Healthcare Directory

Lifestyle changes include the things that are generally recommended for cardiovascular health, like quitting nicotine, maintaining a healthy weight, and enjoying a heart-healthy diet fluid can make your breathing labored and noisy. You may also cough up mucus that is tinged with blood. Swelling. As blood empties more slowly out of the heart, lungs. This causes breathlessness, at first during periods of activity and later at rest. You may even wake in the middle of the night feeling panicky from the inability to breathe. Persistent coughing or wheezing. The same backup of blood returning to the heart through the veins backs up, causing fluid to flow back into the tissues. This is seen as swelling in the extremities, especially the legs and feet. Tiredness, fatigue. Because the heart can't pump enough blood for your whole body, blood is diverted away from arm and leg muscles so that there is enough for vital organs. That means things like carrying groceries and climbing stairs suddenly take a lot out of you. Nausea or lack of appetite. All of that blood being divert- blood flow patterns change, fluc- tuating levels of substances like sodium can affect the brain and result in feel- ings of disorientation. Increased heart ed to your brain means that your digestive system is receiv- ing less of it. So you may experience a range of digestive dif- ficulties, like feeling full or sick to your stomach. Confusion and impaired thinking. As keep blood circulating. Abnormal heart valves may not open or close properly High blood pressure forces the heart to pump harder to during each pump, requiring greater exertion from the heart. Heart muscle disease may be the result of viral infections or certain medications (such as cancer chemotherapy). Diabetes is linked to high blood pressure and atheroscle- rosis, both of which cause the heart to work harder. In some cases, the condition that led to CHF is not diag- nosed until the CHF itself is. That's why regular doctor visits, and monitoring of your cholesterol and blood pressure, are so important. How Is It Treated? In rare cases, CHF is treated with surgery to correct a structural issue. More commonly, it can be managed through a combination of medications and lifestyle changes. Medications depend on the contributing factors for each rate. To compensate for the loss of pumping abil- ity, your heart may simply beat more frequently. This can feel like your heart is racing or thumping in your chest. but CHF is the result of additional conditions or habits that particularly stress the heart. Most people with CHF also have one of the following Who Is At Risk? All of us lose some heart-pumping ability as we get older, conditions: Coronary artery disease involves a buildup of cholester- ol in the arteries (atherosclerosis), which keeps blood from reaching the heart. A past heart attack may have damaged the heart's tissue in a way that compromises its ability to pump. patient's CHF. They may include anticoagulants (which decrease clotting in the blood), diuret- ics (which help the body rid itself of excess fluid) and statins (which control cholesterol in the blood). Lifestyle changes in- clude the things that are generally recommended for cardiovascular health, like quitting nicotine, main- taining a healthy weight, and tients with CHF, it's important to get timely vaccinations each year. The changes to your lifestyle and routine may seem daunt- ing at first, but with the right support you can keep CHF under control. Cape Fear Valley offers a support group and education program to help you and your family successfully manage your condition. This article was reprtined from the Winter 2012 Making Rounds with permission from Cape Fear Valley Health System. The listings in this directory are divided by medical and dental specialty. Within the specialty category, you will find medical practices listed alphabetically, along with the address and phone number and the physicians affiliated with the practice. You will also see enhanced listings that include the insurance accepted, and some display ads that include much more information. 10 | 2012 Medical & Dental Directory patients are especially urged to control excess fluid (which gives the heart more work to do) by keeping sodium intake to a minimum and monitoring changes in their weight. Because flu and pneumonia are more dangerous to pa- enjoying a heart-healthy diet. But CHF

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