Answers for heart patientsతెలుగులో చదవండి
Heart failure: what the words really mean
Heart failure means your heart cannot pump blood as well as it should. It does not mean your heart has stopped. It does not mean it is about to stop.
From the NHS and AHA heart failure pages.
Can it be cured?
There is no cure yet. But medicines, exercise and daily habits can ease the symptoms. They can keep heart failure stable for many years.
Signs to tell your doctor about soon
- You get out of breath doing everyday things, or when you lie down.
- Your feet, ankles, legs or tummy swell.
- Your weight goes up suddenly. This can be water building up.
What helps
- Take your medicines the way your doctor wrote them. Water tablets help the body pass extra fluid.
- Weigh yourself often. Sudden weight gain can mean water is building up.
- Stay active. AHA, ESC and the NHS all advise exercise or cardiac rehab in stable heart failure.
What about a heart transplant?
A transplant is for severe heart failure, when other treatments are not helping. Ask your doctor where you stand. Do not assume the worst.
The fear is real
Hearing “heart failure” can be very scary. It can bring worry about the future. Talking to others with heart failure can help.
Dr Muralidar has patients with heart failure who play sports for fun.
What happens at Cardiac Rehab
- A doctor checks you first.
- You get an exercise plan made for you.
- You exercise for 90 minutes, 3 times a week, while the doctor’s team watches.
- Step by step, the exercise gets harder as you get stronger.
Why it helps with this
AHA, ESC and the NHS all advise exercise or cardiac rehab for people with stable heart failure. AHA says rehab can help people with stable heart failure live longer and better.
A 2024 review of 60 trials found that people with heart failure who exercised went to hospital less. About 16 in 100 went, against about 24 in 100 who did not exercise. Their daily life was likely better too.
For stable heart failure, US (AHA and ACC) and European (ESC) guidelines give exercise training their highest grade: Class I, Level A.
Cardiac Rehab, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad runs these sessions.
Frequently asked questions
Is heart failure the same as a heart attack?
No. A heart attack is when blood flow to the heart is blocked. Heart failure is when the heart cannot pump as well as it should. A heart attack can lead to heart failure.
Is heart failure the same as cardiac arrest?
No. Cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly stops. Heart failure does not mean the heart has stopped.
Can heart failure be reversed?
There is no cure yet. But AHA says that with proper care and treatment, many people improve their EF and live a longer, healthier life. Medicines, a healthy routine and supervised exercise all help.
Why do I get breathless when I lie down?
It can be a sign of heart failure. The NHS says to see your doctor urgently if this happens.
This page is general advice. Your own doctor knows your heart. If your doctor has told you something different, follow your doctor.
Written by Dr. Muralidar Babi, MBBS, MD (CMC Vellore), Cardiac Rehab Physician.