Content

• Steps

Congestive heart failure (STXH) is a serious health problem that occurs when the heart doesn't effectively pump blood through the body. People with certain conditions, such as coronary artery disease or high blood pressure, are at risk for congestive heart failure. Not all heart conditions can be cured, but making changes in your diet and lifestyle can help improve symptoms and help you live a longer, healthier life.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Understanding the risk of congestive heart failure

1. 

   Know the symptoms of heart failure. Heart failure does not mean that the heart stops working, but that the heart muscle weakens over time and cannot receive or pump blood as efficiently as before. This can lead to congestion or reflux in the heart. As a result, not enough oxygen-rich blood is pumped to other organs in the body. Heart failure can be acute, sudden, or chronic and long-lasting. Heart failure symptoms include:
   • Shortness of breath while doing physical activity (dyspnea) or lying down (dyspnea while lying down).
   • Fatigue and weakness.
   • Fast or irregular heartbeat.
   • Swelling (edema) in the legs, ankles, and feet. The abdomen may also become swollen from an effusion (ascites).
   • Reduced ability or inability to exercise.
   • Persistent coughing or wheezing out white or blood-colored phlegm.
   • Urinating a lot at night.
   • Sudden weight gain due to water storage.
   • Loss of appetite and nausea.
   • Difficulty concentrating and decreased alertness.
   • Chest pain.

2. 

   
   
   Link heart failure to other heart problems. Heart failure is often caused by other heart problems that get worse or make the heart weaker. You may have left or left ventricular heart failure, right or right ventricular failure, or both sides of the heart at the same time. In general, heart failure usually begins in the left ventricle - the heart's main pumping chamber. Heart problems that can lead to heart failure include:
   • Link heart failure to other heart problems. Heart failure is often caused by other heart problems that get worse or make the heart weaker.You may have left or left ventricular heart failure, right or right ventricular failure, or both sides of the heart at the same time. In general, heart failure usually begins in the left ventricle - the heart's main pumping chamber. Heart problems that can lead to heart failure include:
   • High blood pressure or hypertension: Blood pressure is the pressure of the blood pumped to the heart by the arteries. If you have high blood pressure, your heart will have to work harder than usual to regulate blood flow throughout the body. Over time, the heart muscle thickens to compensate for the work the heart has to do to pump blood to all organs in the body. As a result, the heart muscle becomes too stiff or too weak to efficiently pump blood.
   • Valve failure: You can have heart valve failure due to a heart defect, coronary artery disease, or a heart infection that causes the heart to work harder than usual to carry blood around the body. Excessive activity weakens the heart and leads to heart failure. However, valve failure can be resolved with prompt treatment.
   • Heart muscle damage or cardiomyopathy: Damage to the heart muscle can be caused by illness, infection or excessive alcohol consumption, drug abuse. Certain drugs used in chemotherapy can lead to cardiomyopathy. In addition, cardiomyopathy can also be inherited.
   • Abnormal heart rate or arrhythmia: This condition causes the heart to beat too fast, forcing the heart to work harder to pump blood throughout the body. A slow heart rate can also prevent the heart from getting enough blood and lead to heart failure.
   • Acute heart failure can be caused by a virus attacking the heart muscle, allergic reactions, severe infections, blood clots in the lungs, and the use of certain medications.

3. 

   
   
   Talk to your doctor about your risk of heart failure. If you have heart disease that can lead to heart failure, talk to your doctor about your medical condition. Most heart problems are chronic and require lifelong care, including maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle, as well as taking heart medication.
   • The best way to prevent heart disease from developing into heart failure is to ask your doctor to monitor your condition and follow a strict diet and lifestyle to avoid worsening heart disease. Depending on your heart disease, your doctor may prescribe heart-enhancing drugs. You need to take your medicine regularly and exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
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Part 2 of 3: Adjusting the diet

1. 

   
   
   Reduce your sodium intake. Sodium is like a sponge that holds water in the body and makes the heart work harder than usual. Reducing your sodium intake will help reduce the pressure on your heart and prevent heart disease from developing into congestive heart failure. Although it is difficult to remove salt from your diet or abruptly reduce your salt intake, you will certainly be able to feel the rich flavor of your food without salt.
   • Discard the jars of salt from the table and avoid adding salt to dishes before eating. Instead, you can season your dish with lemon juice and low-sodium condiments.
   • Also, be careful with foods that contain salt such as olives, pickles, packaged vegetables and soups, sports drinks and energy drinks. Cheese and bacon are high in sodium and should also be cut from the diet.

2. 

