Heart failure is a serious condition that affects millions of people worldwide and can have a significant impact on the quality of life for those living with it. 

Medically reviewed by Dr Rehaam Ali Khan 



While there is no cure for heart failure, early diagnosis and proper treatment can help improve symptoms and prevent the disease from progressing. 


The most common cause of heart failure is long-term high blood pressure, but other factors such as smoking, obesity, and diabetes can also increase risk. When the heart weakens and fails to pump enough oxygenated blood around the body, it leads to symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, swelling in the feet or ankles, coughing at night, an irregular heartbeat, and even dizziness or fainting spells. 


Treating heart failure involves lifestyle changes like eating a healthy diet low in salt, avoiding alcohol and tobacco use, getting regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, monitoring your medications closely (as many medications can worsen heart failure symptoms), reducing stress levels and getting adequate rest. Medications like ACE inhibitors and beta blockers may be prescribed by your doctor to help manage blood pressure and improve symptoms. If lifestyle changes are not effective in managing your heart failure then more advanced treatments like cardiac rehabilitation or surgery may be necessary. 


Ultimately the key to living with heart failure is to be proactive about your health care by making important lifestyle changes early on before the disease progresses too far. A combination of healthy diet choices, regular physical activity and close attention to medications will help you maintain good overall health as you age so that you don't suffer from this condition any further.