other health professionals providing elder care, and others that will be able to assist you. Know the directions to your doctors' offices and hospitals. Also, some people find that it helps to keep a list of medications that they take and their functions for both avoiding forgetting and to aid caregivers and physicians who will help you.
Heart Failure in Senior Citizens The term heart failure, while loaded in context, is a general description of disorders related to the movement of blood to the heart or from the heart to the extremities. Heart failure does not mean that the heart has stopped pumping blood to the body, but it is characterized by an insufficient amount of blood reaching the heart and the rest of the body. It is important that senior citizens and those involved in their eldercare understand heart failure in order to prevent, identify, and treat the condition, as senior citizens are at higher risk for developing heart problems. Some specific disorders categorized under heart failure include: •
• •
dropsy left-side (systolic) heart failure - lower amounts of blood are pumped out of the heart. People who have left-side failure inevitably will have right-side failure. right-side (diastolic) heart failure - this affects the heart's capacity to fill with blood and pump blood to the lungs. Some symptoms of RSHF include shortness of breath, fatigue, and fluid build-up in the feet, legs, liver, abdomen, and sometimes in the veins of the neck.
The blood serves as a vehicle for oxygen that the heart moves around the body to aid in important biological processes. The heart can grow weak with time, which leads to heart disease. The differences that occur between left and right side failure are due to the fact that blood enters the heart through the right side which is then sent to the lungs to pick up oxygen. The left side is then used to pump the oxygenated blood to the rest of the body, to once again return to the heart after being relieved of its oxygen content. Senior citizens are especially susceptible to heart disease because it can occur from long term weakening of the heart. Other diseases such as coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes can also contribute to heart failure. Heart failure is very common in the United States, causing about 300,000 deaths per year, and its treatments can vary according to the age of the individual affected, the type of heart failure they have developed, and the symptoms present. Although there is no cure for heart problems such as these, early diagnosis is best for individuals so they can start a lifestyle of preventative measures as well as treatment, which is improving all the time. Senior citizens and those involved in caring for the elderly should be vigilant about monitoring for symptoms of heart malfunctioning so that the appropriate measure can be taken for prevention. People with heart problems often rely on medications and follow recommendations by their doctors which can include healthy eating styles, physical activity, and controlling other disorders that contribute to heart failure like heart disease and diabetes. Lifestyle and Heart Disease Lifestyles and eating habits that contribute to development of heart disease also contribute to heart failure symptoms by weakening the heart. Overworking the heart has punishing effects by the release of proteins and substances that further damage the heart. Senior citizens should take the necessary measures to prevent heart failure, this includes healthy lifestyle habits. Also, senior citizens should be careful not to over exert themselves during rigorous physical activity. Those involved in caring for the elderly should encourage and facilitate a healthy lifestyle, and discourage overexertion by helping with certain activities.
Diseases that can cause heart failure include: • Coronary heart disease (CAD): plaque that builds up in blood vessels as a result of damage caused by eating high-fat and high-salt foods, thus compromising blood flow and oxygen transport - this can eventually lead to a heart attack. High blood pressure: when the force of blood against the artery walls stays at or above 140/90 mmHG over time, this stresses the blood vessels and the heart which causes damage Diabetes: when the body is unable to make insulin, a hormone that converts the sugars in food to energy, higher amounts of sugar in the blood can cause more damage to blood vessels. Heart muscle or valve disease /arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats): defect of the heart itself arising from birth defect, infection, or damage from heart disease. Congenital heart defects: these present at birth Cancer and associated treatment Thyroid disorders Alcohol abuse HIV / AIDS Illicit drug use Excess of Vitamin E Obstructive sleep apnea: breathing is impaired during sleep, causing the heart to be overworked to get oxygen to the body
•
• • • • • • • • • •
Heart Failure Risk Factors People who are at higher risk for heart failure and associated symptoms include: • • • • Senior citizens (aged 65 or older): the weakening of the heart is a long term process, and senior citizens are also more prone to other disease that damage or weaken the heart and blood vessels African Americans: African Americans are more likely to have more severe symptoms or develop heart failure earlier in life. Obese or overweight individuals: higher stress on the heart due to being overweight contributes to this as well as a higher susceptibility to diabetes that also results Men: there is a higher rate of heart failure in men, although more women are reported to have it since they have a longer lifespan on average
Heart Failure Symptoms and Conditions Because heart failure involves a weakened heart pumping less blood than it should, symptoms are caused by fluid building up in the body as a result of slowed transport of oxygen and blood. These symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, frequent urination, or swelling in the extremities which can lead to weight gain. Another very serious symptom involves coughing that worsens when lying down due to fluid in the lungs, otherwise known as acute pulmonary edema. Heart failure conditions vary due to specific underlying causes addressed earlier in this article and susceptibilities of the individual. Your physician incorporates information about the specific
