How do you prevent congestive heart failure?

Question

I have lost two grandparents, an aunt and an uncle...all died of congestive heart failure. It looks like an awful way to die.

Is this genetic? What can I do now, while I am young, to keep it from happening to me when I am older? Am I doomed from my genetics? Can I prevent it?

Answer 1

Prevention
Treat your high blood pressure with diet, exercise, and medication if necessary.
Treat your high cholesterol with diet, exercise, and medication if necessary.
DO NOT smoke
Avoid alcohol use
Take an ACE inhibitor if you have heart disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure.
Treat arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms) and keep your heart rate under control.
Treat an underlying thyroid disorder.
Also, consider the following lifestyle habits, especially if you have a strong family history of CHF:
Reduce salt intake.
Exercise
Please see the webages for more details on Heart failure.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

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Answer 4

You cannot prevent Congestive Heart Failure. It is indeed Genetic, but with exercise and a proper diet you can extend your life and hopefully not have to suffer with it as people with this condition generally do.

God Bless.

Answer 5

you are right, it is an awful way to die, and i am glad that you are interested in prevention. heart disease does tend to run in families, but you aren't doomed. take care of yourself now. whatever you do, don't start smoking. eat a healthy diet, one low in saturated and trans fatty acids. try eating fish rich with omega 3 fatty acids instead of meat high in cholesterol, like burgers or steaks. Omega 3 acids can help protect your heart. only drink alcohol in moderation. exercise, at least 3x a week for 30 minutes. you can even break the exercise down into segments, like 10 min. at a time. all of these things will help your heart in the long run. good luck!

Answer 6

I have the same problem in my family. In a few weeks, I am getting a scan of my heart and arteries. I've also had a blood test to measure various risk factors. For both of these procedures I have not gone through doctors or hospitals and the total cost for both procedures is $130.

Answer 7

Yes this can be a genetic condition but if you eat a heathy low colesteral diet and make sure you exercise regularly your heart will be heathy. this same condition runs in my family, so i know how you feel. Just remember that life is full of choices and its all about making the right ones.

Answer 8

what we usually advise is to have a healthy diet, less salt. check the salt content of whatever food u are to eat especially the canned goods. do not add salt on ur foods. remember where salt goes waters will follows. if u have alot of salt in ur body, fluids will accumulate and your heart will have dificulty pumping which will result to congestive heart failure. another thing is stop smoking, stop dringking. weight urself every am then record it. if u gain more that 2 pounds overnight then u have to call ur dr. excercise .... walk walk and walk. consult a dr. if u have nausea, vomiting, fatigue, weight gain or shortness of breath. check ur feet for any swelling. if you notice any swelling or weight gain call ur dr. prevention is better then cure.

Answer 9

First thing, you have to determine what caused their CHF....CHF is a generic term...after determining the cause, have yourself checked out...you can prevent it by doing and living right...if you determined that there's a genetic predisposition like hypertension, then, you try to decrease your chances by proper diet, exercise, if necessary, meds.

Answer 10

It is only a genetic predisposition. If you and your friend have bad lifestyle, you get the above and he gets cancer. Diet and exercise can prevent it. See this site with info from American Heart Assoc.

http://phifoundation.org