Symptoms of heart failure recur frequently? control in this 7 ways

Although you can feel your heart beating every day, most people are often unconscious when they have a heart problem. One of them is when you experience symptoms of heart failure. Yes, the symptoms of this one heart disorder tend to be vague and are usually only realized when the condition is severe.

Even though it is a serious disease, you don't need to worry immediately when you are already convicted of heart failure. The reason is, these symptoms can be controlled with changes in a healthy lifestyle. So, what should be done so that symptoms of heart failure do not recur easily? Check out the following information.

How to prevent heart failure symptoms from recurring with a healthy lifestyle

Taking drugs from a doctor can indeed help treat heart failure. However, there's nothing wrong with making healthy lifestyle changes to help control the recurring symptoms of heart failure.

Here are steps to control heart failure symptoms that you can take.

1. Recognize the symptoms

The American Heart Association (AHA) reveals that the earliest step you should take is to recognize the symptoms of heart failure as early as possible, as quoted from Everyday Health. However, this does not mean that you only pay attention to the appearance or absence of chest pain, rather, it is more precisely to see the changes in body weight every day. Why is that?

As previously explained, the symptoms of heart failure tend to be vague and not just chest pain or shortness of breath. So, you can't just rely on chest pain to detect heart failure.

Director of the cardiology department at St. Petersburg Francis Hospital, New York, dr. Richard Shlofmitz reveals that the easiest way is to weigh yourself every morning. If your scale needle continues to move to the right, then this may be a sign that your body is experiencing water retention (buildup of fluids in the body).

Water retention is one of the earliest symptoms of heart failure. Usually, this water accumulation occurs in the legs and causes the feet to swell. In addition, the symptoms of heart failure are also accompanied by shortness of breath, high blood pressure, and increased heart rate.

2. Reduce salt intake

Foods that contain salt should be avoided by people with heart failure. The more salt intake in the body, the more fluid is trapped in the body. Over time, this can increase blood pressure, swollen legs, and shortness of breath which are a collection of symptoms of heart failure.

Therefore, limit the use of salt in food to only a teaspoon, or the equivalent of 5 grams per day (2,000 mg of sodium). Also avoid various snacks or canned foods, as they usually contain large amounts of hidden salt.

3. Eat nutritious foods

Maintaining heart health is not only about avoiding foods that should not be eaten, but also ensuring that you always eat foods that are good for heart health.

The main key is to make sure you meet your daily fiber needs so that your blood sugar and cholesterol levels remain stable. An example is to eat more vegetables, fruits, nuts, and whole grains.

Also fulfill the intake of omega-3 fatty acids which are useful for preventing heart failure. Well, you can fulfill this by consuming oily fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines as well as plant-based food ingredients such as chia seeds, nuts, and flaxseeds (flaxseed).

4. Exercise regularly

When was the last time you exercised? If you haven't exercised in a long time, then don't be surprised if your heart failure symptoms often recur.

You may avoid exercise out of fear that it will worsen your heart and increase your risk of heart failure. But make no mistake. A heart specialist at Cleveland Clinic, dr. David Taylor just said the opposite. Regular exercise can actually strengthen the work of the heart.

Choose a type of aerobic exercise such as walking, cycling, swimming, or using machines elliptical trainer for 30 minutes. Do it gradually according to your ability. If you are used to it, just increase the intensity to 5 times a week for maximum results.

Before choosing a type of exercise, you should first consult a doctor. The doctor will adjust the type of exercise that you like with your physical abilities.

5. Wear comfortable clothes

Swollen feet due to heart failure will certainly make you uncomfortable during activities. To fix this, wear comfortable clothes every day. Starting from clothes, pants, to shoes.

If necessary, use special socks to help relieve pain from swollen feet. It can also help increase the pressure of the fluid build up in your legs and reduce swelling.

6. Get enough rest

Experts from the National Sleep Foundation reveal that sleep is one important factor for maintaining heart health. Although they haven't found a link between the two, experts say that lack of sleep can lead to hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and inflammation that all increase the risk of heart failure.

People with heart failure often have difficulty breathing while sleeping or just lying down. As a solution, choose a comfortable pillow and a soft base so you can sleep better. Tell your doctor if you are still having trouble sleeping.

7. Ask for help from the closest person

Being diagnosed with heart failure may make you sad, stressed, anxious, or even depressed. Not infrequently, you may become more irritable because you think about your health.

Although exercise can help stabilize emotions, some people feel this is not enough to improve mood. If you experience this, ask for support from your family, partner, or loved ones to help control your emotions.

If necessary, visit a professional counselor to help deal with your anxiety. That way, you will feel calmer and better able to cope with the symptoms of heart failure that can occur at any time.