Heart Failure: What You Need to Know

Heart failure isn’t a single disease – it’s a collection of problems where the heart can’t pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. If you’ve been told you have heart failure or you’re worried about it, this page breaks down the basics in plain language.

Common Signs and When to Seek Help

Typical symptoms include shortness of breath, especially when you lie down or climb stairs, persistent coughing or wheezing, swelling in the ankles and feet, and feeling unusually tired. Notice these signs getting worse? Call your doctor right away. Early action can prevent the condition from spiraling.

What Causes Heart Failure?

High blood pressure, coronary artery disease, heart attacks, and irregular heartbeats are the usual culprits. Lifestyle factors such as smoking, excessive alcohol, and a diet high in salt also add stress to the heart. Managing these risk factors can slow the progression of the disease.

Doctors often categorize heart failure by the side of the heart that’s affected. Left‑side failure usually leads to lung congestion, while right‑side failure causes fluid buildup in the lower body. Knowing which side is impacted helps your care team tailor treatment.

Medication is a cornerstone of therapy. Common prescriptions include ACE inhibitors, beta‑blockers, diuretics, and sometimes newer drugs that target specific heart pathways. Each class works differently – ACE inhibitors relax blood vessels, beta‑blockers slow the heart rate, and diuretics help the body get rid of excess fluid.

In addition to pills, lifestyle changes make a big difference. Cutting sodium to under 2,000 mg per day, eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein, and staying active with low‑impact exercise can improve heart function. Even a 20‑minute walk most days can boost stamina.

Monitoring your weight daily helps catch fluid retention early. A gain of more than 2–3 pounds in a short period often means you need to adjust your diuretic dose or call your doctor.

If medication and lifestyle tweaks aren’t enough, advanced options exist. Devices like implantable cardioverter‑defibrillators (ICDs) prevent dangerous heart rhythms, while cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) helps the chambers beat together. In severe cases, surgery or a heart transplant may be discussed.

Living with heart failure can feel overwhelming, but support is available. Join a local heart‑failure support group, use reputable health websites for updates, and keep a medication list handy. Staying informed empowers you to make choices that keep the heart working better for longer.

Bottom line: recognize the signs early, follow your doctor’s treatment plan, and adopt heart‑friendly habits. These steps give you the best chance to live a full, active life despite a heart‑failure diagnosis.