Heart failure 101

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Treatment

Heart failure treatment often depends on the original cause. For example, heart failure caused by high blood pressure may be treated differently than heart failure caused by coronary artery disease. If heart failure is too severe, a heart transplant may be necessary.

Treatment is broken into lifestyle modifications, medication, and, if necessary, surgery.

Lifestyle changes

• Moderate exercise under a doctor’s care
• Low-sodium and low-fat diet
• Weight loss
• Smoking cessation
• Abstaining from alcohol (or limiting intake)
• Abstaining from caffeine (or limiting intake)
• Symptom tracking
• Stress reduction

Medication

• Beta-blockers to decrease the heart’s workload and help maintain normal heartbeat
• ACE inhibitors to lower blood pressure
• Diuretics to help kidneys flush extra water and sodium, reducing blood volume
• Aldosterone receptor inhibitors to help reduce blood pressure and improve heart muscle function
• Digoxin to assist heart pumping and help maintain normal heartbeat

Surgery (if heart failure is caused by coronary artery disease)

• Angioplasty and/or stents: A balloon or stent is inserted into the coronary artery via a tube going from a small puncture in a leg artery to restore blood flow.
• Bypass: A vein or artery is taken from another part of the body and connected to the coronary artery which reroutes blood flow around a blockage. This is done through an incision through the chest.