In this episode of LiveLifeMore Health Show, noted Health Presenter & Nutritionist Dt. Pallavi Jassal discusses ‘Heart Failure’ with eminent cardiologist Dr. HK Bali.
Heart failure, also known as congestive heart failure, occurs when your heart muscle is not able to pump enough blood it should so that the needs of the body can be fulfilled. Some conditions, such as narrowed arteries in your heart (coronary artery disease) or high blood pressure, gradually may lead your heart muscle to become too weak or stiff to fill and pump with optimum efficiency.
The good news is that getting diagnosed with heart failure is not a ‘DEATH SENTENCE’ as commonly thought. But, the bad news is that not all the conditions that lead to heart failure can be reversed, but treatments can improve the signs and symptoms of heart failure and can potentially help the patient live longer.
Certified Lifestyle & Wellness Consultant, Dr. Sandeep Jassal says that professionally guided lifestyle changes – such as a regular exercise regime, reduction in consumption of salt in your diet, stress and weight management can improve the patient’s quality of life.
One way to control heart failure is to control conditions that cause heart failure, such as coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, diabetes or obesity.
However, once diagnosed, there are some devices which can help the patient lead a near normal life & also prolong the life too. These technological breakthrough devices are called Pacemakers, ICDs (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators), Combo Devices ( which have the features of both Pacemakers as well as ICD). Let us tell you a bit more about these devices.
Pacemaker: A pacemaker is a small device that can be placed in the chest wall or abdominal wall and it helps in controlling abnormal heart rhythms. This device uses low-energy electrical currents to prompt the heart to beat at a normal rate. Pacemakers are used to treat arrhythmias. Arrhythmias are problems with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat. During an arrhythmia, the heart can beat too fast, too slow, or with an irregular rhythm.
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICD) : An ICD is an appropriate device for heart-failure treatment when the person is considered to be a high risk of dying from an abnormal heart rhythm called Sudden Cardiac Arrest or Sudden Cardiac Death. It is a small device which can be implanted in the chest and continually monitors the heart’s rhythm. Whenever the ICD senses an abnormal heart rhythm, it activates an internal electric shock to the heart which is equivalent of being shocked with paddles outside the body that hopefully restores a normal heart rhythm. In a way it is like moving aroud with your own Cardiologist with in your own body.
Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT): Cardiac resynchronization therapy is a new and promising treatment recommended in some patients with heart failure. in whom the electrical signals that control the pumping of the different heart chambers becomes erratic, making the heart unable to pump blood efficiently.
CRT devices are capable of restoring the coordination between the two sides of the heart and improving its function by delivering electrical impulses to both the right and left ventricles — the two large, main pumping chambers of the heart.
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