My heart is failing, can I still hold on?

Award-winning works (article category) of the Health Management Committee's "Popularize health knowledge, advocate healthy life" popular science collection

Author: Lin Yao

Unit: Wenjiang District People's Hospital of Chengdu

Dear readers, today we are going to talk about something serious that should not be taken lightly, that is, heart failure. It is a very common heart disease, and the chance of occurrence is getting higher and higher with age. Heart failure actually means that the heart cannot effectively pump blood out, resulting in insufficient blood supply to various parts of the body, which causes various problems. This problem is not simple. It may be caused by many reasons. Some are due to damage to the myocardium itself, some are due to secondary damage, such as diabetes, thyroid disease, excessive drinking, etc., and some are due to other diseases that cause excessive burden on the heart, such as high blood pressure, etc. Heart failure is a serious matter that should not be underestimated. Its symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue and weakness, fast and racing heartbeats, and may be irregular, chest tightness and discomfort, and even leg or (and) ankle swelling, etc. These symptoms will gradually worsen, affecting the quality of life, and may even lead to serious complications, such as heart failure and cardiac arrest. If you suffer from high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, diabetes, excessive drinking, heart valve disease, then your risk of heart failure will increase a lot. If you suspect you have heart failure, you should see a doctor as soon as possible for diagnosis and treatment. To diagnose heart failure, you need to draw blood for laboratory tests, and you need to do an electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, and cardiac catheterization. There are many ways to treat heart failure, including lifestyle changes, medication, surgery, etc. Generally speaking, the goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms, improve quality of life, and reduce the risk of complications. In daily life, you can actually prevent heart failure in some ways:

1. Controlling salt intake is a necessary defensive measure. Don't let your heart "lose" under the attack of salt! 2. Control sweets and greasy food, avoid excessive intake of high-sugar and high-cholesterol foods, so that your heart failure will no longer show up on your face and maintain a healthy face.

3. Control your alcohol intake. If you want a healthy heart, you cannot enjoy red wine like the French, otherwise your heart may be hurt in the red wine 'carnival'.

4. Quit smoking or limit the amount of smoking to avoid being enveloped by smoke, protect heart health, and let your heart glow brighter.

5. Exercise is a magic weapon to protect your heart! Being active and not lazy will keep you healthy and in shape. Increase physical activity to improve your cardiopulmonary function and physical fitness. Take a walk, dance, ride a bike, and practice Tai Chi. Don't let your heart become a representative of the "lazy tribe."

6. Check your heart regularly to keep yourself updated on your heart health, so that you can be worry-free and healthy. Remember, a relaxed and happy lifestyle is equally important for preventing heart failure!