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Heart failure
Can heart failure cause suffocation?
Heart failure is caused by various reasons leading to the heart's blood supply being relatively or absolutely insufficient, causing a series of pathological and physiological disorders in patients. Patients often manifest symptoms like difficulty breathing, tightness in breath, and even a feeling of suffocation. However, generally, the symptoms caused by heart failure are not these. This is because suffocation occurs due to airway narrowing or the narrow space around the patient, leading to insufficient oxygen intake, causing a series of syndromes. Therefore, although people with heart failure feel suffocated, they are not actually suffocating; it is just a manifestation of inadequate circulatory supply.
Triggers of acute heart failure
The triggers of acute heart failure include the following aspects: Respiratory infections are the most common and important trigger, and infective endocarditis is also not uncommon. However, due to its concealed onset, it is easily underdiagnosed. The second is arrhythmia, among which atrial fibrillation is one of the most common arrhythmias in organic heart disease and is also an important factor leading to heart failure. Additionally, rapid arrhythmias can also cause acute heart failure. The third is an increase in blood volume, such as excessive salt intake or excessive or rapid intravenous fluid administration. The fourth is excessive physical exertion or emotional excitement, such as during late pregnancy or childbirth. The fifth aspect is improper treatment, inappropriate use of diuretics or antihypertensive drugs, which can also trigger an episode of acute heart failure. Furthermore, whether it is an exacerbation of existing heart disease or complications with other diseases, such as coronary heart disease with myocardial infarction, rheumatic disease becoming active, or complications with hyperthyroidism or anemia, can all cause acute heart failure.
Can childbirth lead to heart failure?
Childbirth refers to the delivery of a fetus through vaginal delivery or cesarean section, and it represents a significant strain on a woman’s heart. Regardless of the type of delivery, there is a possibility of leading to heart failure to some extent. Especially during the second stage of labor, pregnant women often exert greater effort, significantly increasing the load on the heart. If there is poor heart function or pre-existing cardiac disease, it could lead to heart failure. In some cases, if the heart disease is severe and cannot withstand delivery, a cesarean section must be chosen. However, cesarean delivery can also lead to heart failure, mainly due to a large amount of blood flowing back to the peripheral circulation from the uterus after the fetus is delivered, causing a significant increase in the preload on the heart and easily leading to the onset of heart failure.
Can heart failure be cured?
We say that some early-stage heart failure can be cured, such as peripartum cardiomyopathy and thyrotoxic cardiomyopathy. If discovered and treated early, there is hope for a cure. However, most heart failure cannot be cured. Although some psychological failures cannot be cured, if patients can receive early treatment and effective treatment, take their medication on time, and have regular check-ups as advised by their doctor, most heart failure can still be controlled or alleviated. However, if heart failure is detected and not actively treated, even mild heart failure may gradually worsen, or even become end-stage heart failure.
Clinical manifestations of heart failure
Heart failure is divided into left heart failure, right heart failure, and total heart failure. Left heart failure mainly manifests as exertional dyspnea or nocturnal paroxysmal dyspnea. It is often accompanied by palpitations, orthopnea, coughing, coughing up pink frothy sputum, accompanied by palpitations, fatigue, etc. Right heart failure primarily presents with symptoms of the digestive system, such as abdominal distension, nausea, vomiting, edema, oliguria, etc. Once heart failure occurs, active treatment must be administered. In clinical practice, treatments mainly include cardiotonics, diuretics, vasodilators, and other symptomatic treatments.
Acute heart failure typical symptoms
The typical symptoms of acute heart failure include sudden severe difficulty breathing, increased respiratory rate, and patients generally presenting a forced sitting position, with pale, grayish complexion and cyanotic lips. They often have profuse sweating, restlessness, frequent coughing, and coughing up pink frothy sputum. The condition can be critical, leading to consciousness disturbances due to lack of oxygen. Once acute heart failure occurs, active treatment is essential. The most common clinical approaches include strengthening the heart, diuresis, and vasodilation for symptomatic active management.
What medicine is used for acute heart failure?
The most common clinical manifestation of acute heart failure is severe dyspnea, hypoxia, and even changes in consciousness, which are very common in clinical practice. For treatment, morphine can be administered intravenously or subcutaneously to reduce patient agitation and relieve myocardial oxygen consumption. Secondly, plastic can be used for rapid intravenous push. Thirdly, vasodilators can be used, such as glyceryl trinitrate and sodium nitroprusside intravenous infusion. Fourthly, positive inotropic drugs can be used, such as dopamine and dobutamine. Additionally, cardiac glycosides, such as digoxin, can be used.
Can people with heart failure eat fish?
Patients with heart failure can eat fish, as fish contains a large amount of high-quality protein, vitamin B, trace elements, and minerals. Consuming fish can increase the high-quality protein the body needs, enhance the body's immunity and disease resistance. Especially for patients with heart failure, who suffer from chronic myocardial ischemia, need nutritional support. When preparing fish, it should not be made too salty, as patients with heart failure should follow a low-salt diet. If the fish is too salty, consuming it in excess could exacerbate heart failure. Preparing fish in a lighter way, such as making fish soup, can not only supplement the body's high-quality protein but also be easier to digest.
Causes of vomiting in heart failure
Heart failure in clinical practice can be divided into left heart failure, right heart failure, and total heart failure. The symptoms of left heart failure primarily manifest as pulmonary congestion, including varying degrees of dyspnea, cough, coughing up pink frothy sputum, palpitations, fatigue, etc. As for right heart failure, it mainly shows as gastrointestinal congestion, with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, etc. Once heart failure symptoms appear, the patient must seek medical attention promptly, actively treat the primary disease, correct the symptoms and signs of heart failure, and then avoid excessive physical activity, infections, and other triggers that could exacerbate heart failure.
Is there a cure for chronic heart failure?
Chronic heart failure is often a later stage of many diseases, and patients in this category typically exhibit symptoms of recurrent exertional dyspnea. These symptoms are often related to physical activity, overeating, or excessive and rapid infusion of fluids. Many patients often ask their doctors if there is hope for their chronic heart failure, and the answer is definitely yes. Currently, the pharmacological and device treatments for heart failure are highly effective. Under the guidance of a doctor, standardized pharmacological treatment can often effectively improve the symptoms of chronic heart failure.