Heart Failure Treatment in Dubai: All You Need To Know

More than half of the people living in the UAE are affected by heart disease. Cardiovascular disease is even one of the leading causes of death in the UAE, making heart health of utmost importance in the country.

One of the most common heart problems in the world is heart failure.

Let's see what heart failure is, what its symptoms are and how you can treat it in detail in this article.

What Is Heart Failure and How Is It Caused?

Also known as congestive heart failure, heart failure is a chronic heart condition that occurs when the heart muscles do not pump enough blood. This causes the fluid to build up in the lungs, leading to shortness of breath.

Some of the common heart conditions that cause heart failure are coronary artery disease, high blood pressure etc. Managing these conditions is important to prevent heart failure.

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Symptoms of Heart Failure

Common signs and symptoms of heart failure include:

shortness of breath
fatigue
weakness
swelling in the legs, ankles and feet
irregular heartbeat
reduced ability to exercise
continued cough or wheezing with a white or pink mucus
swelling in the belly area
abnormal weight gain
nausea
lack of appetite
difficulty in concentrating
chest pain

How Is Heart Failure Diagnosed?

Firstly, the doctor reviews the medical history and symptoms of the patient and performs a physical examination to check fluid buildup. They also check if you have any risk factors such as coronary artery disease, diabetes or high blood pressure.

After the physical examination, the doctor may also prescribe additional tests to confirm the diagnosis, such as blood tests, chest X-ray, electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiogram, stress test, cardiac computerised tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), coronary angiogram and myocardial biopsy.

These tests will not only confirm the diagnosis but also help doctors determine the cause of heart failure and the best treatment plan.

What Are Heart Failure Stages?

The treatment of heart failure depends on the stage of heart failure. There are four stages, starting with the high-risk stage to the advanced symptoms stage.

Stage A (Pre-Heart Failure): In this stage, several risk factors are present, but no signs or symptoms of heart failure are visible.
Stage B (Pre-Heart Failure): In this stage, heart disease has been diagnosed, but no signs or symptoms of heart failure are present.
Stage C (Heart Failure): In this stage, heart disease is present along with the signs and symptoms of heart failure.
Stage D (Advanced Symptoms): In this stage, advanced symptoms of heart failure are present that don't get better with treatment. This is the final stage of heart failure.

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How To Treat Heart Failure?

Doctors usually prescribe medicines to treat heart failure based on the stage you are in.

Apart from medications, certain lifestyle changes are also recommended to promote heart health and prevent another episode of heart failure.

However, if you have heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and it worsens, your doctor may recommend the use of one of the following medicinal devices.

Biventricular pacemaker
Mechanical heart pump
Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)

In case of a congenital heart defect, heart surgery may be recommended.

Lastly, if your heart failure has become life-threatening and other treatments and medications are not working, the doctors may also suggest a heart transplant.

Lifestyle Changes For Heart Failure

Reduce the intake of sodium in your diet.
Regulate your body weight.
Stay physically active and exercise regularly. Remember that exercise depends on the level of seriousness of heart failure.
Quit smoking and limit the consumption of alcohol.
Manage risk factors like high blood pressure, anaemia etc.
Alleviate stress and anxiety with the help of counselling or relaxation techniques like meditation.
Take good quality and quantity of sleep every day.

The Final Takeaway

Heart disease is highly prevalent in the UAE. One of the most common heart diseases is heart failure. It is a chronic heart condition that needs proper treatment.

Usually, the treatment of heart failure involves a combination of lifestyle changes and medications. However, if the condition is too severe, heart surgery or a heart transplant may also be recommended.