The heart beats more than 100,000 times every day to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the body through blood. The heart may fail for a variety of reasons, preventing it from pumping blood properly. This is called heart failure. Heart failure is called the ‘end of the heart disease’. This is because 6-7 out of 10 people die within 5 years of the onset.
A typical symptom of heart failure is shortness of breath, which is difficult to breathe even with even a little movement. Chronic fatigue, swelling of the body, and indigestion also appear. Causes of dyspnea are not only heart disease, but also respiratory disease.
However, if you have difficulty breathing while lying down, but feel less short of breath while sitting, or if you suddenly have trouble breathing at night, you may have heart failure. You may feel very tired even from small tasks, your exercise capacity will be greatly reduced, or you may suddenly gain weight. Heart failure occurs in regarding 1% of the population under the age of 60, but more than 12.6% in those over the age of 80.
Common causes of heart failure include coronary artery disease such as angina pectoris and myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy, hypertension, diabetes, anemia, and kidney disease. Obesity, smoking, and excessive drinking are risk factors for heart failure.
Hypertrophic (肥厚性) cardiomyopathy, such as dilated cardiomyopathy, there may be genetic factors. To diagnose it, blood tests, X-rays, electrocardiography, and echocardiography are performed. Depending on the cause of the disease, exercise stress test, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and coronary angiography are sometimes performed.
Treatment for heart failure depends on the cause. If there is no structural heart disease that requires surgery or surgery, it is treated with drugs first.
Recently, various drugs that increase the survival rate have been continuously developed. If treatment does not improve, cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) may be considered. To prevent sudden death, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is sometimes used.
Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) or heart transplantation may be considered for patients with end-stage heart failure who do not respond to drug and surgical treatment.
Professor Hye-moon Jeong of the Cardiovascular Center (Department of Cardiology) at Kyunghee University Hospital said, “Heart failure is not a curable disease, but if managed consistently, it can lower the risk of heart failure symptoms, improve the quality of life, and extend lifespan.” “Regular exercise and stress management. , a low-salt diet, and control of blood pressure are very important.”
Exercise significantly reduces the risk of heart failure. Aerobic exercise is recommended, and it is recommended to do it 3 to 5 times a week for at least 30 minutes. If you feel tired, you can do it in 5-10 minute increments.
For heart failure patients, it is recommended to consume less than 7-8 g of salt per day. Smoking and drinking alcohol are essential.
Hypertension, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), anemia, depression, and sleep apnea, which are common in heart failure patients, should be treated simultaneously.
Professor Hye-moon Jeong said, “If you are diagnosed with heart failure, it is good to check the degree of breathlessness, swelling of the hands and feet, and weight gain every day. If it persists, you should go to the hospital and seek professional treatment as soon as possible,” he said.
Kwon Dae-ik medical journalist dkwon@hankookilbo.com
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