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What Is Heart Failure?
Question: What does having a heart failure means? Having an ef of 16 to 22 % and angiplasty 2 years ago. 56 years old. Doctor said it is stable and gave medications. How good is the prognosis for this and what can we do to prolong the life span.
Brief Answer:
Only supportive medical management
Detailed Answer:
I am Dr Anshul Varshney. I understand your concern.
Heart Failure means that your heart is not pumping enough blood that it should pump.
You probably have these complications due to diabetes and old age.
You have Low Ejection Fraction that is the capability of heart to pump blood.
If you are asymptomatic, then prognosis is all right.
Definitely, you will not have a life like a normal person, but can be controlled well on medicines.
I advise following things to prolong life span in heart failure:
1. To add ACE Inhibitors like Ramipril to your prescription. Ask your doctor for that. As I have checked in your
Medicine list, it is not mentioned.
2. To take low fat, low salt diet.
3. To do exercise daily that includes walking at least 30 minutes in morning and evening.
4. You should protect yourself from cold.
5. No smoking and alcohol consumption, in case you do that.
6. A perfect control of diabetes.
As such you can't revert back the already damaged functions of heart, what can be best done to prevent the further damage by adopting the above mentioned precautions.
Let me know if you have any ongoing chest pain, breathlessness.
If you have any further query, please ask me.
Only supportive medical management
Detailed Answer:
I am Dr Anshul Varshney. I understand your concern.
Heart Failure means that your heart is not pumping enough blood that it should pump.
You probably have these complications due to diabetes and old age.
You have Low Ejection Fraction that is the capability of heart to pump blood.
If you are asymptomatic, then prognosis is all right.
Definitely, you will not have a life like a normal person, but can be controlled well on medicines.
I advise following things to prolong life span in heart failure:
1. To add ACE Inhibitors like Ramipril to your prescription. Ask your doctor for that. As I have checked in your
Medicine list, it is not mentioned.
2. To take low fat, low salt diet.
3. To do exercise daily that includes walking at least 30 minutes in morning and evening.
4. You should protect yourself from cold.
5. No smoking and alcohol consumption, in case you do that.
6. A perfect control of diabetes.
As such you can't revert back the already damaged functions of heart, what can be best done to prevent the further damage by adopting the above mentioned precautions.
Let me know if you have any ongoing chest pain, breathlessness.
If you have any further query, please ask me.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
I was informed of having a heart failure after I was brought to the ER last week because of chest pain and shortness of breath. They said I had water in my lungs. That was why I was given diuretics and asked to have a 2D echo which revealed that I have low EF. I was given medicines and have low salt and low cholesterol diet now.
I am feeling well right now. Aside for yesterday where I felt a slight tickle in my left chest in the morning. Which was just for a few hours and now it is fine.
Aside from that, I have no symptoms now. I will ask for that ACE Inhibitors. Does it mean that me having no symptoms now that I am improving? Will my EF increase eventually?
I also read of this food supplement Arjuna. Is it ok to take this medicine?
I am feeling well right now. Aside for yesterday where I felt a slight tickle in my left chest in the morning. Which was just for a few hours and now it is fine.
Aside from that, I have no symptoms now. I will ask for that ACE Inhibitors. Does it mean that me having no symptoms now that I am improving? Will my EF increase eventually?
I also read of this food supplement Arjuna. Is it ok to take this medicine?
Brief Answer:
Take proper medications.
Detailed Answer:
Dear Friend.
You should take regular medications for this that will also include a diuretic.
Ejection fraction improves with medications but doesn't reach the normal state.
I can't comment about the supplement you are taking about. I have never used it.
Also, discuss with your doctor about getting Angiography and if required Angioplasty done.
If you have any further query please ask me.
Stay Healthy.
Take proper medications.
Detailed Answer:
Dear Friend.
You should take regular medications for this that will also include a diuretic.
Ejection fraction improves with medications but doesn't reach the normal state.
I can't comment about the supplement you are taking about. I have never used it.
Also, discuss with your doctor about getting Angiography and if required Angioplasty done.
If you have any further query please ask me.
Stay Healthy.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I already had angioplasty 2 in 2012.
Brief Answer:
Follow as discussed.
Detailed Answer:
Dear Friend.
If you already had Angioplasty done ,then you should follow the treatment and advised as discussed.
If you have any further query please ask me.
Stay Healthy.
Follow as discussed.
Detailed Answer:
Dear Friend.
If you already had Angioplasty done ,then you should follow the treatment and advised as discussed.
If you have any further query please ask me.
Stay Healthy.
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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