The Facts About Heart Failure: What You Need to Know

Heart failure does not mean that the organ has stopped beating. The chronic medical condition occurs when this vital organ works less efficiently and can no longer pump enough blood and oxygen to support the remainder of the body. The chambers of the heart may stretch to hold more blood and develop more muscle mass. Your heart may also beat faster to increase output. While this helps to keep blood flowing in the short term, the muscle walls will ultimately weaken and not be able to pump as strongly. Eventually, your heart will not be able to keep up. When this occurs, you will experience fatigue, breathing problems and other symptoms. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this chronic progressive medical condition affects approximately 5.7 million Americans. More than half a million new cases are diagnosed annually. A combination of nutritional and medical approaches can reduce symptoms and delay the progression of the disease.

Causes and Risks

Although it is more likely to develop as you age, heart disease is a serious, long-term cardiovascular condition that affects people of all ages. It is one of the most common reasons for hospital admission among patients 65 and older. The most common risk factors include high blood pressure, coronary artery disease and a previous heart attack. Diabetes is another risk factor. Unhealthy lifestyle choices like smoking, not getting sufficient exercise, being obese and consuming a poor diet can increase the risk for developing heart failure. Other factors that can contribute to heart disease include genetics, toxins and infections.

Signs and Symptoms

Common symptoms include shortness of breath and persistent coughing or wheezing. This is caused by a buildup of fluid in the lungs. There may also be a buildup of excess fluid in various bodily tissues like the abdomen and the extremities, including the feet and ankles. You may also experience fatigue. These symptoms can prevent you from enjoying routine daily activities. Other symptoms include nausea and a loss of appetite as well as confusion, memory loss and impaired thinking because of poor blood flow to your digestive tract and brain.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Early diagnosis enables you to take control of your condition and still live a long full life. Heart failure is typically diagnosed based on your symptoms and a full medical examination as well as any required tests. While there is no cure, you can stop the disease from getting worse by following your doctor’s treatment advice, including taking prescribed medications and changing your lifestyle. Prescription medications often include ACE inhibitors that are designed to relax your arteries and heart as well as diuretics that reduce excess fluid and relieve shortness of breath. Medication can also control any atrial fibrillation, or irregular heartbeats. A pacemaker may be installed if your condition fails to respond favorably to medication. A surgical procedure known as ablation may remove small amounts of excess heart muscle or destroy small portions of diseased tissue. Along with avoiding nicotine products, other lifestyle changes include reducing sodium in your diet, maintaining a healthy weight and engaging in daily physical activity to strengthen your heart. A diet of low-fat proteins, fruits, vegetables and whole grains is often recommended.

Heart failure can compromise your health and endanger your life. Working with your doctor, following recommended treatment protocols and making necessary lifestyle changes can relieve symptoms and improve your quality of life.

Why You Need to Wash Your Hands More

As we age from children to mature adults, we use our intellect and experiences to temper the early advice we received from our parents. "Wash your hands often" is a staple of motherly advice that one should never, ever question. Now more than ever, washing your hands is critical for maintaining your personal health. In early 2017, a woman in Arizona died from an unusual bacterial infection. This infection successfully resisted all 26 antibiotics available in the U.S. at the time. With these "superbugs" increasingly prevalent in our society, washing your hands is very important. Of course, not every bacterial infection will kill you. Faithfully washing your hands remains an easy, surefire way to set the preconditions for improved health. 

When you wash your hands, be sure to use proper technique. Before applying soap, wet your hands to ensure a better bond. Always use antibacterial soap if available. Rinse your hands well and dry them completely. Doctors recommend that you scrub your hands for at least 15 or 20 seconds before rinsing. To be absolutely sure of cleanliness, wash both forearms to just below your elbows. In a public setting, try to use a paper towel to turn off the water. Faucet handles and doorknobs are well-known havens for viruses and bacteria. Fortunately, social custom has habituated most people to washing their hands after using the bathroom. Alone or not, washing your hands consistently is vital for your self-respect. 

In modern society, we eat many popular meals with our hands. Washing your hands before eating should become an effortless, automatic gesture. Even people who dutifully wash their hands often skip this ritual when eating out. Arguably, it is even more important to wash your hands when you are patronizing a restaurant. 

For many people, shaking hands at work is a requirement. Wherever you are, you'd better think long and hard before you turn down a handshake. No matter how unsanitary this handshakes, it will always seem deeply rude to turn one down. It won't help at all if you apologize or say something like, "I wish I could shake your hand but I have a weak immune system." Fairly or not, turning down this friendly gesture is widely seen as boorish and rude. Fortunately, there is some good news for the germ-averse: discreetly washing up after shaking hands reduces your risk to minuscule levels. 

When you start washing your hands more often, you might not immediately see any visible health benefits. After all, it's impossible to concretely measure how many colds you have avoided in any given month. Stick with it and don't give up. Trust the experts and know that if you maintain rigorous hand-washing habits, you absolutely will get sick less often. Avoiding illness is especially important as you age, so wash your hands more often to live a longer and happier life.