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Healthy Heart / Healthy Life
About 5 million Americans have congestive heart failure. It can take many years for this condition to develop.

Speak with your doctor if you are at high risk for congestive heart failure and learn about ways to prevent it.

What is CHF?

Congestive heart failure (CHF), is a serious condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood and oxygen to other organs in the body like the brain, stomach and liver. Although the name CHF may lead you to think that your heart has stopped beating, it actually means that your heart does not pump blood the way that it should and may result in frequent visits to your healthcare provider or hospital.

What causes CHF?

As you age, it is normal for your heart to begin to lose some of its ability to pump blood. CHF occurs when your heart has added stress from another health condition that makes it work too hard or damages it making the heart unable to pump blood normally.

Some heart conditions that can add stress to your heart and increase your risk for CHF include:

Congenital Heart Disease - heart defect present at birth
Past Myocardial Infarction - past heart attack
Hypertension - high blood pressure
Clogged Arteries - resulting from cholesterol or fatty deposits

Heart Muscle Disease - resulting from a heart infection, drug or alcohol use
Severe Lung disease
Diabetes
Unhealthy habits - such as smoking, physical inactivity, eating foods high in cholesterol, fat or salt

What are the symptoms of CHF?

Common symptoms include:

Shortness of breath during mild or daily activities
Trouble breathing when lying down
Weight gain from fluid buildup that may cause swelling in the feet, ankles, and legs
General tiredness and weakness
Confusion or inability to think clearly

How is CHF diagnosed?

To diagnose CHF, your healthcare provider will monitor and track your medical history closely, perform a physical examination, check for risk factors, schedule tests and medical procedures that help to measure the severity of your condition, and prescribe a treatment plan for you. Your healthcare provider may also refer you to a CHF specialist, such as a cardiologist.

Some of the tests and procedures your doctor may schedule you for include:

Special Blood Tests – Analyzes your level of sodium, potassium, protein and bodily fluids associated with kidney function.
Chest X-ray – Helps your doctor to see the size of your heart and condition of your lungs.
Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) – Uses electrodes attached to your skin to record the rhythm of your heart, frequency of its beats, and the electrical activity.

Echocardiogram– Uses sound waves to produce an image of your heart that helps to measure the thickness of your heart and how well it is pumping.
Exercise Stress Test – While walking in place on a treadmill, this test helps to determine how well your heart responds to light activity and the level of exercise that will be appropriate for you. The test measures your heart rate and blood pressure while performing light exercise and while sitting in place.

Is there a cure for CHF?

Many people diagnosed with CHF have succeeded in improving their quality of life. You can too!

Follow the steps below to take control:

Take all the medication prescribed by your doctor
Follow a low-salt (sodium) diet
Eat foods low in saturated fat
Avoid smoking
Perform light physical activities like walking or as recommended by your healthcare provider*

Inform your doctor about all your symptoms
Keep track of your weight daily
Check for signs of swelling
Avoid or limit drinking of alcohol

* Speak with your doctor before starting an exercise program.

What type(s) of CHF treatments will my healthcare provider prescribe?
CHF treatment can vary based on the severity of your condition.

Some examples include prescribed medications such as:

ACE (Angiotensin-converting Enzyme) inhibitors – Helps the blood to circulate around the body with ease
Beta blockers – Improves how the heart pumps blood into the left ventricle
Digitalis – Increases the pumping action of the heart

Diuretics - Helps the body eliminate excess salt and water
Vasodilators – Helps the blood to circulate around the body with ease

Life Saving Tips from Healthfirst NJ - Know when and who to call

Contact your doctor right away if you:
Gain 3 or more pounds in a day Have chest pain Find it hard to breathe Cannot do the activities you did the day before	Have the flu or bad cold Get a fever Have swollen feet, ankles or other parts of your body

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