How is heart failure treated?
Early diagnosis and treatment of heart failure is very important. When possible, treatment begins by targeting the underlying cause. At the same time the underlying cause of heart failure is treated, so are the symptoms. Thus, you need medications/therapies to treat the symptoms as well as the cause of heart failure. For example, if a fast heart rhythm is the condition that caused heart failure, then the fast rhythm would be treated. Similarly, if high blood pressure is the culprit, then it too would need to be brought under control (less than 130/85 mmHg). In many cases, coronary artery blockage (CAD) leads to a weakened heart and needs to be treated with several medications, percutaneous coronary intervention therapy (PTCA) or coronary bypass surgery.
Today, there are more treatments for heart failure than ever before. These new therapies help people with heart failure live normal lives and avoid hospital admissions. Heart failure treatments vary according to the disease’s underlying severity and may include medications, special pacemakers and defibrillators, mechanical circulatory support (such as left ventricular assist devices), and/or surgery (cardiovascular surgery such as valve surgery or heart transplantation). Effective heart failure treatments also incorporate patient education about self-management of diet, medications, symptoms, daily weights, and exercise.
Patients in the early to moderate stages of heart failure are frequently treated with medications, counseling on lifestyle changes, and possibly device therapy (i.e. placement of a pacemaker for cardiac resynchronization therapy). In some situations, patients develop advanced heart failure despite optimal medical therapy and may be candidates for more aggressive interventions such as heart transplantation or implantation of a mechanical heart (Additional Surgical Treatment Options)
Heart failure is a chronic (ongoing) condition that may follow a varied and unpredictable course. You can best navigate this challenge by sticking to the treatment plan designed by your doctors and nurses and by educating yourself on the key symptoms that might hint at trouble. With you as look out and your doctor and nurses as guides, your heart failure signs and symptoms can be controlled.
The following are self-care management strategies to help keep you well:
- Take your medications daily as prescribed and keep a list of your medications with you at all times.
- Weigh yourself every morning and keep a written log of your weights.
- Notify your healthcare provider if you have worsening heart failure symptoms or a sudden weight gain of 3 pounds in 1-2 days or 5 pounds in a week.
- Eat a low-salt heart healthy diet
- Quit smoking
- Limit or avoid alcohol
- Exercise regularly as tolerated
- Maintain regular follow-up appointments
- Know what’s normal for you (know your baseline symptoms, weight, blood pressure)
