Five things to know about heart failure prevention and treatment

Heart failure occurs when the heart becomes weak or stiff and cannot pump enough blood around the body effectively. The term can be a bit misleading because the heart does still beat – but the reduced volume of circulating blood has difficulty keeping up with the body’s needs.

The body will start to adapt. It will send oxygen-rich blood to the brain and heart at the expense of the muscles and body tissues. To compensate, the heart might start beating faster, stretching, and becoming larger or more muscular.

Terrie-Ann Benjamin, MD, a cardiologist at M Health Fairview Heart Clinic – Maplewood, shares five things to know about heart failure.

Heart failure affects the entire body.

When a weakened heart cannot circulate blood effectively, it affects the entire body. And since heart failure generally affects people over age 60, many people write off the symptoms as “just part of getting older.” Here are some symptoms to watch for:

• Fatigue. Fatigue is feeling tired most of the time, even after sleeping. It happens because the body prioritizes using nutrient-rich blood in the brain and heart instead of the muscles and tissues around the body.

• Breathlessness, coughing, or wheezing. You might find yourself short of breath doing everyday activities like walking to the mailbox or pushing a cart through the grocery store. But sometimes difficulty breathing comes on during rest. It might be especially tough to lay flat.

• Swelling. Also called edema, swelling of the feet, legs, fingers, or abdomen is caused by fluid buildup.

• Appetite. When the digestive system does not get enough blood, you might feel full after eating less food than usual. You might also feel nausea or experience other digestive issues.

• Weight changes. Gaining five pounds or more in a week can be a sign that your body is retaining water. Monitoring and restricting sodium and fluid intake can assist in reducing fluid retention.

• A racing heart. Your heart might race when you are waiting for a potential love interest to text you back – or when it is overcompensating for a decrease in pumping capacity.

Any combination of these symptoms, especially if they suddenly worsen, can be a sign of heart failure. If you experience these symptoms, schedule a checkup with your primary care provider, who can rule out any other causes of your symptoms or refer you to a specialist.

Go to an emergency room or call 911 if you feel chest pain, faint, have severe weakness, or cough up foamy mucus.

There is no one cause of heart failure.

Lifestyle factors, alcohol use, drug use, medications, and years of wear and tear can cause heart damage. Health conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, viral infection, and irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia) can also cause heart damage. To lower your risk, follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations for managing conditions.

You can reduce your risk – or slow progression.

You cannot control your genetics or age, but some lifestyle changes can help your heart. First, if you smoke, the best thing you can do for your heart is to quit.

Other ways to protect your heart include:

• Reaching a healthy body weight. Talk to your healthcare team about what a healthy weight looks like for you. Excess body weight can make your heart work harder.

• Following a healthy diet. Limit foods high in saturated (animal) fats, cholesterol, and sodium. Try to incorporate fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins into your diet. Avoid processed items or fast foods.

• Engaging in exercise. At least 150 minutes of activity per week is ideal. You might need to start walking around your house for five minutes at a time and work your way up gradually.

• Managing stress. Try to find healthy outlets for anger and frustration. That might mean setting aside time to engage in exercise or hobbies each day or taking deep breaths when you find yourself getting agitated. A therapist or health coach might be able to help with coping strategies.

• Taking medication as directed.

Treatment depends on the cause.

See your doctor if you experience signs of heart failure. The M Health Fairview heart care team will work with you to determine what’s right for you. Heart failure treatment will depend on the cause. Treatments could include:

• Medications to lower blood pressure, increase blood flow, maintain heart rhythm and more.

• Surgery to repair damaged heart valves or vessels to improve blood flow.

• Implanted devices to assist a weakened heart.

• Implanted monitoring devices that can provide early intervention and reduce the risk for hospitalization.

How M Health Fairview can help

Our team offers heart failure management care to help slow progression and potentially improve your heart’s output and your quality of life. 

Talk to your healthcare provider about how you can proactively manage your symptoms through diet, fluid status monitoring, and support programs. You can ask about:

• Patient focused heart failure education

• Heart failure support group

• Pulmonary Artery Sensor (CardioMEMS) Program for management of fluid status

• Low sodium dietary meal plan options

• Heart Failure Nurse Line during office hours

• 24-hour Nurse Line for after-hours guidance

• Cascade Palliative Program supporting patients and families in end-stage heart failure

• Opportunities to participate in heart failure research programs 

Heart care is available at M Health Fairview locations throughout the Twin Cities area. Talk to your primary care provider for a referral or call 1-855-324-7843 for more information.