Heart health -

How slowing down and a healthy lifestyle help

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A statistical digression on heart failure

Heart failure affects more than 2% of the total population worldwide. In Germany, around 2 to 3 million people suffer from a weak heart. Around 300,000 are added every year, 50,000 ultimately die of this disease (2017).

In the population group of over 80 years of age, it is 10%. Heart failure is one of the most common causes of death.

Duties of the heart

The heart as a hollow muscular organ consists largely of muscle tissue. The heart is considered too weak when the heart muscle is no longer able to pump sufficient blood from the left ventricle into the body's circulation.

The organs are then insufficiently supplied with oxygen-rich blood or a heart attack occurs (acute blockage of a coronary artery). In many cases, heart failure is a gradual process that can be influenced by a healthy and balanced lifestyle.

Risk factors and causes of heart failure

The blood vessels (vascular calcification) and the heart are considered to be risk factors

stress
trouble
high professional demandsin everyday life
genetics
high fat food
obesity
Type 2 diabetes
little sport and exercise
Smoke
alcohol
sugar

The following causes can lead to heart failure

66% coronary heart disease (CHD)
high blood pressure
Valvular heart disease
Enlargement of the heart muscle
Cardiac arrhythmias
Heart attack
Type 2 diabetes

Types and stages of heart failure

A distinction is made between acute (e.g. shortness of breath, acute myocardial infarction) and chronic cardiac insufficiency in terms of the duration of heart failure. The creeping (chronic) heart failure is often not noticed because it develops over months or years and can lead to sudden cardiac insufficiency.

The location of the heart failure is also divided according to the affected part of the heart, such as left heart failure (80%), right heart failure and global heart failure (global heart failure = both sides of the heart, i.e. affecting the entire heart).

In left heart failure, a distinction is made according to function, namely between systolic and diastolic heart failure. This affects different functions of the heart chamber.

In systolic heart failure, the muscular pumping capacity is significantly reduced, so that the organs' oxygen demand remains unmet.

In diastolic heart failure, the heart has enough pumping power, but the heart does not take in enough blood because the left ventricle has lost its elasticity.

While diastolic heart failure is more likely to occur in women, men are more likely to be affected by systolic heart failure.

Heart failure is also divided into stages and clearly defined criteria, NYHA classification I-IV.

This NYHA classification represents the emergence and development of the impaired pump and body functions (moderately reduced, reduced, highly reduced).

Severe cardiac insufficiency (shortness of breath with everyday light stress), which is also associated with increased mortality, is referred to in the NYHA classification III. Here 25% of those affected die within a year, with NYHA IV (shortness of breath even at rest) it is over 50%.

Consequences and symptoms of a heart failure can be

As mentioned above, the heart pumps oxygen-rich blood through the body and thus supplies the organs in their functional activity.

The heart is called cardiac output (CO = stroke volume x heart rate). This tells you how much blood flows through our body per minute. In a healthy person, the value is 4.5 to 6 liters / minute. When the heart pumps too little blood, symptoms such as: B. dizziness, breathlessness, fatigue, and loss of appetite.

The symptoms of heart failure are divided into backward failure and forward failure. In the case of backward failure, the blood is not pumped into the aorta in sufficient quantities and accumulates in the left ventricle of the heart and ultimately back into the lungs. This can lead to pulmonary edema.

When failing backwards it comes to

increased breathing rate
nocturnal coughing fits
bluish-red coloring of the skin and mucous membranes
Fluid build-up in the lungs (rattling noises)

If the heart is not able to work against this afterload, it comes to preload insufficiency, which then also affects the right heart, since the preload depends on the venous return flow to the heart.

With this right heart failure one gets edema in the legs, tends to increased urination and visible venous congestion.

Forward failure includes symptoms such as confusion, weakness, and decreased performance.

What can you do specifically if you have a weak heart and how can you prevent it?

If you have a weak heart, you should first consult your doctor and have yourself examined. Most of the time, drug settings are necessary.

The most common drugs would be B. ACE inhibitors, beta blockers, diuretics and others or in combination, depending on the disease.

A further and significant building block would be the change in lifestyle, which you can influence yourself well in order to strengthen the heart and minimize the risk factors.

How can you personally counteract heart failure?

Heart failure can be counteracted by preventing stress, fears and anger from becoming omnipotent. Many everyday situations can be avoided by restructuring, especially in the private sector, e.g. B. by learning to shine through too high demands on yourself.

Saying “no” consciously protects against being overwhelmed. Life in the here and now, not in the past or in the future, relieves stress and decelerates enormously.

Daily relaxation or a relaxation procedure is also beneficial, such as B.

Autogenic training
PMR
yoga
Sound relaxation
Imagination journeys
hypnosiswith a body anchor

Sufficient exercise and sport in the fresh air strengthen the heart in your free time. A balanced, low-fat and high-fiber diet is gentle on the coronary arteries and prevents obesity, since the heart has to perform more pumping when it is too heavy. Obesity can also result from a reduction in sugar.

Adding food supplements such as omega-3 fatty acids has a positive effect on the heart muscle. A study from 2008 by Dr. Savina Nodari, referred to as the GISSI-HF study, in 6,975 patients with chronic heart failure.

Alcohol should be avoided by those at risk.

Some people respond with better heart health through greatly reduced salt consumption, according to the RKI.

An alkaline diet is also good for the heart. Please only drink coffee in moderation. An exchange with enough water or tea makes sense, as this stimulates the natural blood flow. The sooner those affected give up nicotine, the better.

In order to reduce the general stress level, it should be sufficient sleep to be respected for the recovery of body and mind.

Conclusion

Turn your life upside down in good time and find your balance in fun, relaxation and exercise in nature! Your body will thank you.

Stay healthy, fit and productive from the bottom of your heart!