   Maintain a healthy, balanced diet. To avoid making your heart work harder, you should keep yourself healthy by eating a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, and lean protein. Meals should contain one source of protein, one source of low-fat milk, and one serving of low-carb vegetables. Your carbohydrate intake should be within the recommended range of 20-50 g per day.
   • Cut down on carbohydrates, sugars, and animal fats. Foods high in carbohydrates and sugars cause the body to secrete insulin - the main fat storage hormone in the body. When insulin levels drop, the body can start burning fat. It also helps the kidneys to remove excess sodium and water, which in turn helps reduce water weight.
   • Avoid starchy and carbohydrate foods such as white bread and potatoes. Snacks like french fries also contain a lot of salt. Also, avoid foods high in sugar such as soft drinks, candies and other snack sweets.

3. 

   Use salt-free spices and seasonings when cooking. Replace salt with unsalted herbs and spices. You can prepare and store 1/2 cup of unsalted spices in a glass jar and store in a cool dry place. When you cook, you can sprinkle some spices to enhance the flavor of your dish without using salt.
   • Use five-flavored spices for chicken, fish or pork: Combine 1/4 cup ginger powder, 2 tablespoons cinnamon powder and clove powder, with 1 teaspoon of Jamaican pepper powder and anise seeds.
   • Use a mixture of seasoning powder for salads, pasta, steamed vegetables, and grilled fish: Combine 1/4 cup dried parsley powder, 2 tablespoons of dried vinegar with 1 teaspoon of Oregano Vegetable Powder, and cumin and celery. dried west.
   • Use Italian spices for tomato soup, pasta sauce, Pizza and bread: Combine 2 tablespoons of thyme, oregano, thyme, rosemary (all dried) and red chili powder. Finally, add 1 teaspoon of garlic powder and dried oregano.
   • Mix seasoning mixes to mix with cottage cheese, yogurt or low-fat sour cream: Combine 1/2 cup of dry cumin with 1 teaspoon of dried chives leaves, garlic powder, and grated lemon peel.
   • Use dry herbal spices between your fingers to add flavor. Alternatively, fresh herbs can be used in dishes using a knife or shears.

4. 

   Check the processed food label for sodium content information. Many processed foods are high in sodium, so before you buy, be sure to read the labels carefully. Most processed foods are packaged in tin or paper boxes such as instant noodles, canned vegetables, tomato juice, and instant potatoes are high in sodium.
   • Read the sodium content per serving and determine the number of servings per package. Buy packaged food products with a sodium content of less than 350 mg per serving. A product with salt or sodium listed as one of the first five ingredients is a product that contains an excess of sodium. Look for alternatives to or not buy packaged foods and replace them with fresh fruits and vegetables.

5. 

   Ask for low-salt foods when eating out. Instead of avoiding eating out, look for foods with a low salt content and let waiters know you are on a low-salt diet. Then, ask the staff to recommend foods on the menu that contain less salt.
   • When eating out, choose foods rich in protein (such as meat, chicken, and fish) that are grilled, baked, or boiled. Use lemons and pepper to flavor your dishes instead of salt. Choose a side dish of plain rice or baked potatoes instead of mashed or fried rice.
   • In addition, avoid side dishes such as pickles, sauerkraut, and olive oil. Only a small amount of tomato sauce, mustard or Mayonnaise should be added to the dish.
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Part 3 of 3: Lifestyle changes

1. 

   Do cardio exercises and physical activity for at least 3-4 days per week. Moderate exercise 3-4 times per week can keep your body healthy and reduce the pressure on your heart. Talk to your doctor about an exercise program that best suits your health. If you are overweight or not in shape, your doctor may suggest starting with a slow walk, then gradually increasing it to running and jogging.
   • Whatever Cardio exercise, you must maintain a regular exercise routine so that your body works at least 3-4 times per week.

2. 

   Join an exercise group or a sports club. It can be difficult to get motivated when you want to exercise, so seek support from others and join an exercise group or sports club. Practicing with others can motivate you and track your training more easily.

3. 

   Quit smoking. If you smoke and are diagnosed with heart problems or are overweight, you need to quit smoking right away. If you don't smoke, you should avoid breathing in secondhand smoke. Smoking damages blood vessels and causes blood pressure to rise, which in turn reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood and makes the heart work harder and beat faster.
   • Your doctor may recommend joining a tobacco cessation assistance program or another form of help to quit smoking.

4. 

   Reduce stress levels. Stress can make your heart beat faster, breathing heavy, and blood pressure rises. Anxiety, sadness or stress will only make your heart disease worse. Find ways to reduce stress in your life. For example, ask people to help with work if possible and take about 10 minutes to rest or sit down and relax.
   • You can also participate in relaxing activities such as a passion or a hobby. Spending time with friends and family is also a way to relieve stress.

5. 

   Get 8-9 hours of sleep each night. The body needs rest so that the heart doesn't have to work too hard. If you have difficulty sleeping at night due to shortness of breath, place a pillow under your head to raise your head. In addition, talk to your doctor about medical options if you snore frequently, such as checking for sleep apnea or sleep aids. Good sleep improves overall health, including the heart. advertisement