The Difference Between Heart Failure And Heart Disease

PEOPLE in general often get confused or are not clear regarding heart failure problems.

They equate the disease with a heart attack.

To learn the difference between these two conditions, a Heart Specialist in Pantai Hospital Ayer Keroh, Dr Mohd Al-Baqlish Mohd Firdaus will explain it.

The specialist said that a weak heart (heart failure) is one of the conditions where the heart fails to pump oxygenated blood adequately to vital organs in our body. 

"It is one of the complications from a heart attack.

"Nevertheless, not all patients with heart failure have experienced heart attack," he explained.

He added, that patients typically show few symptoms if they experience heart failure.

The following are six primary symptoms of the disease:

1. Difficulty in breathing or asthma especially when doing vigorous activities and daily chores
2. Swelling on both feet.
3. Sleeping upright or needing more than one pillow.
4. Often finds oneself awake at night due to breathing difficulty.
5. Palpitations or rapid pulse.
6. Coughing with bubbly phlegm and tinged in pink.

Coronary heart complications

He continued, Dr Mohd Al-Baqlish added, that a majority of patients with the disease are due to complications from coronary heart problems.

"Sometimes, patients found out that they experience it after their doctor have diagnosed them with a heart failure.

"Even so, coronary heart disease is not the only cause," he said.

Among the other main reasons that can cause heart failure disease are cardiac valve problems (valvular heart disease), cardiac muscle (cardiomyopathy), and uneven heartbeats.

He said that the condition can also happen due to long-term cancer treatment or the implication of alcohol intake.

One may also experience a heart failure due to inflammation of cardiac muscle and thyroid problems.

Who is at high risk of having the problems?

To answer this question, the specialist has described the risk groups. Among them:

1. People with chronic disease such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
2. People with a family history of having a heart failure.
3. People who are overweight and obese.
4. Smokers and people who do not practice healthy lifestyle.
5. Andropausal men and menopausal women.
6. Elderly group.

Dr Mohd Al-Baqlish further said that the chronic disease needs periodical and suitable treatments.

"The first step to treating a heart failure problem is to affirm that the patient is having that problem before finding out the cause of it.

"Doctors will do early tests such as blood screening, electrocardiogram, and echocardiogram," he said.

In certain cases, further investigations will be undertaken by doing CT scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and coronary angiogram.

Afterwards, patients will typically be given drugs.

"Some patients, however, need to undergo coronary angioplasty, cardiac valve surgery, or have a device attached to their hearts.

"Even so, it depends on the cause or the reason that one gets a heart failure problem," he explained at length.

In the meantime, doctors will also control other chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.

He even added that most of the patients are can live almost a normal life if they get optimal treatments.

"Patients are typically advised to stop smoking and reduce fluid intake.

"They are also advised to limit high salt and saturated fat food intake," he said.

Moreover, the physician has encouraged that every individual to stay active by keep on doing leisure activities and sports.

Even so, people with a chronic heart failure problem are advised to not do sports activities that can burden the functions of the organ.

"These activities will increase sudden death risk to the patients.

"They are encouraged to do activities with their friends or family and to avoid doing high-risk activities such as mountain climbing or swimming alone," he added. 

Patients should also know their capacity and get professional advice before doing any high-risk activities.

In the meantime, any drugs or supplements cannot be taken without consultation.

For more info about Dr. Mohd Al-Baqlish, click here.