PRIME TIME
How To Succeed At
Surviving Heart Failure
T
he latest statistics from the
American Heart Association
(AHA), one of the world’s
oldest and largest voluntary
organizations dedicated to fighting
heart disease and stroke, show that the
number of people living with heart
failure has now topped more than 6
million—and that number is expected
to rise to more than 8 million by
2030.
Much of that increase can be
attributed to medical advances that
have improved survival rates of heart
attacks and other conditions that can
lead to heart failure.
“The ability to treat this condition,
restore health and quality of life,
extend life and, most importantly,
prevent this condition is more robust
now than ever,” said Clyde W.
Yancy, M.D., past president of the
AHA and chief of cardiology and
Magerstadt professor at Northwestern
University, Feinberg School of
Medicine, Chicago. “Prevention
is a key consideration as one of
every five adults alive at age 40 will
develop heart failure during his or her
lifetime.”
Heart failure is a condition in which
the heart is too weak to pump blood
sufficiently throughout the body.
Knowing the signs and symptoms of
heart failure is critical—the earlier
someone seeks care for heart failure,
the better the chances of living a
longer, more active life.
Symptoms
• Difficulty breathing
• Persistent coughing or wheezing
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Confusion
• Fainting or near-fainting
• Increased heart rate
• Swelling of the feet, ankles
and legs.
People experiencing more than one
of these should talk with their doctor
about a heart evaluation. There’s
usually no cure for heart failure but it
can be managed.
Treatments
• Lifestyle Changes: Certain
lifestyle changes can help alleviate
symptoms, slow disease progression
and improve everyday life. These
changes could include quitting
smoking, losing or maintaining
April 2017
weight, eating a heart-healthy diet,
being physically active, managing
stress and getting adequate rest.
• Regular Monitoring: It’s very
important for people with heart
failure to monitor their symptoms and
report any changes to their health care
team. This may involve daily weigh-
ins to track water retention, closely
watching swelling, and monitoring
changes in ability to exercise.
• Medications and Devices: Heart
failure patients often need multiple
medications. There are devices that
can control heart rhythm or measure
circulation. It’s important that patients
and caregivers work with their
health care team to understand the
medications and how they should be
taken. Understanding the devices is
also important.
• Surgery: Surgery is sometimes
recommended when a doctor can
identify a correctable problem,
such as a congenital defect, valve
abnormality or blocked coronary
ar