What does Heart failure mean?

Heart failure is a term used when your heart is unable to pump blood as well as it should.

Causes of Heart Failure

Certain conditions and risk factors include:

• High blood pressure
• Coronary artery disease
• Heart attacks
• Diabetes
• Sleep Apnoea
• Viruses
• Alcohol use
• Congenital heart defects
• Valvular heart disease.
• Obesity
• Irregular heart beats

The above can gradually cause your heart muscle to weaken or become stiff, making it hard for the heart to pump efficiently.

Symptoms Include:

• Shortness of breath when you exert yourself
• Fatigue and weakness
• Swelling in your leg’s ankles or feet
• Rapid irregular heart rate.
• Reduced ability to exercise
• Persistent cough
• Increased need to urinate at night
• Very rapid weight gain from fluid
• Lack of appetite
• Sudden shortness of breath and coughing up pink foamy mucus.

Treatment for Heart Failure:

Heart failure is a lifelong condition however treatment options can improve your symptoms.

Medications prescribed by your specialist including blood pressure tablet, fluid tablets and medications to control your heart rate.

Surgery and medical devices such as:

• Coronary artery bypass
• Heart valve repair or replacement
• Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators
• Cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) 
• Heart transplant

Palliative care and end-of-life care may be suggested as a treatment plan, focusing on easing your symptoms and improving your quality of life.

Speak to our Doctors at Newcastle heart about treatment options that may benefit you.