Focus on simple exercises that get you moving and increase your heart rate. Start slow, set a goal and work your way up to that goal. Begin by walking 10-15 minutes three times a week, then, increase walk time by 15 minutes, or increase distance or pace. Biking and swimming are also great activities for beginners.
A drink might be less than you think: 12 ounces of beer, 4 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof spirits. Some people should avoid even that much and not drink at all if they have certain heart rhythm abnormalities or have heart failure.
Understanding and taking control of heart failure is the key to your success. It is possible to lead a normal life, even if you have Heart Failure. People who understand their condition make better decisions, live a longer life and feel better.
Treatment will usually be needed for life. A cure may be possible when heart failure has a treatable cause. For example, if your heart valves are damaged, replacing or repairing them may cure the condition.
Although heart failure is a serious condition that progressively gets worse over time, certain cases can be reversed with treatment. Even when the heart muscle is impaired, there are a number of treatments that can relieve symptoms and stop or slow the gradual worsening of the condition.
Medicines to treat heart failure include: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. These drugs relax blood vessels to lower blood pressure, improve blood flow and decrease the strain on the heart. Examples include enalapril (Vasotec, Epaned), lisinopril (Zestril, Qbrelis) and captopril.
Long term beta blockers help keep your heart failure from becoming worse. Over time, they may also help strengthen your heart. Common beta blockers used for heart failure include carvedilol (Coreg), bisoprolol (Zebeta), and metoprolol (Toprol). Do not abruptly stop taking these drugs.
The heart muscle can be damaged by certain infections, heavy alcohol use, illegal drug use and some chemotherapy medicines. Your genes also can play a role. Any of the following conditions also can damage or weaken the heart and cause heart failure. Coronary artery disease and heart attack.
It may take about two months for your heart muscle to heal. But the scar tissue that remains can weaken your heart's pumping ability. Over time, this can lead to heart failure or other complications. Talk to your provider about the extent of heart damage and what you can expect going forward.
Get moving. Your heart is a muscle and, as with any muscle, exercise is what strengthens it. The first step is to determine your target heart rate, then find an activity you enjoy and can stick with for the long run.
Cardiomyopathy can lead to serious complications, including: Heart failure. The heart can't pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. Untreated, heart failure can be life-threatening.
In general, about half of all people diagnosed with congestive heart failure will survive 5 years. About 30% will survive for 10 years. In patients who receive a heart transplant, about 21% of patients are alive 20 years later.
If you wake up feeling not refreshed, you have daytime sleepiness or if you need to curtail your daytime activity because of lack of energy, these could be signs your heart failure isn't being managed as well as it could be, Dr. Freeman says.
As a result, people with heart failure often feel weak (especially in their arms and legs), tired and have difficulty performing ordinary activities such as walking, climbing stairs or carrying groceries.
One of the biggest differences is that heart disease happens gradually over time while a heart attack occurs suddenly and is an emergency. Heart failure occurs when the muscles of the heart become weak and have difficulty pumping enough blood to nourish your body's many cells.
Cardiomyopathy is disease in which the heart muscle becomes weakened, stretched, or has another structural problem. It often contributes to the heart's inability to pump or function well. Many people with cardiomyopathy have heart failure.
Black and green tea are also still the best option for heart health.