What is Heart Failure?
Heart failure may be due to anyone of a number of causes. As it approaches, the real symptoms of the heart disease appear. Shortness of breath on slight exertion is one of the first symptoms. Distress and fullness after eating are very common. Other early symptoms are weakness and lack of endurance, particularly in the legs; palpitation of the heart with fullness in the chest and a dry cough; dull pain and soreness in the region of the liver and also over the heart. Swelling of the ankles may be one of the first symptoms noticed. This is usually worse in the evening and disappears during sleep. Weakness increases until the patient finds himself utterly exhausted on the slightest exertion. He is restless and sleepless.
Every person with acute heart disease of any kind should be under the daily care of a physician, and everyone with chronic heart disease should be seen frequently by a physician. A common misconception about the heart is that once it is affected there is permanent difficulty, with only the gloomy prospect of chronic invalidism and early death ahead. But this is not so. The rugged heart often makes an excellent recovery in the course of time. Rest, both physical and mental, is a valuable remedy. The patient must choose food that will not cause gas and indigestion and must guard against emotional outbursts, especially anger.
Every person with acute heart disease of any kind should be under the daily care of a physician, and everyone with chronic heart disease should be seen frequently by a physician. A common misconception about the heart is that once it is affected there is permanent difficulty, with only the gloomy prospect of chronic invalidism and early death ahead. But this is not so. The rugged heart often makes an excellent recovery in the course of time. Rest, both physical and mental, is a valuable remedy. The patient must choose food that will not cause gas and indigestion and must guard against emotional outbursts, especially anger.
Posts
