Heart failure is more prevalent in the South. Here’s what you need to know.
The term “heart failure” seems to imply that the heart has stopped beating — that it has, in essence, failed. But that’s not quite accurate.
Instead, it refers to a progressive condition in which a person’s heart muscle is weakened, unable to pump blood to the body in the way that it should, resulting in symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue and fluid buildup in the legs and feet.
“Heart failure is an epidemic,” said Dr. Kelly Schlendorf, medical director of Vanderbilt Heart’s Adult Heart Transplant Program. “Nationally, upwards of 6 million people are living with it. The Heart Failure Society of America states that among patients with severe or advanced heart failure, the one-year survival rate is often less than 50%.”
Risk factors for heart failure
Common risk factors include coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity. At least half of people diagnosed have one or more of these risk factors, Schlendorf said.
“It’s important for patients to recognize what the risk factors are,” she explained. “A person with high blood pressure may feel fine and choose not to take his or her blood pressure medications. However, uncontrolled blood pressure over many years can ultimately lead to heart failure.”
For other patients with the diagnosis, causes may include things like genetics, viral infections, excessive alcohol use and certain chemotherapies. For many patients, the cause is not known. Heart failure prevalence is higher in the 65-and-older population. “But old age is not synonymous with heart failure,” Schlendorf said.
Symptoms of heart failure
Symptoms can be subtle and easy to overlook or to chalk up to aging. “The most common symptoms result from the build-up of extra fluid, which leads to shortness of breath, frequent coughing and fatigue,” Schlendorf said. Other symptoms may include swelling in the legs and ankles, an increased need to urinate at night, dizziness and trouble concentrating.
Reducing the risk
That healthy lifestyle we all know we should adopt — with heart-healthy food, exercise, weight control, not smoking — isn’t just so we can feel good now. It’s our future.
“It’s nothing special or complicated,” Schlendorf said. “Lead a healthy lifestyle. See your doctor. Work to control your diabetes or high blood pressure. Stay active.”
“Plenty of data suggests that higher sodium intake is associated with higher blood pressure,” she added. “Especially for patients who already have high blood pressure, limiting salt in the diet is important in helping to reduce one’s chances of developing heart failure.”
The Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute‘s team treats all types of cardiovascular diseases and conditions, from the common to the complex. Our team is consistently recognized by U.S. News & World Report among the best heart hospitals in the nation and the best in Tennessee. Our wide range of services are offered in convenient locations throughout the region.
