Am I at Risk for Developing Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)?

Think of your heart as the star of your circulatory system. The show simply cannot go on without it. A cascade of adverse effects occurs when your heart isn’t functioning properly. Fortunately, top-quality cardiac health care is available from Shahnaz Begum, MD, FACC, and our team at Heart Care in Frisco, Texas.

What is congestive heart failure?

Congestive heart failure is a serious condition in which your heart isn’t efficiently pumping blood into your arteries. According to statistics published in the Journal of Cardiac Failure, around 6.7 million American adults experience heart failure, and those numbers are expected to rise in the coming decades.  

Heart “failure” doesn’t mean your heart stops functioning; it just doesn’t adequately keep up with your body’s demand for freshly oxygenated blood. This inefficiency causes several changes. Your heart has to beat faster to keep up, and it might expand larger than normal to accommodate more blood. 

Your lungs can accumulate fluid, and you might experience shortness of breath. Even the kidneys are affected, as they retain sodium and water due to low blood flow. 

Heart failure is a progressive condition and will worsen over time. It’s often categorized into four distinct stages, the first of which is being at high risk for heart failure and the last of which is having advanced heart failure. 

How do I know if I’m at risk of developing congestive heart failure?

Many factors that contribute to congestive heart failure are within your control. But let’s begin by discussing potential causes you have little to no control over. 

Specific medical treatments, including chemotherapy, increase your risk of developing CHF. But when you’re facing a serious health issue like cancer, chemotherapy can be a life-saving option, and the benefits usually outweigh the risks. Infections and autoimmune disorders can also raise your risk for CHF, but you can’t do much to avoid them. 

However, there are many different ways you can reduce your risk of congestive heart failure. Lifestyle choices are the most powerful tool to lower your personal risk level. 

Smoking causes chemicals to accumulate in your arteries, restricting your blood flow and making your heart work harder. The best approach is never to take up this habit, but if you’re a smoker, finding a way to quit will help lower your risk of all forms of heart disease, including CHF. 

Being overweight or obese is also a serious risk factor. Carrying too much weight strains all your organs, including your heart. Poor nutrition can also be problematic, so be sure your diet includes healthful foods like fruit, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and heart-healthy fats. 

Additional risk factors you can improve include high stress, a sedentary lifestyle, and poor sleep quality. A few lifestyle changes can reduce your risk of congestive heart failure. 

The best way to understand your risk level is to have a heart health assessment with a skilled cardiology specialist like Dr. Begum. 

He reviews your personal and family health history and determines the best screening options to better understand how well your heart is functioning. 

If you have congestive heart failure or a high risk for developing it, Dr. Begum explains prevention and treatment options. Call Heart Care in Frisco, Texas, or book online.