Monday, February 27, 2023

Heart Failure: Causes, Treatment, and Recovery

 Heart failure is a condition in which the heart is unable to pump enough healthy blood to meet the body’s requirements. An inadequate blood supply disrupts the body’s major functions, which may result in further serious problems. According to statistics, heart failure is a prevalent health condition that has affected about 26 million people worldwide and is still on a continuous rise (1). 


With an increasing number of cardiac patients, medical scientists are working daily to make heart treatments affordable and available for all. In this blog, Dr. Sujay Shad, the best heart doctor in Delhi, explains the available treatment for heart failure under his expertise. He also discusses the various causes and risk factors that may lead to heart failure. 





Keep scrolling till the end to read some genius tips to keep the heart healthy. 



Causes and Risk Factors


The majority of people with heart failure also have another health problem. Coronary artery disease (CAD), an illness that narrows the arteries that deliver blood and oxygen to the heart, is one of the leading causes of heart failure. Some other conditions that may contribute to the risk of heart failure are: 


  • Hypertension: The heart of the person suffering from high blood pressure works harder than usual to supply blood to other organs. However, over time, this pressure makes the heart muscles either too stiff or weak, which eventually may cause problems in pumping blood effectively. 
  • Defective heart valves: The heart's valves ensure that blood flows in the right direction. When a heart defect, coronary artery disease, or a heart infection damages a valve, the heart has to work harder, which can make it weaker over time. This may lead to heart failure. 
  • Injured heart muscles: Damage to the heart muscles may also cause heart failure. Some health conditions,  infections, alcohol, use of illegal drugs, and in some cases, some chemotherapy drugs may lead to damage to heart muscles. 
  • Myocarditis: This condition may also cause inflammation and cardiac muscle pain. It is a viral inflammation caused by various viruses, including the COVID-19 virus, and can lead to heart failure on the left side.
  • Congenital heart disease: When the heart or heart valves do not develop properly at birth, it may lead to an extra burden on the developed part of the heart to make sufficient blood. This may lead to an exertion of the healthy parts and heart failure. 
  • Irregular heartbeats: When the heartbeats are irregular due to certain health conditions, it may cause exertion on the heart and cause heart failure. 
  • Other risk factors: Some other health conditions and factors may also increase one’s risk of having heart failure. These are:
    • Health conditions:
      • Diabetes 
      • Lung diseases 
      • HIV 
      • High blood pressure 
      • Obesity 
      • Heart attack 
      • Sleep apnea
      • Anemia 
    • Lifestyle factors: 
      • Smoking 
      • Alcohol 
      • Use of illegal drugs 
      • Fatty food 
      • 65 years of age or older 
      • Family history of heart disease
      • Inactive lifestyle


Symptoms of Heart Failure 

Dr. Sujay Shad explains that one may experience the following symptoms of heart failure: 

  • Fatigue 
  • Weight gain 
  • Loss of appetite and nausea
  • Continuous coughing 
  • Irregular heartbeat 
  • Swelling in the stomach
  • Breathing problems
  • Swelling on the leg, especially around the ankle
  • Shortness of breath while lying down
  • Frequent urge to urinate 


Heart Transplant Surgery for Heart Failure


There are several ways and open heart surgeries that may help treat heart failure. However, when the body does not respond to any other treatment, Dr. Sujay Shad, an expert heart doctor, opts for heart transplant surgery. 


This is an open heart surgery, where the surgeon will change either the patient’s heart’s faulty part or the whole heart and replace it with a donor’s heart. 


The surgery may sound complicated, but when done by an expert like Dr. Shad, who is known for providing the best open heart surgery in Delhi provides a high success rate with a faster recovery pace. 


In the past few years, medical treatments for heart disease have advanced, and device treatments for heart failure have also improved. Smart machines that help the heart pump blood are easy to use, last long, and cause few problems. Heart transplantation gives long-lasting results at a fraction of the cost and improved quality of life.



Tips for Healthy Heart 


As rightly said, precaution is better than cure. These healthy heart tips can help one save themselves from the risk of heart failure: 


  • Eat healthy diet 
  • Quit smoking and alcohol 
  • Go running, dancing, skipping, or any physical activity 
  • Have a cube of dark-medium dark chocolate daily 
  • Maintain healthy weight
  • Control cholesterol, BP, and blood sugar
  • Stay stress-free 
  • Indulge in hobbies 
  • Laugh more 
  • Limit salt intake 


Dr. Sujay Shad, an expert heart doctor examines the patient’s medical history and current medical condition before suggesting further treatments. Visit him at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital for successful open heart surgery in Delhi. The expert heart surgeon will first provide a thorough diagnosis of the patient and then suggest the appropriate treatment.


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