Treatment of heart failure

Heart failure is a very common disease among the elderly because the decline of muscle mass in the elderly can lead to weakened heart function, resulting in this disease. There are many ways to treat heart failure, and the appropriate method should be selected according to the patient's physical condition.

1. General treatment

(l) Eliminate or alleviate the underlying cause. All patients with heart failure should be evaluated for the underlying cause of their heart failure. Patients with primary valvular disease accompanied by heart failure NYHA II or above, and aortic disease accompanied by syncope and heart pain should undergo surgical repair or valve replacement. Coronary artery revascularization is expected to improve cardiac function in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy, heart failure, angina pectoris, and left ventricular dysfunction but with proven viable myocardium. Others include effective control of hypertension, treatment of hyperthyroidism, surgical correction of ventricular aneurysm, etc.

(2) Improve lifestyle to reduce the risk of new heart damage, such as quitting smoking and drinking. Obese patients should lose weight. Control high blood pressure and diabetes. A low-salt, low-fat diet. Patients with severe heart failure should limit their water intake and weigh themselves daily to detect fluid retention early.

(3) Closely monitor the progression of the disease and follow up regularly

(4) Avoid the use of certain drugs. Non-carrier anti-inflammatory drugs such as indomethacin, class I antiarrhythmic drugs and most calcium antagonists should be avoided.

(5) Other measures to eliminate the causes of heart failure, such as controlling infection, treating arrhythmias, especially atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular rate; correcting anemia and electrolyte imbalance, and paying attention to complications of pulmonary infarction.

2. Medication

(1) Cardiotonic drugs such as digitalis, scutellaria baicalensis, and scutellaria baicalensis. Prevent drug poisoning.

(2) Diuretics Diuretics can cause electrolyte imbalance. Blood potassium changes should be monitored during use. If the patient shows signs of hypokalemia, they should be given foods high in potassium, such as bananas, citrus fruits, and dark vegetables, and potassium salts should be supplemented if necessary.

(3) Vasodilators such as nitroglycerin.

(4) Rest: For patients with chronic heart failure, proper rest is a way to reduce the burden on the heart. Reducing the amount of activity can reduce the burden on the heart and allow the heart to repair. Depending on the condition of the disease, patients can be assisted to walk beside the bed or indoors to strengthen functional exercise and avoid venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, aspiration pneumonia, indigestion, muscle atrophy, etc. that may be caused by long-term bed rest.