Heart Failure: An Overview

Heart failure, often perceived as a heart disease associated with the age factor, is a growing concern across all age groups in India. This condition can develop at any age but is increasingly seen among adults due to rising lifestyle-related factors. Different reports from different sources ring an alarm about how these silent and slow conditions are becoming a rising threat. Look at the reports: 

According to a 2022 report, 'Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India, ' the number of deaths caused by heart failure ranged from 25,000 to 28,000 in the last four years. (Source)

Another report, where the estimates suggest heart failure has increased from 1.3 million to 22.7 million, with an annual incidence of 0.5 –1.8 million in India.

In this article, let’s discuss heart failure, its symptoms, reasons, and risk factors, and how you can take proactive steps to prevent serious illnesses.

What is Heart Failure? 

Heart failure develops when the heart cannot pump enough oxygen-rich blood to meet the body's needs. When this health condition occurs, blood backs up, and fluid builds up in the lungs, liver, abdomen, and lower extremities, causing complications.

Remember, heart failure doesn’t mean that your heart has stopped working. It occurs when the heart muscle becomes too weak or stiff to fill and pump blood properly. At first, the heart tries to compensate by enlarging, developing more muscle mass, or pumping faster, but it doesn’t solve the problem and may worsen the conditions. 

How is Heart Failure Different from Normal Health Conditions? 

In a healthy heart, blood is pumped efficiently to all body parts. With heart failure, this process is impaired, leading to several key differences:

Types of Heart Failure 

Usually, heart failure begins with the lower left heart chamber and leads to the lower right chamber. Sometimes, it can affect both sides of the heart. Let’s have a look at the types of heart failure: 

Signs and Symptoms of Heart Failure 

Heart failure symptoms may vary on the type and how serious the condition is. The early warning signs include:

• Tiredness: Your heart feels extra tired when it lacks oxygen. 
• Swelling: A weak heart struggles to pump blood from the lower to the upper part of the body, which can cause swelling in the ankles, legs, and belly (the condition is called edema). 
• Shortness of Breath: When enough oxygen-rich blood doesn’t reach the heart, breathing is hard.
• Cough and Wheezing: This occurs due to the buildup of fluid in the lungs.
• Fatigue: Shortness of breath can cause trouble when exercising. 

Except for the above-mentioned, some other heart failure symptoms include:

• Having the frequent urge to pee at night
• Loss of appetite or nausea 
• Bloating in stomach
• Dizziness or confusion due to lack of blood to the brain
• Less blood flow to your muscle
• Fast or irregular heartbeat
• Rapid weight gain due to fluid buildup
• Weakness due to loss of blood to the muscles

Causes of Heart Failure

The following conditions can damage or weaken the heart, which can develop into heart failure:

• Heart Attack or Coronary Artery Disease: Coronary heart disease results from plaque build-up in the arteries. The build-up can narrow the arteries, blocking blood flow. It is the common cause of heart failure. 
• High Blood Pressure: Hypertension forces the heart to pump harder and faster to supply blood through the body, making the heart muscle too weak to work properly. 
• Heart Valve Disease: When there’s a problem with a heart valve, the blood doesn’t flow properly, resulting in the heart working harder to pump blood. The condition can weaken the heart over time and lead to heart failure.
• Inflation in Heart Muscle (Myocarditis): Inflation can be caused by a virus such as COVID-19, etc., leading to left-side heart failure. 
• Congenital Heart Defect: When an individual is born with a defect in the heart or any part or chamber, the other parts of the heart will have to work harder. This condition may lead to heart failure. 
• Irregular Heartbeat (Arrhythmias): An irregular heartbeat can lead to heart failure due to an extra work burden on the heart. 
• Other Diseases: Long-term and chronic diseases (such as diabetes, HIV, etc.).

