OVERVIEW

Heart failure is caused by heart damage, which has developed with time and it cannot be cured. However, heart failure can be treated using strategies and can improve symptoms. Successful treatments depend on your willingness to manage the condition. Your caregivers and your loved ones play a vital role in this.

The Treatment Plan Might Include The Following:

★ Medications
★ Lifestyle changes
★ Surgical procedures and devices
★ Ongoing care

Regardless of the heart failure treatment approach, you must follow the recommendations of doctors and make the essential changes in your exercise, diet, and lifestyle to offer the highest quality of life.

Treatments For Heart Failure

For many people, heart failure is a condition, which cannot be cured. However, treatment can keep the signs under control and for many years.

The main treatments include the following:

? Medications
? Healthy Lifestyle Changes
? Surgery
? Devices Implanted In The Chest For Controlling The Heart Rhythm

Generally, treatment should be continued from the remaining part of a person’s life.

• Lifestyle Changes

Leading a healthy lifestyle such as eating a balanced diet, exercising daily and not smoking may help with the signs and can minimize the risk to become ill. Patients should be given an exercise-based heart rehabilitation program.

• Care Plan

Patients with heart failure and people involved with the care of these patients should be provided a care plan.

The plan should include the following:

1. Plans to manage heart failure such as rehabilitation, follow-up care, and accessing social care.
2. Details how to contact the specialist or the team.
3. Symptoms that you should look for in case the condition worsens.

Your health care professional must review the care plan at a minimum of 6 months.
Medications

Most patients with heart failure are usually treated with medications. Patients should take 2-3 types of medicines.

The main medications that are given for heart failure include the following:

1. Beta-blockers
2. ACE inHibitors
3. Diuretics
4. ARBs or angiotensin receptor blockers
5. Sacubitril valsartan
6. Ivabradine
7. Digoxin
8. Hydralazine with nitrate

Patients should try out some medications before finding a combination, which can control their symptoms.

• ACE Inhibitors

ACE inhibitors can work by opening up and relaxing the blood vessels that make it easier for the heart for pumping blood in the body.

• Beta-blockers

Beta-blockers perform by slowing down the heart and protect your heart from adrenaline as well as non-adrenaline effects. There are different kinds of beta-blockers; however, the primary ones for treating heart failure include carvedilol, bisoprolol, and nebivolol. Many people who take these have mild or very few side effects, which become very troublesome.

• Diuretics

Diuretics or water pills can help you pass more urine and give relief to breathlessness and ankle swelling caused due to heart failure.

If you have heart failure and if you are worried regarding the risk of heart failure due to the underlying conditions, consult a doctor. If heart failure is detected early, the treatment shall be effective and easier.