Heart failure and its impact on Indian patients

Dr Narsaraju is a Consultant interventional cardiologist and director of cardiology at Maxcure hospital. The renowned cardiologist explains the causes, mortality rate and suggestions to reduce the heart failure.

1. What is Heart failure?

A. Heart failure commonly known as congestive heart failure (CHF) is a life-threatening condition, which affected about 26 million people in India. It is a chronic condition, which occurs when the heart is unable to pump sufficiently to maintain blood flow.

2. What are its Symptoms?

A. People may experience:

Sweating

Pain in the chest

Faster heart rate

Cough can be dry or with phlegm

Shortness of breath, difficulty

Excessive urination at night

Giddiness or Fatigue

Other common symptoms: Sleepiness, swollen legs, swollen hands, or weight gain Also if the chest pain is sudden and persistent for about five minutes or so it is a clear indication of heart attack.

3. What are the causes?

ï‚· Heart attack

ï‚· High blood pressure

ï‚· Abnormal heart rhythm

ï‚· Infection

ï‚· Exertion due of work

4. Why are Indian patients suffering from heart failure at an early stage?

ï‚· Due to sedentary life style

ï‚· Stress

ï‚· Anxiety

Survey from low-income and middle-income countries (LMIC) propose that death rate in patients with heart failure in these nations is more noteworthy than that in high pay nations.

The marked variation in mortality in low-income countries like India could be owing to low awareness, economic burden, healthcare infrastructure, quality and access to primary healthcare facilities, environmental and genetic factors.

5. What are the risk factors for heart failure?

A. Your risk of heart failure is high if you have certain risk factors. A risk factor is anything that shoots up the chance of causing heart failure. Risk factors may include

ï‚· Smoking

ï‚· High cholesterol level

ï‚· Diabetes

ï‚· Family history of heart disease

6. When to call a doctor?

A. If you find any symptoms of sudden heart failure such as:

Severe shortness of breath even at rest

Sudden irregular heart beat

Getting a rapid heartbeat along with dizziness, nausea, or fainting.

Foamy pink mucus with cough and gasped breathing

Symptoms of a heart attack, such as:

Chest pain or pressure, or an comfortable feeling in the chest.