Heart failure
(HF), commonly known as congestive heart failure (CHF) is the leading cause of
hospitalization in people ages 65 and older. The good thing is heart healthy
future is well within reach which is possible by adopting a heart-healthy
lifestyle.
Congestive
heart failure is a serious condition in which the ticker cannot pump enough
oxygenated blood to meet the needs of your body. CHF doesn’t mean that your
ticker has stopped functioning or will in the near future. Cardiovascular
disease, in fact develops over time as your ticker weakens and becomes
incapable of supplying the cells with the necessary amount of blood.
Symptoms:
You may start
experiencing certain symptoms as CHF causes your ticker to grow weaker. Seek
medical attention right away if you are experiencing a combination of symptoms,
such as shortness of breath, fatigue and weakness, rapid or irregular heartbeats,
weight gain, congested lungs and swollen ankles, legs and abdomen.
Causes:
There are both
controllable and uncontrollable causes of CHF with some of the most common
causes being
1.
High Blood Pressure (HBP)- High blood
pressure levels can weaken your ticker over time leading to accumulation of
plaque in your arteries that can weaken flow of blood.
2.
Post Myocardial
Infarction (heart attack) - An event of MI results in damaged heart tissue
that contributes to a weakened blood flow.
3.
Coronary Artery Disease
(CAD) -
CAD is accumulation of plaque in the arteries that can lead to blood clot
formation, which can affect flow of blood by partially or completely blocking
blood flow to and from the ticker.
CHF Treatment:
There are no
two ways about prevention being the best form of CHF treatment, which could be
achieved by making heart healthy lifestyle changes, including limiting your
cardiovascular disease risk factors as well as managing your blood pressure
levels and blood sugar. It is advisable that you consult your doctor to learn
about the appropriate medications, surgical options or medical devices to avoid
future complications- if you do experience HF in your lifetime.
Heart disease
also increases the risk for cardiac emergencies like a cardiac arrest or heart
attack. A victim involved in such an emergency would require immediate
treatment for survival. The most appropriate treatment is proper application of
the life-saving CPR procedure that comprises chest compressions and rescue
breaths. Select an accredited training site for acquiring CPR training, such as
the AHA certified CPR Kansas City where our training courses teach the correct
techniques to assist a cardiac arrest victim as the courses inform how to keep
the blood flowing in a victim.
Become certified
at the end of the training classes after successfully passing a skills test and
written exam. An AHA CPR provider card comes with a validity of 2 years meaning
you’ll have to go for a refresher course to extend the validity of your provider
card. Regular CPR
recertification will ensure that you know about the latest information relating
to the life-saving technique.
Contact CPR Kansas City on 913-998-7499 for more information.
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