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07 Apr 2022 | 06:48 PM (IST)
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Heart failure
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is heart failure common? What are my chances of getting heart failure?
In recent decades, heart failure has become a major public health problem. Approximately, 1-2% of the adult population has heart failure. It affects at least 26 million people worldwide. Its prevalence is increasing, especially in the developed countries.
Your chance of getting a heart failure increases with advancing age. You are at a higher risk of heart failure if you suffer from diseases that damage your heart, have high BMI and practice unhealthy behaviors like smoking tobacco, eating high-fat diet, physical inactivity, etc.
Should I limit my fluid and salt intake?
Heart failure causes fluid to build up in your body leading to swelling in your ankles, feet or stomach. Your lungs are congested which makes you short of breath. Your heart has to work harder to pump the increased volume of blood. Drinking large amounts of water adds to the burden. Salt causes retention of fluid in the body. It also makes you thirsty making you guzzle more water. Hence, reducing your fluid and salt intake is important if you have heart failure.
Can I exercise if I have heart failure?
The right amount of exercise is beneficial for people with heart failure. It helps improve the blood flow and also eases some of your symptoms. But do not overdo it. Regular aerobic activity and inspiratory muscle training are recommended in consultation with your doctor.
How can I stop the need to get up in the night to go to the toilet?
Your body attempts to get rid of the excess fluid that has built up in your body during the day. This can cause an increased need to pass urine during the night. You can take measures to stop this need. Restrict fluids before bedtime and urinate before you go to bed. Find out from your doctor if you can take your diuretic medication in the morning.
How can I improve my breathlessness at night?
When you lie down, the blood pooled in the leg veins re-enters your bloodstream. Increased amount of blood returns to the heart. Your heart is unable to keep up with it and the fluid builds up inside your lungs causing shortness of breath. To improve this situation, try to lie down in a more upright position with the support of pillows, and consult your doctor for optimization of your drug doses.
Can I have sex if I have heart failure?
You can continue to enjoy sex once your symptoms are well managed and under control.
How many glasses of water are recommended in heart failure? Will it not cause dehydration if I drink less fluids?
Reducing your fluid intake is important if you have heart failure, especially in advanced stages. You should limit your total fluid intake to 1.5 to 2 liters per day to help keep your body from retaining fluid and avoid overloading your heart.Drink according to the demands of your body. The demands increase in hot weather. If you get thirsty, it means you are dehydrated. Consult your doctor who can advise you about the amount of fluid your body needs in different situations.
If a child has heart failure will it make the child prone to high blood pressure?
Some children are born with defects in their heart and its chambers (congenital heart disease). An untreated congenital heart disease can cause heart failure in children.
Some children may have hypertension as a result of a congenital heart disease in which their main blood vessel that carries blood from their heart to all of the organs of their body is narrowed (coarctation of aorta). Pulmonary hypertension is also a relatively common complication of congenital heart diseases like ventricular septal defect (hole in the wall that separates the two lower chambers of your heart), atrial septal defect (hole in the wall that separates the two upper chambers of your heart), persistent ductus arteriosus (failure of closure of the opening between the two major blood vessels leading from the heart after birth), etc.
