Heart failure does not mean that the heart has stopped working. It means that the heart muscle has become too weak to pump out the blood the body needs to perform normally. It can lead to shortness of breath, fatigue, edema and chest pain. Heart failure can happen at any age; however, it is most common in the elderly. While some of the standard treatments for heart failure can be used with seniors, other treatment options may need to be altered for this age group. The first step is to identify the underlying cause. Then it is important to follow the advise of a medical team who will design a program based on individual needs.
Lifestyle Changes
No matter at what age heart failure is diagnosed, making healthy lifestyle changes is an important component of treating the disease. This includes eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise. Cutting back on salt and fluid intake is important to control edema. Losing excess weight will help to take pressure off the heart muscle. Since the elderly can have multiple diseases present at the same time, it may be best to start a program at a cardiac rehabilitation center and under the guidance of qualified medical professionals, claims the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. This way, safe levels of exercise and healthy diet guidelines can be determined for each individual patient. Additionally, it is always important to quit smoking, as tobacco can cause physical damage to the blood vessels and worsen any heart condition.
Medications
The goal of heart failure treatment is to help the patient control symptoms and prevent the condition from getting worse. This may include taking medications, states the National Institutes of Health. Diuretics help the body get rid of excess fluid. If there are underlying conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or others, medications to treat those conditions may be prescribed, as well. Since older individuals often take multiple medications at the same time, it is important to keep track of all medications being taken to avoid interactions. This includes over-the-counter and herbal remedies. In addition to ongoing medication, a physician may also recommend getting flu and pneumonia vaccinations, to help avoid upper respiratory infections. Respiratory illness can be especially dangerous to elderly patients even in the absence of heart failure.
Pacemaker Implantation and Surgery
If heart failure symptoms do not respond to more conservative measures, inserting a pacemaker or undergoing heart transplant surgery may be required, warns the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. A pacemaker can be implanted to help the heart maintain a normal rhythm. In severe cases and as a last resort, a heart transplant may be the only way to treat this condition.
To help prevent serious complications after being diagnosed with heart failure, it is important to constantly check blood pressure and cholesterol levels and keep them in control, and to take all medications as prescribed and seek medical attention if there is sudden weight gain of more then three to five pounds within a week. Catching problems early on can sometimes prevent this condition from worsening.
