How to treat heart failure

Treatment for congestive heart failure should be guided by a cardiologist and usually involves the use of heart remedies, such as carvedilol, which strengthen the heart muscle, hypotensive drugs such as Enalapril or Losartana to lower blood pressure on the heart and diuretic remedies, such as Furosemide to decrease fluid retention.

In addition to the medicines, it is also very important that the patient does regular physical exercise, such as walking or cycling, adapted by the cardiologist, physiotherapist or a physical education teacher, according to the severity of the disease.

Physiotherapy for heart failure may be necessary to help the patient recover and reduce symptoms and, in the most severe cases, a heart transplant may be necessary.

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Treatment for decompensated heart failure

The treatment for decompensated heart failure should be done in the hospital with the use of oxygen and medication directly in the vein, as it is common for the patient to have great difficulty in breathing due to the accumulation of blood in the veins that irrigate the lung.

Normally, decompensated heart failure arises when the patient does not do the treatment properly, causing symptoms such as swelling in the body and difficulty breathing.

Medicines

The main drugs prescribed by the doctor to treat heart failure, especially chronic heart failure include Furosemide, Enalapril, Losartana, Carvedilol, Bisoprolol, Spironolactone or Valsartana.

The cardiologist will be able to indicate the combination of 2 or more of these drugs, as they act differently in the body, improving the capacity of the heart.

Know other indicated remedies and their side effects.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapeutic treatment for heart failure usually involves aerobic, breathing and stretching exercises, as well as balance and resistance training to help decrease the symptoms of the disease and increase the patient's physical capacity, making him able to resume his daily activities.

In the beginning, physical therapy should start lightly and gradually, and great efforts should be avoided. After a few months, the patient already does more intense exercises, such as climbing stairs or using the exercise bike, for example.

What to do to treat

To complete the treatment recommended by the cardiologist, it is important to adopt some precautions such as:

Avoid using salt to season your food, substituting aromatic herbs; Raise the headboard at least 15 cm; Raise your legs at least 15 cm to sleep; No smoking and decrease your intake of alcoholic beverages; fluid intake according to the doctor's guidance.

In addition, some home remedies for heart failure, such as avocado leaf tea or rosemary tea, for example, can also lower the pressure under the heart, helping to treat the disease.

Signs of improvement and worsening

Signs of improvement in heart failure appear a few weeks after the start of treatment and include improved tiredness, decreased breathing difficulties, ease of doing some activities that were previously difficult, as well as reduced swelling in the legs and other parts of the body.

Signs of worsening heart failure arise when treatment is not done properly and can include difficulty breathing, decreased urine and increased body swelling.

Possible complications

Complications of heart failure usually arise when treatment is not done correctly and include kidney failure, which may require dialysis, problems with heart valves, liver damage, infarction and even death.

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