The inability of the heart to act as an effective pump, moving blood out of the heart and to the rest of the body, is characterized as congestive heart failure. Exertion causes shortness of breath and fatigue because the other organs aren't being nourished and the lungs and other body tissues become swollen due to the accumulation of backed-up fluid. Congestive heart failure, or CHF, is a serious condition for which any alternative treatments should be thoroughly discussed with a doctor or certified health practitioner.
Diet
Congestive heart failure results in the accumulation of fluid in the tissues, also known as edema. In the neck, CHF causes the veins to swell abnormally. It likewise causes edema in the legs and ankles as well as shortness of breath when the lungs are involved; this is made worse with lying flat. The primary dietary recommendation for people with congestive heart failure is limitation of salt intake. Water is attracted to salt and will therefore worsen the situation by attracting water to already swollen tissues. The University of California, San Francisco Medical Center recommends that salt in packaged foods be limited to no more than 350 mg per serving. Reducing home cooking with salt by 50 percent is suggested and staying between 2,000 and 3,000 mg of total salt per day is recommended. All dietary changes should be discussed with a physician.
CoQ10
CoQ10 is noted as a potent antioxidant and essential to energy production in the cells. It acts as a necessary co-enzyme to the reaction that produces energy products from the raw material in our food. As a non-stop pump, deoxygenated blood comes into the heart through the veins, is filtered through the lungs to become oxygen-rich and is sent back to the heart to be pumped to the remainder of the body. CoQ10, according to author and cardiologist Stephen T. Sinatra, MD, makes the compromised heart of a heart failure patient more metabolically powerful. He suggests 300 to 600 mg per day for the treatment of heart failure. This should only be done under the supervision of a physician.
Magnesium
Magnesium, notes Sinatra, is found most abundantly in the mitochondria, or the energy-producing component of cells. In addition to its more than 300 functions throughout the body, it is essential to all processes involving the high-energy molecule, ATP. Sinatra recommends magnesium orotate in a minimum dosage of 400 mg per day for CHF and notes a relevant contraindication as a slow heartbeat less than 60 beats per minute. Loose stool is a common side-effect. All supplements should be trialed under the supervision of a medical professional.
D-Ribose
When ATP levels are low, Sinatra notes that heart pumping is compromised. The supplement D-ribose is an ATP-derivative, helping the body bypass the industrious process of creating it and helping regenerate energy faster. The dosage range is between 7 to 15 g per day in divided doses for CHF; the correct dosage should be determined by a licensed health care practitioner.
L-Carnitine
The heart tissue is unique in that its primary source of energy is fat. The heart requires an adequate energy supply at all times in order to perform its job as a non-stop pump. Carnitine assists the body with shuttling of fat into the cells to be broken down for energy. Also, carnitine acts as a waste-disposal truck, moving toxic products produced by the burning of fat for energy out of the heart cells. Sinatra recommends that a carnitine supplement with as many subtypes as possible be taken in small doses of three times per day of up to 3,000 mg for CHF. A medical professional should be consulted before taking any supplement.
Hawthorn
The herb hawthorn has a long history of use as a heart disease remedy. Hawthorn berries were traditionally used to varying heart problems, but the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC, states that its leaves and flowers have shown evidence of use in positively treating mild-to-moderate heart failure. UMMC notes that doses of 900 mg/day were as effective as a low-dose prescription of the heart medication, captopril in improving CHF-related symptoms such as exercise-tolerance, palpitations, breathing problems and fatigue. Hawthorn has been studied in trials lasting two months to two years. All herbs should be trialed under the supervision of a medical professional.
