Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death in both men and women across the world. Health experts warned that Indians are genetically predisposed to cardiac problems. Data suggests that India is home to an estimated 10 million cases of heart failure (HF), the leading cause of mortality and repeat hospitalisations amongst all cardiovascular events. The coronavirus pandemic, has perhaps, affected the care of patients with heart failure in a variety of mechanisms.

Heart failure, sometimes known as congestive heart failure, can be ongoing, or it can start suddenly. Any one sign of heart failure, by themselves, may not be a cause for concern. We asked Dr Kewal Krishan, Director, Heart Transplant & LVAD Program, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, New Delhi, to tell us what heart failure actually is, the signs to watch out for, causes, whether LVAD is a safer option for patients with advanced HF, and most importantly, what it means to live with this condition.

How exactly is heart failure and does this mean a person’s heart is no longer working? What are some of the common causes of this condition?

Heart failure is a chronic condition that occurs when the heart is unable to pump blood sufficiently to meet the metabolic demands of the tissues in the body. A weakened heart results in inadequate blood supply to the cells leading to fatigue, shortness of breath and other symptoms of heart failure.

Some common causes of heart failure include diabetes, valve disease, congenital heart disease, hypertension, heart attack, or coronary artery disease, family history of the disease, an enlarged or infected heart.

What are the most common symptoms of heart failure and at what stage should one consult a doctor?

A patient should consult a doctor when they start experiencing chest pains that are sudden, severe, unexpected and come with shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, or weakness. One should also monitor their heart rhythm and be aware of abnormally fast heart beats, especially if you are short of breath that it is not relieved by rest. Sudden weakness or inability to move your arms or legs, severe headaches and sudden fainting spells are also major warning signs.

How can heart failure be treated across stages and what are the treatment options?

Heart failure develops over time as the heart’s pumping action grows weaker the body tries to compensate for this with hormonal and other mechanisms. The New York Heart Association classifies this into 4 stages (NYHA Class 1-4), and the treatment varies at each stage. This is because once a patient has progressed to the next stage, it cannot be reversed i.e. once they progress to Stage C, they cannot go back to Stage B or A.

Media Contact
John Mathews
Journal Manager
Current Trends in Cardiology
Email: cardiologyres@eclinicalsci.com