left-sided heart failure because they lower ejection fraction.
For those with normal ejection fraction, left-sided heart failure is most typically caused by high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes and other conditions that stiffen the heart chambers.
Right-sided heart failure is usually caused by left-sided heart failure.
Congestive heart failure symptoms
Since symptoms are not yet present in Stages A or B, it may be difficult to know if you have heart failure. For this reason, the AHA recommends having regular screening tests administered by your doctor. These screenings consist of blood pressure readings, cholesterol profiles, blood sugar measurements, and body mass index (a measurement of height and weight) readings.
Once symptoms of heart failure appear, they may differ depending on whether you have left-sided or right-sided heart failure, according to the NHLBI.
Left-sided symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath
- Weakness
- Coughing
- Extreme tiredness
- Difficulty sleeping in a horizontal position
- Blue-tinted fingers and lips
- Trouble concentrating
Right-sided heart failure symptoms include:
- Excessive urination
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Weight gain
- Swelling of the extremities
- Abdominal pain
Congestive heart failure treatment
The Cleveland Clinic states that heart failure treatment options depend on the stage you’re experiencing.
Typical Stage A and Stage B treatments include diet, exercise and lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking and drinking. Medications to treat cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes and certain heart conditions may also be administered. In Stage B, surgical interventions are sometimes recommended, such as removing blockages or repairing heart valves.
People in Stage C and Stage D heart failure may be prescribed medications to slow their heart rate, as well as additional dietary and lifestyle restrictions. Sometimes a cardiac defibrillator is surgically implanted to help regulate the heart.
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How to prevent congestive heart failure
A recent study of nearly 9,500 people that was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology revealed that those who smoked cigarettes had twice the rate of heart failure as nonsmokers.
“We hope our results will encourage current smokers to quit sooner rather than later since the harm of smoking can last for as many as three decades,” senior study author Dr. Kunihiro Matsushita, said in a news release that accompanied the study.
In addition to quitting smoking, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommends eating a healthy diet, managing your weight, exercising consistently, taking your medications as directed, and getting regular health screenings and medical checkups to help prevent heart failure.