IS YOUR HEART FAILING?

The heart is an organ which helps to pump blood around the body, it also assists in delivery of nutrients to various tissue and helps to transport waste products to their destinations for excretion through the blood.
With these functions in mind, we discover that if the heart fails, there will be:

1. Decreased blood pumped around the body which means the tissues will not receive enough oxygen and nutrient supply
2. Lack of nutrients transported to tissues causing death of tissues
3. Excess waste products in the body which can damage body organs and systems

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In a situation of heart failure not diagnosed early, the chances of survival are quite low, but if there is an early diagnosis, you can easily get help from your doctor.

SIGNS OF A HEART PROBLEM OR FAILURE

1. Chest pain
2. The feeling of breathlessness after doing a little work e.g walking up a flight of stairs or running a short distance
3. Palpitations (when you can seat and feel your heart beat)
4. You discover you need to put pillows under your head to lie down at night unless you will not be comfortable
5. You wake up in the morning with a swollen face. This can also be related to kidney diseases.
6. You can see the veins on your neck distended.

WHAT PUTS YOU AT RISK OF HEART FAILURE?

1. You also need to know If there was anyone in Your family who had a heart failure of transplant,
2. If you or your loved one is overweight or obese he or she is at risk of a heart failure (refer to my previous write up on obesity)
3. Hypertension also puts you at risk
   If you discover you have any of this signs or a combination, see a doctor for a check up and treatment if necessary.

Thanks for reading.