Frequently Asked Questions You Need To Know About Heart Disease

According to the American Heart Association, nearly five million Americans are living with heart failure and 550,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. Heart failure is a serious condition that often is misunderstood. The questions below will help clarify misperceptions about this condition and its complications.

1. What is heart failure?

1. Heart failure does not mean that your heart has stopped or is about to stop. It is a serious condition in which the heart doesn't pump blood through your body as well as it should.

Your heart still beats, but it pumps less nutrient- and oxygen-rich blood to the rest of your body. Because of this, heart failure can make you feel tired or weak. Heart failure also can cause swelling and fluid buildup in your legs, feet, and even your lungs. Fluid buildup in your lungs often is referred to as "congestion," which is why heart failure is sometimes called "congestive heart failure (CHF)." Patients may sometimes require hospitalization to treat a worsening, or an acute episode, of their heart failure symptoms.

1. What are the symptoms of heart failure?

1. Some symptoms of heart failure include shortness of breath, frequent coughing, increased heart rate, heart palpitations (your heart may feel like it is racing), fatigue, weakness, swollen ankles and legs, loss of appetite, and weight gain. Patients who experience acute episodes of heart failure symptoms may also have extreme shortness of breath, leaving them gasping for air. Since they may have fluid buildup in their lungs, they may feel like drowning.

1. How are acute episodes of heart failure treated?

1. Specific intravenous (IV) drugs are commonly given to patients in hospitals to treat acute episodes of heart failure. They include diuretics, inotropes, and IV vasodilators.

Please talk to your healthcare professional for more information.