Did heart failure got the best of you?




Heart Failure:
Heart Failure is a disability where the heart is unable to pump the required blood supply to the body, disrupting all the major functions the body carries out. The disability can either be the heart’s inability to pump blood or the stiffening of muscles which effectively reduces the flow of blood. Heart failure can affect either side or the whole heart and can last longer or a short term condition.

An individual is diagnosed to have heart failure when they exhibit the following symptoms:

·         Excessive fatigue
·         Sudden weight gain
·         Appetite loss
·         Persistent coughs
·         Irregular pulse
·         Heart palpitations
·         Abdominal swelling
·         Shortness of breath
·         Leg and ankle swelling
·         Protruding neck veins
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the major factor behind the failure of heart. Other diseases and disorders such as
·         Cardiomyopathy
·         Congenital heart defects
·         Heart attacks
·         Heart valve diseases
·         Arrhythmia
·         High blood pressure
·         Diabetes
·         Overactive or under-active thyroid
·         HIV
·         AIDS
·         Anemia
·         Chemotherapy
·         Drug or alcohol overuse

 Can also be the causative factors of heart failure.

Men are more prone to heart failure when compared to women. African descents are the most affected race in the case of heart failures.

People don’t need to have fear of death or have to undergo a surgery for heart failures as Cardiac Rehabilitation can help overcome these fears.

Cardiac Rehabilitation:

Cardiac rehabilitation is a collective term used to refer the exercises, trainings and educational programs and counselling one should undergo to live a heart-healthy life. Cardiac rehabilitation reduced the need for medicines and drugs to treat heart diseases.  A typical cardiac rehabilitation team consists of

·         Doctors
·         Nurses
·         Exercise specialists
·         Physical and occupational therapists
·         Dietitians or nutritionists
·         Mental health specialists
·         Physiatrists

This team looks after your progress through the program and devises the necessary plans needed to speed up the recovery process.

Pre-treatment and treatment procedures:

Cardiac rehab programs can usually take up to 3 months for a complete recovery. Before the start of the program, the rehab team will go through your medical history and certain tests such as EKG, blood cholesterol level test; blood glucose level tests are performed. The treatment procedure involves light exercises such as walking, cycling, swimming, etc., and also prepares a diet plan to keep your heart healthy. Special treatments are given to overcome the stress and depression a patient experiences after a heart failure.

The benefits one gets from a cardiac rehabilitation program are ability to perform day to day activities, reduce heart disease risk factors, improve life quality, improve mental and emotional stability, and increase the ability to manage your disease.


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