Cardiac failure is a condition in which the heart is no longer able to pump blood to meet the body's needs, causing organs not to be fully supplied with oxygen and nutrients.
This is a common chronic cardiovascular disease, progressing silently but can cause serious complications, greatly affecting the quality of life and life if not treated promptly.
According to doctors of the Cardiology - Geriatric Department, Lao Cai Provincial General Hospital No. 3, heart failure patients often show quite typical signs but are easily overlooked.
In which, shortness of breath when exerted or when lying down is the most common manifestation.
In addition, edema of the legs, ankles or abdomen due to fluid stagnation; prolonged feeling of fatigue, reduced mobility; rapid or irregular heartbeat; abnormal rapid weight gain due to water retention are also early warning signs.
Causes of heart failure are very diverse. The most common are prolonged high blood pressure causing the heart to overwork, coronary artery disease reducing the amount of blood supply to the heart muscle, or valve diseases affecting blood circulation.
In addition, chronic diseases such as diabetes also contribute to increasing the risk of the disease.
It is noteworthy that unhealthy lifestyles such as lack of exercise, smoking, alcohol abuse, and eating a lot of salt and fat are factors that promote faster progression of heart failure.
Experts recommend that, although not completely cured, heart failure can still be effectively controlled if detected early and followed treatment.
People need to proactively control underlying diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes; build a scientific diet, reduce salt, increase green vegetables and limit bad fats.
In addition, maintaining regular exercise habits, suitable for physical condition; saying no to tobacco, limiting alcohol; complying with treatment and periodic check-ups according to doctor's instructions are important measures to help protect cardiovascular health.
Heart failure often progresses silently over time, so listening to the body and timely examination when there are abnormal signs is the key to controlling the disease, maintaining a healthy heart and a stable life for a long time.
