Heart Failure
Risk Factors and Prevention
Heart failure can happen to almost anyone. It is most common in people over 65, and is more common in African-Americans. It is the number one reason for hospitalization for people over age 65.
Causes of Heart Failure
Heart failure is caused by other diseases or conditions that damage the heart muscle. It is often caused by coronary artery disease, including heart attacks. Diabetes and high blood pressure also contribute to heart failure risk.
Coronary artery disease is a leading cause of death in men and women. It happens when the arteries that supply blood to the heart become hardened and narrowed. People who have had a heart attack are at high risk of developing heart failure.
Preventing Heart Failure
There are a number of things you can do to reduce the risk for coronary artery disease and heart failure. These things include:
- keeping your cholesterol levels healthy
- keeping your blood pressure at a normal level
- losing weight if you are overweight
- quitting smoking
- limiting the amount of alcohol you drink
- limiting foods that are high in saturated fat, trans-fat, and cholesterol
- exercising at least 30 minutes a day
Cholesterol Control
Keeping your cholesterol levels healthy can help prevent coronary artery disease.
Your goal for LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, depends on how many other risk factors you have. Risk factors include
- being a cigarette smoker
- having high blood pressure
- having low HDL cholesterol
- being 45 or older if you are a man and 55 or older if you are a woman
- having a close relative who had coronary artery disease at an earlier-than-usual age (before age 55 for male relatives and before age 65 for a female relatives)
Here are the recommended LDL cholesterol goals:
- If you don't have coronary heart disease or diabetes and have one or no risk factors, your LDL goal is less than 160 mg/dL.
- If you don't have coronary heart disease or diabetes and have two or more risk factors, your LDL goal is less than 130 mg/dL.
- If you do have coronary heart disease or diabetes, your LDL goal is less than 100 mg/dL.
The goal for HDL, or "good" cholesterol is above 40 in men and above 50 in women.
The goal for triglycerides, another fat in the blood is below 150.
Other Preventive Actions
High blood pressure causes the heart to get larger and work harder, which can then lead to heart failure. You should aim for a blood pressure level of 130/80 or below. Talk to your doctor about ways to lower your blood pressure.
Diabetes is characterized by having too much glucose, or sugar, in the blood for a long time. This can cause heart problems because high blood glucose can damage parts of the body such as the heart and blood vessels. This damage weakens the heart, often leading to heart failure.
You can help prevent heart disease by
- losing weight if you are overweight
- quitting smoking
- limiting the amount of alcohol you drink
- limiting the amount of sodium (salt) you consume to less than 2000 mg a day. Sodium contributes to high blood pressure and fluid retention.
You can also maintain a heart-healthy diet by limiting foods that are high in saturated fat, trans-fat, and cholesterol, such as meats, butter, dairy products with fat, eggs, shortening, lard, and foods with palm oil or coconut oil. Heart-healthy foods include those high in fiber, such as oat bran, oatmeal, whole-grain breads and cereals, fruits, and vegetables.
Exercise also helps keep your heart strong. Aim for at least 30 minutes a day of exercise. Check with your doctor before starting any exercise program.