causes, family history, and other diagnostic tools (tests, exams) to identify your specific condition, rule out other causes, and measure your heart's health and ability to pump blood. Treatment for heart failure can include treating other underlying causes of the disorder like diabetes or high cholesterol, relieving symptoms like swelling and fatigue, preventing further damage, and improving overall quality of life. Lifestyle changes, medicines, and more invasive medical procedures may be required to treat heart failure in advanced stages. Senior citizens and those involved in their eldercare must be proactive about the treatment and prevention of heart failure. Lifestyle Choices That Prevent Heart Failure Making healthy lifestyle choices is important for everyone, but it is especially important for senior citizens to actively maintain their health as the age. Those involved in caring for the elderly should encourage healthy behaviors by helping the elder with meal plans and facilitating physical activity. Follow a healthy eating plan: this entails a diet low in salt, fat, trans fat, cholesterol. Salt can cause extra fluid build up in the body, high cholesterol can further damage blood vessels and heart functioning, and trans fat can increase LDL or bad cholesterol in the blood. Avoiding bad foods is as important as the combined effort involved in eating highly nutritious food with more emphasis on potassium (found in bananas, strawberries, beets, and greens). Some doctors recommend limiting fluid intake and abstaining from alcohol completely. Adopt Healthy Habits: Maintaining a healthy weight, participating in a safe amount physical activity, avoiding unhealthy habits like smoking, and getting enough sleep are all basic guidelines for healthier living. Medications for Heart Failure • •
• •
Diuretics: reduces fluid build-up ACE inhibitors: lower blood pressure Aldosterone antagonists: rids the body of salt and excess fluid through urination; lowers amount of blood the heart has to pump Angiotensin receptor blockers: relaxes blood vessels and lowers blood pressure Beta blockers: slows heart rate Isosorbine dinitrate/ hydralazine hydrochloride: relaxes blood vessels Digoxin: causes heart to beat stronger and pump more blood
•
• •
Most of these medicines work to lower the stress on the heart caused by pumping oxygenated blood when the blood vessels and heart function are compromised. If symptoms are too serious, some treatments may have to involve hospital stays where doctors use more invasive techniques to control heart failure symptoms. It is also important for individuals or those providing in home care to monitor weight gain and heart failure symptoms in order to identify any changes that are taking place so that physicians can take appropriate action. Controlling heart failure symptoms is a group effort of physicians, people affected, and those involved in their elder care where communication and self-monitoring procedures are very important. Medical Procedures and Surgery for Heart Disease
•
Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: If different sides of the heart are affected differently by heart disease, a pacemaker implant may be needed so that the two sides can pump at the same rate. Implantable Carioverter Defribillator: (ICD): this is also a correcting device working on the heart in individuals who experience rapid or irregular heartbeats. Mechanical heart pump or left ventricular assist device: this manually pumps blood from the heart to the extremities Heart transplant: some people may receive healthier hearts from deceased donors Open-heart surgery or angioplasty: a less common procedure that aims to unblock arteries
•
• • •
Prevention of Heart Failure It is important that senior citizens stay proactive about their health and preventing heart failure. Seniors should work with those assisting with their eldercare and other health care professionals use the steps that you can take in advance to prevent heart failure: For people with healthy hearts: • • • • • Follow a healthy eating plan Do not smoke or avoid second-hand smoke Maintain a healthy weight for you Participate in healthy amounts of physical activity Do not use or abuse illicit drugs
For people at higher risk / affected by heart failure: In addition to the steps listed above, you should treat and control and already existing heart failure conditions in the form of:
•
medication or adjusted lifestyle practices. Avoid alcohol consumption Visit or talk with your physician regularly Take medications recommended by your doctor and understand how they work
• • •
It is generally good advice that senior citizens living with heart failure follow an appropriate treatment plan that they have worked out with a doctor or other health professionals involved in their elder care. Responsible control of heart disease and heart failure symptoms can lead to living longer and experiencing better quality of life. It is important for you and those participating with your in home care to find ways that will decrease the likelihood of forgetting to take medications or increase likelihood of following the correct eating plan. There are many resources that either home health agencies, in home caregivers, and doctors can provide that will provide assistance in sticking to a lifestyle that optimizes health despite complications with the heart. Keeping track of changes in your symptoms despite treatment, avoiding contracting other shortterm illnesses like respiratory infection, and being good to yourself are important for you to remain healthy. The difficulties of adapting to a life with heart failure symptoms can make some people depressed. If you have these kinds of feelings, you should talk about them with someone you trust, perhaps someone involved in your elder care, who will assist you in treating the emotional side effects that can result from the challenging task of living with a heart condition.
Finally, just knowing when to seek out the help of others and that it is okay to seek help with things you may find difficult about heart failure treatment is very important for coping with this illness. Be sure that you know how to contact your physician and other health professionals providing elder care, and others that will be able to assist you. Know the directions to your doctors' offices and hospitals. Also, some people find that it helps to keep a list of medications that they take and their functions for both avoiding forgetting and to aid caregivers and physicians who will help you.
