most likely happening to your liver. If your liver is enlarged, you may notice the pain in the upper right side of your stomach.
9. Tightness In The Chest
Just as fluid build-up in your lungs can cause coughing and wheezing, you might notice some tightness or discomfort in your chest. This tightness may or may not get worse if you try to be physically active.
10. Feeling Confused
Heart failure can affect blood flow throughout your body. The brain is one of the organs that can suffer from poor circulation. If this happens, you can experience confusion, lightheadedness, and disorientation.
The Risk For Black Americans
Though the treatment protocols for heart failure have improved, statistics show that things have only gotten worse for Black Americans. Black people remain more likely to be diagnosed with heart failure at a later stage than other ethnicities and are also at a higher risk of not having their symptoms properly under control. Overall, Black Americans are 2.5 times more likely to be hospitalized for heart failure complications. They’re also at a three times higher risk of dying from heart failure.
These numbers paint a picture that shows you need to be extra careful with heart failure. You should never ignore any changes in your symptoms.
How To Take Care Of Yourself
It’s important to stick to your medical regimen when you have heart failure. You should also ensure that you manage any other chronic conditions well. Additionally, lifestyle changes can play a critical role in keeping your heart failure in check. Experts recommend that you stay away from alcohol, cigarettes, and caffeine. While exercising regularly, you need to take it easy on your heart. It’s a good idea to discuss what exercise routines will work best for you. Finally, you need to stick to a heart-healthy diet that is low in salt and unhealthy fats and high in fresh foods, whole grains, and healthy fats.
The best way to stay healthy with heart failure is to monitor what’s going on with your body. Even as you stick to your regimen and live healthily, it’s possible for your symptoms to get worse. The changes may mean that your medications need to be modified or it might be time for a different treatment method altogether.