A diagnosis of heart failure does not imply that the heart has stopped beating. Heart failure is a condition in which the blood flow from the heart decreases, producing a decline in blood flow throughout the body and causing congestion in the body’s tissues. This congestion can result in swelling in the ankles, legs or stomach, as well as fluid in the lungs, which can make breathing difficult.

Although heart failure can be caused by unknown factors, some of the major causes of heart failure are cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease (CAD), hypertension, valvular heart disease and other temporary and treatable conditions such as thyroid, obesity, pregnancy, arrhythmias, etc.

Although the life expectancy of congestive heart failure patients varies based on the severity of the disease and factors such as heredity, age, etc., advancements in technology and treatment choices have now enabled many people to live longer.

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To understand how to live longer with heart failure, you need to first know the important signs and symptoms to monitor each stage of heart failure, change your lifestyle a little and take your medications and therapies on time.

Stages of Heart Failure

Heart failure is a chronic, long-term heart health problem that can worsen over time. Therefore, the sooner you start making lifestyle adjustments to treat your disease, the higher are your chances of living longer. Below mentioned are the four stages of heart failure along with the measures that you should take to stay healthy.

Stage A

Stage A is often referred to as “pre–heart failure.” This stage means that the patient is at risk of developing heart failure due to conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, early CAD, or a family history of cardiomyopathy.

This is the right stage to start thinking about changing your diet, controlling your salt intake, lowering alcohol consumption, doing an appropriate amount of exercise to stay fit, and taking your medications on time.

Stage B

This is a critical juncture in the development of heart failure. Stage B implies that your heart has already undergone certain alterations that might lead to heart failure. Patients at this stage are more likely to have had a heart attack or some other type of heart disease. Along with doing everything that is to be done in Stage A, surgery or intervention may also be required.

Stage C

This is the stage when the patient is diagnosed with heart failure and is experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath, difficulty in exercising, waking up short of breath after lying down, and swelling in the legs and feet.

Patients at this stage can live a longer life if they are put on proper drug regimes. Cardiac rehabilitation can also assist patients with stage C heart failure.

Stage D

Stage D is the most advanced stage of heart failure. These are the patients who may need a heart transplant, mechanical heart pump or other such critical treatments. Patients at this stage of heart failure should regularly consult a heart specialist in Chandigarh to identify the best treatment for them.

In every appointment with the cardiologist, the patients and their family members should ask as many questions as possible to know what changes they need to bring in their lifestyle and to open up the best treatment choices for them.

Also Read: https://healinghospital.co.in/importance-of-heart-check-up-heart-specialist-hospital-in-chandigarh/

How to live longer with heart failure?

There are indeed a set of changes that you need to bring in your lifestyle if you are diagnosed with heart failure, but this does not mean that you stop living altogether. Try to take out time for the activities that you enjoy, along with doing what is right for your heart.

Lifestyle changes that can delay the course of heart failure are as follows:

• Exercise for at least 30 minutes five days a week. Avoid doing exercises that make you breathless.
• Control high blood pressure
• Quit smoking
• Reduce your consumption of alcohol
• Manage stress and recognize if you have depression or anxiety
• Get adequate rest
• Conserve your energy
• Take your medicines exactly as directed by your doctor
• Follow a low sodium diet
• Consult your cardiologist regularly