Heart Failure The Leading Cause of Death
Heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalization and death of those over 65. It can be caused by, years of smoking, heart attack, hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, or a valve defect. A program designed by the American Heart Association could greatly reduce fatalities but it is used by less than 10 percent of hospitals and doctors.
Heart failure is the number one cause of hospitalization and death of all those over 65. The damage may be caused by a heart attack, a valve defect, years of smoking, or a condition such as hypertension or diabetes. New drugs can often slow the damage. Software from the American Heart Association lets the doctor feed in patient information and get recommendations for diet, medications, and possibly a pacemaker.
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This program could greatly reduce the death rate each year, yet less than 10% of the nations hospitals have signed up for the program. Even at the hospitals using the program, less than one third of the heart failure patients who would have benefited from fluid eliminating medication received them. Which helps explain why heart failure is the number one killer in those 65 and older.
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A pace maker helps reset the heart’s electrical system so that all parts work as well as possible and in sync. Only about one third of patients who would benefit actually get them. Patients cannot assume their care will be routine and equal. It’s up to the patient to take charge of his condition. The first rule of thumb is to get diagnosed early. Possible signs of heart failure are, shortness of breath, fatigue, and difficulty with physical activity. Check blood pressure regularly since uncontrolled blood pressure can lead to heart failure. And cut back on salt to 2,000 milligrams. That’s a teaspoon. Research on women lags far behind men, so a woman is especially venerable to less effective treatment. Ask questions and do the research.
While it isn’t clear that exercise reduces death, recent studies shows it can lessen fatigue if done with care. Over exertion can be dangerous but gentle exercise such as walking and swimming is recommended.
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The lure of stem cells is a temptation, but capturing their power to take on different roles place researchers in a quandary to determine whether a patient’s improvement can really be credited to a stem cell treatment. “There’s such a thing as a placebo effect,” says Amit Patel,director of cardiovascular regenerative medicine at the University of Utah. Other doctors say nothing they can do on a single day in the lab is going to undo what 30 years of disease has wrought.
Researchers are studying how to best deliver the stem cells to the heart, exactly where to place them and how to keep them from moving elsewhere. They are also studying what kind of cells will work, those from a persons own bone morrow, blood, or the heart. Or maybe in the future stem cells from other sources. In the meantime get all the information you can and talk to your doctor about the best effective treatment for you.
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Sound and Lights | Dec 16, 2009 | Reply
Thanks for sharing this…
Abdella | Dec 16, 2009 | Reply
Good read. I can see you did research on this and I enjoyed the pictures.
Guy Hogan | Dec 16, 2009 | Reply
Heart disease is something I worry about. I haven’t had a check up in years.
Rinkal Desai | Dec 16, 2009 | Reply
thanks for sharing.
Eunice Tan | Dec 16, 2009 | Reply
This month 2 people I know died because of heart failure.
drelayaraja | Dec 16, 2009 | Reply
Yes, well said. More than terrorism.
So we should divert some more attention on this problem.
qasimdharamsy | Dec 16, 2009 | Reply
very informative..thanks…
Judy Kaelin | Dec 16, 2009 | Reply
Good informaton, thanks
8Shei8 | Dec 16, 2009 | Reply
Thanks for posting this Ruby!
Wennie Estares | Dec 16, 2009 | Reply
I have a heart concern. My doc told me that it beats irregularly, reason perhaps of my hard breath. thanks for info.
thuanynguyen | Dec 16, 2009 | Reply
liked this article. thnx
Sharif Ishnin | Dec 16, 2009 | Reply
Very interesting and informative article.
ken bultman | Dec 16, 2009 | Reply
Guy’s comment is frightening. One of the reasons why heart failure deaths are high. C’mon people…get a stress test.
Frederick Zammit | Dec 16, 2009 | Reply
My father nearly died because of heart failure. The main reason was smoking. Thanks god smoking saved him aswell. If he did not got up in the middile of the night, we would found him death in the morning cos when he woke up he notice the symptoms and that saved him. Good article
Christine Ramsay | Dec 16, 2009 | Reply
A very interesting piece. Heart failure is the main cause of deaths in our family so all information on avoiding heart disease is welcome.
Christine
standingproud | Dec 16, 2009 | Reply
very informative,handy to have knowledge.
thank you so much.
*Donna*/Standingproud
Jon Abraham | Dec 16, 2009 | Reply
“Good-hearted” people live a long life!
Frances Lawrence | Dec 16, 2009 | Reply
A very clear and helpful article. Why don’t people get the help they need, is it because they don’t have insurance?
martie | Dec 16, 2009 | Reply
valuable information.
Gijo George | Dec 16, 2009 | Reply
Good article. Changed lifestyle and bad food habits with an appetite for junk foods is the main factor behind the surge in rate of heart failures.
magicdarts | Dec 16, 2009 | Reply
Very well written and presented – worrying when the programs that can save lives haven’t been made widely available
Mark Gordon Brown | Dec 16, 2009 | Reply
takes a lickin but keeps on tickin.. we should treat our hearts better.
PR Mace | Dec 16, 2009 | Reply
Good information, Ruby. As a cardiac nurse I see a lot of this. I wish folks would try and take better care of themselves.
Darlene McFarlane | Dec 16, 2009 | Reply
Very interesting read, Ruby.
thuanynguyen | Dec 17, 2009 | Reply
great info. i also liked the pictures
Calculating Cholesterol | Dec 17, 2009 | Reply
This is a very great information. I become knowledgeable about the subject. Thank you for posting this kind of information. Are there any other posting the sane as yours?
Yovita Siswati | Dec 17, 2009 | Reply
Great info! We must take care of our Hearts. Thanks for sharing.
CRYSTAL EVANS | Dec 17, 2009 | Reply
very informative and lifesaving. lol
Daisy Peasblossom | Dec 18, 2009 | Reply
Another good one, Ruby.
Annashank | Dec 18, 2009 | Reply
Very close to home for me!!! My dad had a cardiac arrest at 53… Thank you for sharing
CA Johnson | Dec 18, 2009 | Reply
This is very helpful information that we should all know about heart failure.
gaby7 | Dec 19, 2009 | Reply
Cardiac related deaths are on the rise, you have saved so many lives by this wonderfully presented article my friend. Thanks
Moses Ingram | Dec 21, 2009 | Reply
Your articles are always very informative. This one is no exception.
farmerdw02 | Dec 22, 2009 | Reply
Heart Failure The Leading Cause of Death
Heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalization and death of those over 65
Very true statement in your article. I know tis to be true because I work in the medical Field.
Darrell