From the sound of it,
seems alarming and threatening. And indeed it can be. Congestive heart failure can be fatal if not properly treated and its symptoms are neglected. But what really is congestive heart failure? Congestive heart failure or CHF is a common disease among the elderly. It is one of the tribulations brought about by aging as bodily processes begin to wane and deteriorate. But one must take heart, however, as with proper care and treatment, an elderly can enjoy an extended life span despite having congestive heart failure. During the peak of an individual’s vitality, the heart in its healthy state can pump blood all throughout the body system in seconds.
As the years go by, however and the heart’s condition begins to degenerate, blood can no longer circulate but rather accumulates in the lungs and other parts of the body. With this fluid not being circulated, a host of physical discomforts may then manifest, some of them swelling of the feet, the hands and the legs as well as breathing difficulties. This failure of the heart to pump blood efficiently- known as congestive heart failure- can range from mild to severe and managing its symptoms is imperative. Early treatment and intervention of
can spare an elderly from hospitalization.
One must take into account that hospitalization takes a heavy toll on the elderly. Oftentimes, hospitalization causes an elderly to lose weight from which they may never recover from. Other than that, it can leave an elderly significantly weakened to the extent that they cannot walk. In this sense, rehabilitation or home health care may be necessitated. This unnecessary inconvenience can be prevented so long as congestive heart failure is kept in check. Those suffering from congestive heart failure often have an enlarged heart. This condition is due to years of the heart having to struggle with difficulty in pumping blood.
Treatment of congestive heart failure then requires treatment of the enlarged heart so that its pumping efficiency can be improved. For most patients, contending with an enlarged heart may mean taking measures for daily intake of medications, adequate rest and stress reduction, and limited salt and fluid intake. One must be keen on taking notice of congestive heart failure symptoms such as swelling of the feet and ankles along with sudden weight gain. Accompanying congestive heart failure may be exhaustion despite less exertion and frequent urination at night. Coughing, restlessness, short and rapid breathing as well as breathing difficulties when lying down are also associated with the condition.
Other symptoms of congestive heart failure also include rapid heart beating, loss of appetite and swelling or pain in the abdomen. The doctor must be notified immediately upon the onset of such symptoms, much more so with weight gain. A weight gain of 2 pounds in 1 to 2 days or 3 pounds in 3 to 5 days should be reported as soon as possible. The same can be said with flu like symptoms. Much more so, indispensable to managing
is strict compliance with medications so as to thwart further complications.
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