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What can go wrong with the heart?

Heart Failure
The term "heart failure" sounds as if the heart is no longer working at all and there's nothing
that can be done. Actually, heart failure means that the heart isn't pumping as well as it
should be.
Your body depends on the heart's pumping action to deliver oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood
to the body's cells. When the cells are nourished properly, the body can function normally.
With heart failure, the weakened heart can't supply the cells with enough blood, when this
happens excess fluid builds up in your lungs and in the tissues throughout your body, you feel
tired and become short of breath, your legs and ankles may become swollen. Everyday
activities such as walking, climbing stairs or carrying groceries can become very difficult.
Heart failure is chronic, and progressive, the heart muscle is unable to pump enough blood to
meet the body's needs for blood and oxygen. Basically, the heart can't keep up with its
workload.
At first the heart tries to make up for this by:

Enlarging. As the heart chamber gets bigger, it stretches more and contracts more
strongly, so it pumps more blood.

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Developing more muscle. The increase in muscle mass happens because the
contracting cells of the heart get bigger. This lets the heart pump more strongly, at
least in the beginning of the disease.

Pumping faster. This helps to increase the heart's output.

The body also compensates in other ways:

The blood vessels become narrower to increase the blood pressure up, trying to make
up for the heart's loss of power.

The body diverts blood away from less important tissues and organs to maintain flow
to the most important organs, the heart and brain.

These temporary measures mask the problem of heart failure for a while, but they don't solve
the problem. Heart failure continues and worsens until these substitute measures no longer
work.
Eventually the heart and body just can't keep up, and the person experiences the fatigue,
breathing problems or other symptoms that usually cause a trip to the doctor.
The body's compensation mechanisms help explain why some people may not become
aware of their condition until years after their heart begins its decline. (It's also a good reason
to have a regular checkup with your doctor.)
Heart failure can involve the heart's left side, right side or both sides. However, it usually
affects the left side first

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Heart failure is a serious condition, and usually there's no cure. But many people with heart
failure lead a full, enjoyable life when the condition is managed with heart failure
medications and healthy lifestyle changes. It's also helpful to have the support of family and
friends who understand your condition.

Common symptoms of Heart failure

Sign or Symptom

People

with

Heart

Failure

May Why It Happens

Experience...
Shortness of breath , Shortness of breath during activity, Blood backs up in the vessels
unable to breath when at rest, or while sleeping, which may that return blood from the lungs
lying flat

come on suddenly and wake you up. to the heart causing fluid to leak
You may have difficulty breathing into the lungs.
while lying flat and may need to prop
up the upper body and head on two
pillows. waking up tired or feeling

coughing or wheezing
Swelling
ankles,feet
weight gain

of

anxious and restless.

coughing that produces white or pink Fluid builds up in the lungs.

blood-tinged mucus.
legs, Excess fluid builds up in the feet, As blood flow out of the heart
(edema), ankles, legs or abdomen or weight slows, blood returning to the
gain. Your shoes feel tight.

heart through the veins backs

up, causing fluid to build up in
the tissues. The kidneys are

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less able to get rid of salt and

water

which

causing

fluid

Tiredness,

retention in the body

fatigue, A tired feeling all the time and The heart can't pump enough

weakness

difficulty with everyday activities, blood to meet the needs of body

such as, shopping,climbing stairs, or tissues. The body diverts blood
walking.

away from less vital organs,

such as muscles in the arms
and legs, and sends it to the

Loss

of

heart and brain.

appetite, A feeling of being full or sick to your The digestive system receives

nausea
Confusion,

stomach.
memory Memory

loss, impaired thinking

less blood, causing problems

loss

and

feelings

with digestion.
of Changing levels

of

certain

disorientation. *Others may notice substances in the blood, such

this before you dot.

as

sodium,

can

cause

confusion.
Heart palpitations, Heart Heart palpitations, which feel like To compensate up for the loss in
racing, irregular heart your heart is racing or throbbing.

its ability

beat

beats faster.

Heart attack

to pump, the heart

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Your heart muscle needs oxygen to survive. A heart attack occurs when the blood flow that
brings oxygen to the heart muscle is severely reduced or cut off completely. This happens
because the arteries that supply the heart muscle with blood become narrowed or blocked
from a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances that together are called plaque. This
process is very slow and happens over a prolonged period of time. When a plaque in a heart
artery breaks, a blood clot forms around the plaque. The blood clot can block the blood flow
through the heart muscle and the heart muscle is starved for oxygen and nutrients resulting in
damage or death of part of the heart muscle. Heart attacks usually occur over a period of 4-6
hours. With each minute more heart tissue is damaged or dies. The only way to help the
individual suffering a heart attack is to restore blood flow before too much damage is done.
Heart attack symptoms in women, the elderly and people with diabetes tend to be less
pronounced. About every 34 seconds, someone in the United States has a heart attack.
People that die from heart attacks usually die within the first hour after symptoms start. If you
suspect that someone might be having a heart attack, call 911 immediately
Warning Signs of a Heart Attack

Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that
lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like

uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.

Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include Pain spreading
beyond the chest to the shoulders, one or both arms, the back, neck and sometimes to

the teeth and jaw

Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.

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Pain in the upper abdomen that lasts for more than a few minutes (sometimes people

think they are having indigestion or heartburn)

Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing
Intense sweating
Fainting, unsteadiness, lightheadedness
Nausea and vomiting
Confusion
Sense of anxiety or impending doom

Causes and risk factors of heart failure and heart attacks

The main causes of heart failure are the same things that can cause heart attacks, such as
smoking, eating fatty foods, not exercising, and being overweight. Other causes include birth
defects and viruses that damage the heart valves or muscles. Someone who experiences a
heart attack will often develop heart failure because part of the heart muscle has been
damaged, making the heart work harder.

Major risk factors of heart failure and heart attacks

High blood pressure

High blood cholesterol levels

Smoking

Lack of exercise

Obesity

Diabetes

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Stress

Alcohol

Family history

Abnormal heart valves

Coronary artery disease

Heart muscle disease

Congenital heart disease

Severe lung disease

Major risk factors that cant be changed:

The risk factors on this list are ones you're born with and cannot be changed. The more of
these risk factors you have, the greater your chance of developing heart disease. Since you
can't do anything about these risk factors, it's even more important for you to manage the risk
factors that can be changed

Family history

Abnormal heart valves

Increasing age

Congenital heart disease

Male Sex

Men have a greater risk of heart attack than women do, and they have attacks earlier in life. Even
after menopause, when women's death rate from heart disease increases, it's not as great as men's.

Children of parents with heart disease are more likely to develop it themselves. African Americans
have more severe high blood pressure than Caucasians and a higher risk of heart disease. Heart
disease risk is also higher among Mexican Americans, American Indians, native Hawaiians and some
Asian Americans. This is partly due to higher rates of obesity and diabetes. Most people with a strong
family history of heart disease have one or more other risk factors. Just as you can't control your age,
sex and race, you can't control your family history. Therefore, it's even more important to treat and
control any other risk factors you have.
Guidelines for a healthy heart

1. Eat a variety of foods.

2. Regular physical activity.
3. Maintain a healthy
4. Limit salt intake
5. Eat foods low in fat and cholesterol.
6. Limit sugar intake.
7. Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole-grain products.

8. If you drink alcohol, consume no more than one drink per day.
9. Do not smoke.
10. Monitor blood pressure and keep it within healthy limits (less than 140 systolic and 90 diastolic
for most people, or 140/90).
11. Regular medical check up