On average, a human heart beats more than 3,600 times per hour. (At least once per second.) So it’s no surprise that this hard-working muscle is susceptible to problems over time.
Everyone knows about heart attacks, but there is a lot of confusion about congestive heart failure – mostly because of that word “failure,” which sounds like a complete stoppage of the heart, which isn’t the case. Indeed, heart failure is when the heart isn’t working quite up to par, but it is still working.
Key Facts About Heart Failure
Your friendly neighborhood cardiologist would like you to know the following facts about congestive heart failure:
Heart Failure Is Not a Death Sentence
Congestive heart failure is a manageable condition. With medications and lifestyle changes, you can enjoy a long, healthy life despite a heart failure diagnosis.
Your Breathing May Be Affected
Your heart and lungs work together as a team: Your heart pumps blood to the lungs for oxygenation of the fresh blood, and then the lungs push the oxygenated blood back to the heart for pumping to the rest of the body. If your heart is having any kind of difficulty, such as that posed by congestive heart failure, it will naturally affect your lungs – which can affect your breathing to some degree. You may be prescribed supplemental oxygen, which can now be easily carried hands-free like a small backpack or a fanny pack, so you can continue to enjoy your normal lifestyle.
You May Be Able to Reverse Some of the Damage
If you reduce your stress levels, eat right, and exercise, you might be able to facilitate the healing of some of the damage that has been done to your heart via congestive heart failure. Talk to your cardiologist about how best to approach this goal.
Treatments Are Customized to Your Body’s Needs
Your treatment may focus on slowing down your fast heart rate, lowering your high blood pressure, or a combination of both, depending on the factors that are impacting your heart condition. Your cardiologist may also recommend one or more medications to help thwart the progression of heart disease.
Visit Your Doctor Regularly to Keep Tabs on the Condition
Your cardiologist will tell you how often would be best to have routine cardiology checkups in order to properly monitor your condition. You may be asked to come in every six months or more often, depending on the specific condition of your heart.
Trusted Cardiologists in Sarasota, FL
If you’re looking for a skilled and experienced cardiologist here in Sarasota and Manatee counties, look to our comprehensive medical team here at Intercoastal Medical Group. We have a number of convenient locations across the area, and our physicians cover a wide breadth of medical specialties to take care of health issues of all kinds. We have cardiology offices at our Lakewood Ranch II and Cattleridge Medical Buildings as well as our Beneva Campus in Sarasota.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation, contact our friendly staff today by calling one of our Cardiology locations near you and filling out our appointment request form online now. We look forward to being your healthcare partner for a lifetime of good health!
