St. Mary Medical Center cardiologist provides tips for those living with heart failure

Langhorne, Pa. —St. Mary Comprehensive Cardiology's Nisha Gandhi, M.D., is helping those living with heart failure better manage it and improve their quality of life.

Heart failure is a chronic condition that affects the pumping power of the heart, meaning the heart either cannot pump enough blood or it becomes stiff and cannot relax as it should. Both types of heart failure lead to lack of blood flow to the body. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 5.7 million Americans are currently living with heart failure, and the American Heart Association says more than 550,000 people are newly diagnosed each year. Often, heart failure causes shortness of breath after moving just a few feet, painful swelling in the ankles, legs, or stomach, or can cause fluid buildup in the lungs. Sometimes the symptoms are barely noticeable, and people adapt to doing less because they feel too tired.

“The symptoms and side-effects of heart failure can severely limit a person’s ability to move around, and his or her quality of life can be greatly affected,” says Gandhi. “However, many who suffer from this condition can and do live long lives, as long as they can manage the disease by staying vigilant and making health-conscious decisions.”

Dr. Gandhi recommends those with heart failure follow these steps:

• Monitor your body changes daily. Work with your care team to schedule regular check-ups so they can stay aware of important changes to your body, such as excessive swelling, sudden weight gain or shortness of breath (not related to exercise). Close monitoring can help your care team see if there’s a problem before it requires hospitalization. Ask your doctor if an implantable telemonitoring device might be right for you.
  
  
  
  
• Limit your sodium intake. Salt may taste good in your favorite foods, but too much of it can cause you to retain water. For those with heart failure, this puts an incredible burden on the heart. Following a low-sodium diet (typically less than 2 grams daily) can help with the fluid retention that can occur with heart failure.

• Reduce the amount of all fluids you consume. For some living with heart failure, a fluid-restricted diet can improve quality of life. This could mean drinking as little as two liters of fluid (roughly 67 ounces) each day. Your doctor may prescribe diuretics, a type of medication that quickly flushes water out of your system.
  
  
  
  
• Exercise regularly. Exercise can be difficult for those with heart failure, but staying in motion with activities like going for small walks around the house, standing and stretching, or chair-based exercises are safe to do on your own. Work with your doctor to develop an exercise regimen that works for you. Set small goals and build on your successes over time.
  
  
  
  
• Make smart lifestyle choices. Avoid excessive use of alcohol and eliminate tobacco products. Smoking and excessive drinking are known causes of heart disease and will only worsen your condition. Eliminating these unhealthy behaviors now will not only help you feel better, but it also will help you maintain a better quality of life.

For more information about heart failure, or to learn how St. Mary Comprehensive Cardiology’s team of specialists can help you better manage your disease, call 215.710.2234.