Other causes of heart failure may include:

• Any illness that affects the whole body
• Blood clots in the lungs
• Severe infections
• Certain medications

Risk Factors of Heart Failure

Any of the following untreated medical conditions may lead to a risk factor for developing heart failure: 

• Heart Attack: The heart muscle gets damaged, and it becomes tough for the heart to pump blood
• Coronary Artery Disease: Narrowed arteries may limit the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the heart and damage the heart muscle. 
• Heart Valve Disease: When the heart valves do not work properly, they can restrict the blood flow to the heart and may result in heart failure.
• High Blood Pressure: When the pressure is high, the heart needs to work harder and may fail. 
• Irregular Heartbeats: Irregular heartbeat may weaken the heart muscle.
• Congenital Heart Disease: People born with heart problems may have difficulty performing normal heart functions.
• Diabetes: It may develop the risk of high blood pressure and coronary heart disease, which may increase the risk of heart failure.
• Sleep Apnea: The inability to breathe during sleep may affect blood oxygen levels and increase irregular heartbeats.
• Obesity: People who are obese can develop the issue of heart failure.
• Medications: Certain drugs used to treat diseases, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, arrhythmia, etc. 

Other lifestyle factors that may increase the risk of developing heart failure are:

• Age: With age, the ability of the heart to work efficiently reduces. 
• Alcohol Consumption: Too much alcohol may weak the heart muscle 
• Smoking and Tobacco Usage: Using tobacco can increase the risk of heart disease

How is Heart Failure Diagnosed?

The healthcare provider will perform different tests and assessments to determine your medical condition and signs of heart failure, including the following:

Imaging and Other Tests

Echocardiogram: uses sound waves to create a detailed picture of the heart.

X-Ray: uses X-rays to view the heart’s size, shape, and detect fluid in the lungs.

Heart MRI: uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of the heart’s structure and function.

Nuclear Scan: uses a small amount of radioactive material to show blood flow to the heart and identify areas with poor blood supply.

Stress Test: monitors the heart’s activity during exercise to evaluate its performance under stress.

Holter Monitoring: uses a portable device that continuously records the heart’s electrical activity over 24-48 hours to detect irregular heart rhythms.

Blood Tests

A blood test is performed to get to know different causing factors of heart failure: 

• Electrolytes (Sodium and Potassium levels) 
• Release of creatinine to reflect the working of kidneys
• B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level 

Potential Problems Heart Failure Can Cause 

When left untreated, heart failure can become chronic and can be life-threatening. Due to the fluid buildup, you can experience fluid retention in your limbs, lungs, and liver. The potential complications caused are:

• Heart stroke
• Liver dysfunction
• Kidney dysfunction
• Arrhythmias 
• Heart attack
• Sudden cardiac death
• Malnutrition from nausea and abdominal swelling

Prevention Measures for Heart Failure 

Prevention is the first step to cure any disease. Some of the lifestyle changes may help you in the prevention of heart failure, including the following:

• Quit smoking
• Have an active lifestyle
• Healthy food habits
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Take medicine as directed by the healthcare provider
• Reduce and manage the stress

Possible Treatments for Heart Failure

Heart failure is a long-term condition that is tough to cure, but you can control your symptoms with the help of treatments. The treatment of heart failure may depend on the severity and type of the disease, mentioned as:

Healthy Lifestyle Changes

• Eating a balanced diet
• Doing regular exercise
• Quick smoking
• Limit your alcohol consumption
• Regular monitoring of your heart conditions

Medications for Heart Failure

• Blood thinners
• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
• Angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs)
• Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)
• Hydralazine
• Beta-blockers
• Nitrates
• Cholesterol-lowering medications

Devices to Monitor Heart Failure 

Pacemakers: The small devices implanted to control the heart rhythms. It regulates the heartbeat when it is beating too slowly or too quickly. 

Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVAD): An LVAD helps the left ventricle to pump blood throughout the body.

Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD): The ICD keeps track of your heart rate and shocks your heart to restore normal heart rhythm if it detects abnormal heart rhythms.  

