Heart Failure: Signs Not to Ignore
When the heart no longer pumps enough.
Dr. Marc Dufresne
Cardiologist
Heart failure occurs when the heart can no longer supply enough blood flow for the body's needs. It is a serious chronic disease, but its prognosis has significantly improved thanks to modern treatments.
Suggestive Symptoms
- Dyspnea on exertion: shortness of breath during activities normally well tolerated
- Orthopnea: difficulty breathing when lying down, requiring sleeping with pillows
- Edema: swelling of the ankles and legs at the end of the day
- Fatigue: disproportionate to the effort expended
- Rapid weight gain: 2-3 kg in a few days (fluid retention)
Main Causes
- Sequelae of myocardial infarction
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Valvulopathies (heart valve diseases)
- Cardiomyopathies (heart muscle diseases)
Treatment
Management combines:
- Medications: ACE inhibitors/ARBs, beta-blockers, anti-aldosterone, SGLT2 inhibitors
- Low-sodium diet (< 6 g salt/day)
- Adapted physical activity (cardiac rehabilitation)
- Daily weight monitoring
- Influenza and pneumococcal vaccination
Heart failure is not inevitable. With proper treatment, many patients regain a satisfactory quality of life.
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