February is Heart Month. Dr. Kendra Marsh, a cardiologist at the Prevea Heart Failure Clinic stopped by “Wisconsin Tonight” to talk about some important factors when it comes to keeping your heart healthy.
Common causes of heart failure include high blood pressure, heart valve problems, blocked heart arteries, abnormal heart rhythms, diabetes, too much alcohol, thyroid problems and some drugs used to treat cancer.
Often, people with heart failure experience trouble breathing with normal activities such as walking, shopping and performing household chores. They may also have swollen legs and can be restless at night or gain weight very quickly despite not having much of an appetite.
Heart Failure is called congestive heart failure because of fluid build-up in the body. The symptoms can occur gradually overtime as the heart has a harder time pumping blood throughout the body. The body becomes very weak and if not treated promptly this can be deadly. If you have symptoms of heart failure, even a little, your doctor should check you immediately.
50% of people with heart failure will die without proper treatment. It’s important to see a cardiologist who specializes in heart failure.
Listen to your doctor’s recommendations and ask lots of questions to help you understand your condition.
* Stop Smoking
* Take your medications exactly as prescribed
* Check your weight every day to avoid water weight gain
* Track your salt intake
* Monitor your blood pressure
* Exercise once your Doctor says it’s okay
* Get rest
* Avoid Stress
Finally, the key to successfully managing heart failure is education. Prevea Health offers a free program called Heart Care University. It’s a series of five interactive classes, which bring together the tools and information to help those with heart failure stay healthy and active. For more information, call (920) 431-1850 or visit www.prevea.com.
More Information about the Prevea Heart Failure Clinic, click here.
