[Medical Q&A] When heart failure occurs, what should you do before going to the hospital?

Planner: Chinese Medical Association

Reviewer: Guo Shubin, Chief Physician, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University

An acute attack of heart failure is like a "heart strike alarm" and the patient must be rushed to the hospital as soon as possible. However, before the ambulance arrives, the family's "first aid tips" can help the patient buy time and improve the patient's symptoms to a certain extent.

1. Posture adjustment: Let the patient sit with legs hanging down, which can reduce blood return to the heart, relieve lung congestion, and make breathing smoother.

2. Limit water + comfort, a two-pronged approach. Do not let the patient drink a lot of water (to avoid increasing the burden on the heart), and at the same time comfort gently to relieve tension - anxiety will make the heart "work overtime."

3. Monitor three sets of consciousness, vitals, and urine output.

(1) State of consciousness: Is the person awake? Can he or she have a normal conversation?

(2) Vital signs: count the pulse (inside the wrist), measure blood pressure (home sphygmomanometer), and observe breathing rate.

(3) Urine volume record: Use a mineral water bottle to collect urine (don’t be bothered! Urine volume can reflect the condition of the kidneys and heart).

4. Ultimate first aid: CPR + oxygen inhalation.

If the patient suddenly falls unconscious and has no breathing or heartbeat, immediately perform chest compressions and artificial respiration. If there is an oxygen concentrator at home, quickly give the patient oxygen to "refuel" the heart!

If there is a patient with heart failure at home, prepare a blood pressure monitor, oxygen concentrator and emergency medicine in advance, which can save lives at critical moments! All operations are to "stabilize the condition", but you must call 120 as soon as possible! Remember to tell the doctor the monitored data (such as blood pressure value, urine volume), which is life-saving "information".