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Heart Failure 101: Living the right way

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Heart Failure 101: Living the right way

Cardiology | by BMB | Published on 28/01/2022


The name heart failure is quite likely to make you believe that the patient's heart is no more in working condition, and there is nothing that can be done about the same. Well, it is important to understand that heart failure does not mean that the patient's heart has completely stopped functioning, rather it means that his/her heart is incapable of pumping blood efficiently. Heart failure calls for the need for immediate medical intervention as the reduced supply of blood can deprive the heart muscles of the oxygen that they need to survive and cause them to die. The normal functioning of the heart is vital for our existence it is responsible for pumping oxygenated blood throughout the body. It is this blood that nourishes all the cells in our body. When the heart is not able to pump enough blood, it is likely to give rise to symptoms like general body weakness, fatigue and breathlessness, making it difficult for you to indulge in any kind of physical activity. As per the experts from the best cardiac centre in Kolkata, patients suffering from heart failure need to go for immediate medical intervention as the problem is progressive in nature. This means that the patient's condition is likely to aggravate as time passes by, giving rise to life-threatening complications which can be difficult to manage.

 

When you are having heart failure, your heart does try to fight back, to make up for the depleted supply of oxygenated blood. In some cases, the heart stretches and becomes and last to be able to contract more efficiently, in order to meet the oxygen requirement of the body, or your heart tends to gain muscle mass due to the enlargement of the contracting cells. In some cases, it may even try to beat faster to pump more blood. Anyhow there is an increased workload on the heart, which can further elevate health issues in future. All these can help you temporarily but they are not permanent solutions. They may go on for some time but as your condition aggravates, these will also fail to give any successful outcomes. Treatment for heart failure is offered by all the leading heart doctors in Kolkata. All you need to do is recognise the symptoms and go for an immediate medical assessment.

 

Living with heart failure:

Living with any medical condition is not easy and heart failure is no exception. If you are living with heart failure, solely depending upon the treatment is not a good idea, you need to put in some extra effort to make sure that the problem is managed in the best possible way, without compromising the quality of life. The food you eat also plays a very important role in determining your heart health, making it very important for you to eat healthy and clean if you have been diagnosed with a serious problem like heart failure.

 

Fresh fruits and veggies

Now, a lot of people must have shared suggestions and tips regarding what is healthy and what is not, but you cannot blindly trust anything and everything that you hear. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables every day is one of the most common tips that you are going to hear, and it really helps because these are loaded with all the important nutrients like vitamins, minerals and fibre, which help to maintain healthy cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

While you are focusing on a balanced nutrient intake, you simply cannot ignore potassium. Certain medications prescribed for heart diseases are likely to interfere with the potassium levels in your body making it important for you to include the same in your diet.

 

Avoiding alcohol

When your heart is feeling it means that it is not healthy enough to pump blood like it used to, and drinking alcohol is only going to worsen it. While some people believe that red wine is great for your heart, some might even suggest you try the same, it is important to know that it only holds true when your heart is completely healthy and you are drinking in moderation. The same does not apply to people who thought health is already compromised. So, it is better to stay away from alcohol in any form.

 

Refrain from using too much salt

You must be wondering how salt consumption can affect your heart health. Well, the answer is simple. It is because salt contains sodium, which can lead to fluid retention, and if you have an existing problem like heart failure, it can lead to serious complications. Now, cutting down on your salt consumption can be a little bit difficult initially, but you can try removing the salt shaker from your dining table, replacing the normal salt with low sodium, using different seasonings and choosing canned foods that do not contain salt as a preservative.

 

Do not use highly processed food items

When we say highly processed food items it refers to white bread, white pasta, sugar-sweetened cereals and grains that do not even contain a good amount of fibre. These are extremely harmful to people with already existing comorbidities like the type of diabetes and high cholesterol. Instead of using this product, you can go for whole-grain food items such as brown bread, brown rice and fresh fruits and vegetables

 

If you are recovering from heart failure it is very important to keep these things in mind. To know more about healthy dietary modifications for heart failure, you can consult the top heart hospital in Kolkata at BM Birla Heart Research Centre.