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Heart failure means your heart can't pump blood around the body properly, usually because your heart has become too weak or stiff. Read on to find out more about heart failure, its signs and symptoms, and heart failure treatment options.
Heart failure, also known as congestive heart failure, is a chronic (long-term) condition where your heart cannot pump blood around your body effectively.
There is no cure for heart failure, but treatments are available to help relieve symptoms, improve your quality of life, and slow the progression of the condition.
Call or book online today to arrange a consultation to discuss private heart failure treatment with a consultant of your choice at Circle Health Group.
Heart failure has multiple causes, and is usually the result of a number of problems happening at the same time.
Some of these problems can cause heart failure to develop slowly over months or years, while others, such as a heart attack or infection, causes heart failure to happen suddenly.
Some causes of heart failure include:
Some people are at a higher risk of developing heart failure due to factors such as their age, lifestyle and medical and family history.
Risk factors for heart failure include:
The symptoms of heart failure vary from person to person. They may be mild, moderate or severe and can start suddenly or come on slowly over weeks, months or even years.
Common symptoms of heart failure include:
Less common symptoms of heart failure include:
The left side of your heart receives oxygen-rich blood from your lungs, which it delivers to the rest of your body, while the right side of your heart receives oxygen-poor blood from your body, and delivers it to your lungs where it gets more oxygen.
The type of heart failure you have depends on which side of your heart is affected.
Left-sided heart failure is the most common type of heart failure and occurs when the left side of your heart – your left ventricle – can't pump enough blood around your body.
There are two types of left-sided heart failure:
Systolic heart failure occurs when your left ventricle can no longer contract normally, making it too weak to pump enough blood into circulation.
When this happens, the ejection fraction (EF) – the percentage of blood your heart can pump with each beat – drops from 60% EF to 40% EF, causing what's known as heart failure with reduced ejection, or HFrEF.
Diastolic heart failure occurs when your left ventricle stiffens, preventing it from relaxing. As a result, your heart can’t properly fill with blood in the resting period between each beat, causing heart failure with preserved ejection, or HFpEF.
Right-sided heart failure usually occurs as a result of left-sided heart failure. When your left ventricle can't push blood out to the rest of the body, it places extra pressure on your right ventricle and the blood vessels carrying blood from your heart to your lungs.
This extra pressure is called pulmonary hypertension, and makes the right side of your heart work harder to push blood to the lungs. Overtime, the right side of your heart loses power, causing blood to back up into your veins.
Heart failure is a condition that gets progressively worse over time. The stage of your heart failure is determined by how effectively your heart can still pump blood. Stages are categorised on a scale of one to four, with one being the mildest (earliest) stage and four being the most severe (latest) stage of the condition.
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At your first consultation, you'll be seen by a consultant cardiologist, a doctor specialising in conditions affecting the heart.
Your consultant will ask you about your symptoms, general health, medical and family history. They may also ask you some questions about your diet and exercise regime, and about your lifestyle, such as whether you smoke, drink alcohol or take recreational drugs. They will perform a physical examination to assess you for signs of heart failure such as swollen feet, legs and ankles and shortness of breath.
Your first appointment is important as it's where you'll meet your consultant, the doctor responsible for your care. Your consultant will take time to get to know you, discuss your expectations for treatment and encourage you to ask any questions you may have.
At Circle Health Group, we want you to be as well-informed and comfortable as possible during your treatment, so please discuss any questions or concerns with your consultant during your appointment.
If heart failure is suspected, your consultant may order one or more of the following tests to confirm your diagnosis:
While there is currently no cure for heart failure, there are treatments that can improve your symptoms and help slow the progression of the disease.
Your consultant will create a tailor-made treatment plan for you depending on your symptoms, general health and the type and stage of your heart failure.
Treatments for heart failure include:
You can make the following lifestyle changes to slow the progression of heart failure, reduce your symptoms and improve your quality of life:
Your consultant may refer you to a cardiac rehabilitation programme which focuses on education and support in living with heart-related conditions such as heart failure.
There are several medications used to treat heart failure including:
In some cases, if lifestyle changes and medication haven't worked to improve your symptoms, your consultant may recommend implanting a small device in your chest to control your heart's rate and rhythm.
Implantable devices used to treat heart failure include:
If your heart failure is severe and hasn't responded to other treatments, you may be suitable for surgery.
The type of surgery your consultant recommends will depend on the type, stage and cause of your heart failure as well as your symptoms, age and general health.
To treat heart failure, you may have one of the following surgeries:
It's important that you are fully aware of all the possible side effects and complications before you start your treatment as this will allow you to make an informed decision.
Always follow your consultant's instructions carefully before starting any treatment and please discuss any questions or concerns you may have with your consultant.
If you would like to see a consultant or learn more about heart failure treatment, book your appointment online or call a member of our team today.
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