Congestive heart failure is a condition that develops over time. If you have congestive heart failure, your heart is not strong enough to pump the necessary amount of blood around your body. Certain medical conditions can aggravate your congestive heart failure and make it worse, reports MayoClinic.com, including sleep apnea, thyroid disorders, anemia and various blood abnormalities. Dietary supplements are often used to help strengthen your heart and improve its pumping ability.
Congestive Heart Failure
According to Russell B. Marz, a naturopathic physician, licensed acupuncturist and author of "Medical Nutrition From Marz," congestive heart failure occurs when the ability of your heart to contract can not keep up with your body's demand for oxygen and nutrients. Marz reports that the most common signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure are fatigue, shortness of breath, swelling, intolerance to cold, increased heart rate, cough and labored breathing, especially during mild to moderate intensity aerobic exercise.
Natural Dietary Supplements
Natural dietary supplements are used by health care practitioners to improve your heart's ability to contract and pump blood, but they are also used to improve your heart muscle's energy production. According to Marz, some of the most important dietary supplements for congestive heart failure are calcium citrate, magnesium chloride, magnesium sulfate, potassium, coenzyme Q10, L-carnitine, taurine, vitamin E and arginine. Other beneficial natural dietary supplements include coenzyme A, selenium, thiamine, hawthorn and an Ayurvedic botanical called Terminalia arjuna.
Best Supplement
Taurine is one of the best natural dietary supplements for treating congestive heart failure. According to MayoClinic.com, taurine is an amino acid found naturally in certain foods, including meat, fish and breast milk. Taurine helps with many important functions in your body, including neurological development, the regulation of water levels and mineral salts in your blood and heart function. Taurine helps stabilize your heartbeat and can correct irregular heartbeats -- a condition known as cardiac arrhythmias.
Safety
When using natural dietary supplements for your congestive heart failure, it is always important to keep safety in mind. Avoiding selecting and using supplements that are not recommended by your primary care provider. Your physician, especially if she is trained in clinical nutrition, can recommend the best supplements for you and your specific needs. Some dietary supplements can cause harmful health effects if they are not taken according to the instructions given by your doctor.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Congestive Heart Failure
- "Medical Nutrition From Marz"; Russell B. Marz, N.D.; 1999
- MayoClinic.com: Taurine in Energy Drinks
