HEART FAILURE AND LIFESTYLE: HOW DAILY CHOICES CAN CHANGE THE OUTCOME

Although heart failure is a chronic and progressive disease, patients can cope with it and lead a normal life. Making changes in their lifestyle can reduce the impact of the disease, prevent decompensation episodes, and enable them to resume their normal life after decompensation.

Lifestyle Changes to Cope With Heart Failure

These changes help to reduce the overload on the heart, which in turn reduces swelling and eases the circulatory system. At the same time, a change in the diet is made, which reduces the load on the kidneys and the amount of blood circulating in the blood vessels. Moreover, it is necessary to make changes in lifestyle in line with therapy: if the doctor’s recommendation is followed and a heart-healthy diet is made, the drugs will help get rid of some of the symptoms of heart failure.

Lifestyle Changes That Will Help You Cope With the Situation

The heart-healthy diet

It is necessary to arrange a heart-healthy diet, which is a low-salt diet. This type of diet is designed to reduce the amount of water stored in the tissues. It is also important to eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grain products, lean meats, and low-fat dairy products. In addition, it is necessary to exclude alcohol from the diet.

Physical activity

To reduce the load on the heart and increase blood circulation, it is necessary to do physical exercises. Moreover, the doctor will individually select the types and timing of training for the patient, depending on the current state and stage of the disease. For example, if the doctor agrees, it is good to start exercising on a stationary bicycle or walking. It is necessary to start exercising at a certain speed and, if the body tolerates this, to increase the load. The doctor should be called if the selected dose is too small for the patient.

Maintaining a healthy weight

If a person has a high weight (even if they do not have overweight), they need to lose it: this is especially important for people with heart problems. A heart patient needs to know that even a small decrease in weight will reduce the load on the heart.

Quitting smoking and alcohol abuse

It is necessary to give up bad habits, such as smoking and drinking. They are especially harmful for people with heart diseases, as they can lead to additional complications. For example, alcohol and tobacco damage the lung tissues, increase blood pressure, and reduce the amount of oxygen in the blood. As a result, the heart has to work much harder to remove carbon dioxide and supply the body with oxygen.

Taking the drugs prescribed by the doctor

To reduce the symptoms of the disease and the load on the heart, the doctor may prescribe several types of drugs. In any case, the doctor will give advice on how to follow the dosing schedule, since only he can determine the dose of the drug. It is also important to know that it is strictly prohibited to reduce the dose on one’s own initiative or to stop taking the drug, even if the patient feels much better.

Monitoring health and symptoms of the disease

The patient needs to monitor his health and the symptoms of the disease so as to know what to do in a particular situation. For example, it is necessary to weigh yourself regularly to monitor changes in weight. This will help the doctor to determine how much liquid is accumulated in the body and how far the disease has progressed. It is also useful to measure the amount of liquid and observe the state of the lower extremities. Moreover, the patient needs to watch his appetite, sleep, and ability to cope with physical activity. If the weight increases by more than 2-3 kg over a few days, it is necessary to contact a doctor. On the other hand, the doctor will advise what to do if the lower extremities are swollen. It is also important to observe other signs of decompensation of the heart: shortness of breath, cough, pallor, and fainting.

Treatment of accompanying diseases

In addition to the above measures, it is necessary for the patient to get rid of other diseases that may accompany heart failure. For example, there are many comorbidities for heart failure, such as hypertension, diabetes, atherosclerosis, kidney failure, and sleep apnea. All of the above are especially dangerous for patients with heart failure, so the doctor will prescribe a treatment regimen.

Getting enough rest and managing stress

A heart patient needs to take care of their health and get rid of stress. To do this, the most beneficial and simple method is to get rid of bad habits, get enough sleep, and get rid of stress. Moreover, it is necessary to do everything to reduce the burden on the body. For example, doctors recommend heart patients to work if possible. This is because work helps to distract a person from the disease and, thereby, alleviate some of its symptoms. Another way to reduce the burden on the body is to do sports: regular walks or sports will reduce the load on the heart and help get rid of some of the symptoms of heart failure. Not least, it is important to find a way to get rid of stress: for example, spend time with friendly people, go to entertainment venues, relax, and visit entertainment venues. Moreover, it is important to contact a psychologist and turn to relatives and friends for help and support.

Regular visits to the doctor

In addition to the above methods of combating heart failure, it is necessary to visit a doctor regularly. Such visits will help him monitor the course of the disease and the patient’s condition. In addition, various tests that the doctor will prescribe will show how much the kidneys are working, how much the heart is pumping blood, and how the rest of the body is working.

When to Contact a Doctor?

A patient needs to contact a doctor if they feel uncomfortable: for example, if they have discomfort behind the sternum or shortness of breath. At the same time, the doctor should be called immediately if the patient faints. In addition, in case of an irregular heartbeat, especially if the patient has discomfort or fainting, it is necessary to contact a doctor. A call for help is also necessary if coughing with pink or gray frothy mucus appears. On the other hand, if the patient begins to feel that their legs are swollen, they should contact the doctor.

Summary

When having heart failure, the patient has rather strict restrictions; therefore, they are forced to take care of themselves. However, doctors say that these restrictions allow the patient to lead a relatively normal life. Moreover, it is vital for them to change their lifestyle in order to reduce the symptoms of the disease as much as possible. Patients need to know that every step towards a healthier lifestyle will help them return to their normal life.