Heart failure is common in the United States. Nearly 6 million Americans live with it. But there are simple steps you can take to lower your odds of getting it.
What Is Heart Failure?
You get heart failure when your heart can't pump enough blood and oxygen to your muscles and organs. Doctors haven't found a cure, but many people with heart failure live active lives.
Heart failure usually doesn't sneak up on people. It develops over time and for a number of reasons. It's important to know if you're more likely to get it so you can take the steps to prevent it.
What Causes Heart Failure?
Certain problems can make your heart work harder than it should and weaken the muscle. Some of these are:
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Coronary artery disease
- Past heart attack
- Being too overweight
Things like drinking too much alcohol, smoking, and using illegal drugs are all known to damage your heart.
Some things that raise your chances of heart failure are out of your control, including:
- Race (African American people are more likely to have heart failure)
- Heart defects you're born with
- Age (your odds go up if you're 65 or older)
Can I Prevent Heart Failure?
You can lower your odds of getting heart failure. And the earlier you start, the better your chances. You can begin with a few of these simple steps:
Stay active. Check with your doctor before starting an exercise routine. Try for at least 2 1/2 hours a week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise -- the kind that gets your heart pumping. And try not to sit for more than 2 hours a day. That can raise your heart failure risk.
Keep moving. Even if you do exercise, especially if you're a man, your risk for heart failure may go up if you sit a lot. In one study, men who sat for 5 hours or more a day outside of work, even those who exercised, were more likely to get heart failure than those who limited their couch potato time to 2 hours or less. So look for ways to keep yourself moving the next time you're about to reach for the TV remote.
Don't use illegal drugs. Even occasional use of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, and ecstasy can harm your heart. It can make your heart rate and blood pressure go up. It may also lead to hardening of your arteries. All these problems raise your risk of heart failure.
Treat heart and other conditions. Other heart problems, like heart attacks, raise your chances of getting heart failure. So treat your high blood pressure and take any medication your doctor prescribes to lower your cholesterol levels.
Don't smoke. If you do, try to quit. Ask your doctor for advice on ways to stop. Smoking damages your arteries, which can start you down the road to heart failure.
Eat right. Good nutrition is important if you want to prevent heart failure. Limit saturated fats, trans fats, extra sugar, and salt in your diet. Instead, go for fruits and veggies, low-fat dairy products, and lean protein. Also choose "good fats" in olive oil, walnuts, avocados, and fish like salmon or tuna.
Limit alcohol. While a little alcohol can be good for your heart, a lot is not. If you're a man, stick to no more than two drinks a day (a 5-ounce glass of wine equals 1 drink). Women should only have one drink a day. And if you already have heart failure, alcohol can make it worse.
Lose weight if you need to. Aim for a body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 24.9. And pay particular attention to belly fat, which can increase your risk of heart disease even more than fat on other parts of your body. Even a small weight loss can add up to big gains in your health.
Manage stress. It can raise your blood pressure. Try to keep yourself on an even keel with meditation, counseling, or yoga.
Get a good night's sleep. A long-term sleep problem like sleep apnea can raise your chance of heart failure. If you have it, get treatment. And take steps to get better sleep, like going to bed and getting up at the same time every night, and keeping electronics out of the bedroom.