Heart Failure
By Rear Adm. Joyce Johnson, D.O., M.A.

My doctor told me I have early heart failure. Does that mean my heart will just stop?

A diagnosis of heart failure doesn’t mean your heart will stop anytime soon. Heart failure is a common condition—each year, more than half a million people are diagnosed with it. In people over 65, it is the most common reason for hospitalization.
 
When a person has heart failure, the heart muscles lose some of their ability to pump blood. More blood remains in the heart after each contraction, and the heart’s chambers must stretch to hold this extra blood. Over time, the heart muscle stretches out and pumps with less force.

Causes of heart failure include damage to the heart muscle or valves (often due to heart attack, infection, alcohol abuse, or drug abuse); coronary artery disease, which reduces the oxygen to the heart and thus reduces the heart’s function; and diseases such as high blood pressure, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, and kidney disease that cause the heart to overwork.

Heart failure affects the body’s regulation of fluids, causing edema. As the body becomes filled with fluid, heart failure is called congestive heart failure. Sometimes the lungs fill with fluid, resulting in shortness of breath. Increased fluid weight and decreased oxygen throughout the body can result in fatigue, weakness, and sometimes dizziness or confusion (which can contribute to falls). Congestive heart failure also can cause irregular heartbeats.

Heart failure can be diagnosed by the patient’s symptoms and by lab tests, including blood work, x-rays, an echocardiogram, and an ECG or EKG.

Prevention and treatment of heart failure are important. Stop smoking and use alcohol sparingly. Treat high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, thyroid disease, etcetera. If you have signs of heart failure, monitor your salt, fluids, and weight carefully.

Taking diuretics and other medications, as well as controlling salt and fluid intake, might be necessary to regulate the buildup of fluid. Take the medications your doctor prescribes, and let your doctor know about all other medications you are taking (including over-the-counter medicines, herbal remedies, vitamins, and prescription medications), as some of these make heart failure worse.

Various surgical procedures sometimes can help a patient with heart failure. Coronary bypass surgery can treat coronary artery disease; a damaged heart valve can be repaired or replaced. In extreme cases, a heart transplant might be an option. More information is available online from the American Heart Association, www.americanheart.org.