Surgery for Heart Failure

Your healthcare provider may recommend the following surgeries based on the symptoms and severity of the disease: 

Bypass Surgery: The surgeon attaches a piece of artery or vein to create a bypass, allowing the blocked blood to pass through a new path. 

Heart Valve Repair or Replacement: The surgeon repairs or replaces the heart valve based on its severity.

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI): The surgeon inserts a catheter with a small balloon attached to the blocked artery. Once the catheter reaches the damaged artery, the balloon is inflated to open the artery, allowing the blocked blood to pass. 

Transplant Surgery: The surgeon performs the transplant surgery when no treatments work for heart failure. The surgeon replaces the part or whole heart with the healthy heart received by the donor. 

Final Words

Occurrence of heart failure may lead to a sedentary lifestyle, causing fear, anxiety, depression, and stress. If you feel any of the symptoms mentioned above, we suggest you visit healthcare to learn more about the stages and severity of heart failure and gain medical treatment at the right time.

The cost of healthcare consultations, check-ups, and medications may be a financial burden on your pocket. We suggest you buy a health insurance policy and get coverage at the right time to reduce the burden. Connect with a RenewBuy POSP advisor to learn about different health insurance policies that perfectly suit your health and financial needs. 

* Disclaimer: The details, facts, or figures given here are intended solely for the reader's informational purposes and should not be relied upon for personal, medical, legal, or financial decisions. Please visit the insurer's website for the latest updates. We do not endorse any particular insurance company or insurance product provided by any insurer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: What are the four stages of heart failure?

Answer: The four stages of heart failure can be:

Stage A: no symptoms, but may at the risk of heart failure

Stage B: changes in the heart structure and functions but no symptoms

Stage C: symptoms of heart failure

Stage D: symptoms affect regular lifestyle and need specialised treatment

 

Question: What is the last stage of heart failure?

Answer: The last stage of heart failure is advanced when it does not respond to standard treatment. Under such conditions, the person experiences symptoms even when mildly active. 

 

Question: Can heart failure patients recover?

Answer: Yes, heart failure patients can recover with proper treatment. This includes medications, lifestyle changes, managing underlying conditions, and sometimes surgical interventions. Recovery focuses on improving heart function and quality of life. 

 

Question: How long can someone live with heart failure?

Answer: The prognosis varies based on the severity of the heart failure condition, overall health, and regularly following the treatment plan. With proper treatment and lifestyle changes, someone with the disease can live for many years.

 

Question: Are heart failure and heart attack the same?

Answer: Heart attacks occur when blood clots or plaque buildup in the arteries block blood flow to the heart. Due to the lack of oxygen, the heart begins to die. 

While heart failure is a slower process where your heart becomes damaged due to working too hard, later on, it loses the ability to pump enough blood than your body's requirement. 

 

Question: Can heart failure be cured?

Answer: Heart failure cannot be cured, but it can be managed effectively. Treatment focuses on improving lifestyle, slowing disease progression, and enhancing quality of life. This typically involves medications, lifestyle changes, and addressing underlying conditions. In some cases, devices or surgeries may be necessary. 

 

Question: Can heart failure cause heart attack?

Answer: Yes, heart failure can increase the risk of a heart attack. In heart failure, the heart is already weakened, making it more susceptible to the additional stress of a heart attack. Proper management of the disease and its causes is essential to reduce this risk.

 

Question: How heart failure leads to edema?

Answer: When the heart's pumping efficiency decreases, blood flow slows, causing pressure buildup in the veins. This pressure forces fluid out of the blood vessels and into the surrounding tissues, leading to swelling, commonly in the legs, ankles, and feet, known as edema. 

 

Question: What are acute and chronic heart failure?

Answer: Acute heart failure develops suddenly in a short period, most probably after a heart attack or with arrhythmia. Chronic heart failure develops over time due to different medical conditions, such as long-term hypertension (high blood pressure) or coronary artery disease.