Heart failure is a common condition, affecting almost 6 million people in the United States. If you suffer from heart failure or fear that you are at risk, you may be concerned about what treatments you may need to undergo.
Thankfully, modern-day medicine has given sufferers of the disease the chance to live relatively normal lives. There are several treatments available that can help to manage symptoms and minimize the impact of the disease, helping hearts to last longer.
Read on to discover 3 treatments for heart failure that you may not know about.
What is Heart Failure?
The most basic description of heart failure is when the heart is no longer able to pump blood around the body as it should. There are a number of reasons as to why this may have happened, including old age, damage from a heart attack, or pre-existing conditions.
There are 4 stages of heart failure, the first stage being pre-heart failure which is a diagnosis given before the disease has fully set in. This can be due to a family history of heart failure or a condition that puts you at risk. These stages help to determine treatment plans.
It should be mentioned that heart failure isn’t a death sentence. You may not know what to do in the event of a heart failure diagnosis, but the following treatments could help you manage your symptoms and live with the disease.
1. ICD or Pacemaker
For those in the third stage of heart failure, which is the stage where symptoms can become troublesome, implantation treatments can give your heart the help it needs to pump blood efficiently.
A pacemaker does what its name suggests – it helps to set the pace of your heart by sending electrical pulses. These pulses help to keep your heart beating regularly.
An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is similar to a pacemaker but is more of an implanted emergency responder, which kicks into action if your heartbeat becomes too irregular or slow.
2. Beta-Blockers
If you’ve ever suffered from anxiety, you may have been prescribed beta-blockers. But the main function of this medication is to prevent the release of hormones like adrenaline, which can put stress on the heart.
Beta-blockers are an effective treatment for heart failure.
3. Food – the Natural Method of Helping Hearts
There are instant changes that everyone can make to their diet to not only treat heart failure but delay its development.
There are a number of foods that help the heart, but foods low in salt are best. This includes poultry, fish, eggs, and yogurt. Foods low in sodium help keep your blood pressure down.
Fresh fruits, vegetables, and plain pasta and rice are all great, healthy options too, so there is plenty of variety.
Look After Your Heart
Even for young people, it’s important to protect your future selves by helping hearts stay healthy. Exercise regularly and eat well to give yourself the best chance.
If you do unfortunately end up developing heart failure, it’s a comfort to know that treatments are available to help you manage the condition.
For more information on how to stay healthy, check out the weight loss section of the website.